The Stages of Relapse: How to Recognize a Relapse Early On

What are the Stages of Relapse?

Many people mistakenly believe that relapse is the physical act of going back to consuming your drug or drink of choice. The reality is that relapse is a process and it’s usually something that doesn’t happen overnight. The different stages of relapse include:

Although a focal point of our every treatment program is relapse prevention, there is always the possibly that a person may relapse and need additional care. Keep in mind that if you have concerns that your loved one may be falling back into the trap of addiction, you can always reach out for us for further guidance or assistance.

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Emotional Relapse

It’s important to remember that there is an emotional, psychological and physical side to relapse. There are several signs that a person may be in the midst of an emotional relapse. For instance, that person may appear that they are going through all of the right steps, but they are not 100% committed to the process. He or she may be going to meetings, but they are not sharing. They may develop poor eating habits or they are bottling up their emotions which can result in poor sleeping habits.

Mental Relapse

Similar to an emotional relapse, there are numerous signs that a person may be struggling with a mental relapse. Sometimes, this will be evident in the way that the person is talking. For example, if a person begins to minimize the consequences of their addiction or they make it clear that they are struggling with cravings, this could be indicative of setting themselves up to use their substance of choice again.

Physical Relapse

Physical relapse is the final stage of relapse. As the name of this stage indicates, this is when a person goes from thinking about using their drug or drink of choice to actually using it. Keep in mind that although a relapse is not the end of the world, if the reasons behind the relapse are not addressed quickly, there is a greater chance that a person could turn back to their addictive ways.

How to Prevent Relapse

One of the best ways to cement relapse prevention is to ensure that you work with a team of experts that understands the signs and stages of possible relapse. We take the opportunity to get to learn more about the background of every client that comes to Resurgence so we have a better idea of what to look for when it comes to signs of relapse.

When you come to Resurgence for treatment, you never have to worry about feeling judged or misunderstood. We have worked with clients from all walks of life and understand the embarrassment that you may feel as a result of your addiction. We encourage you to be open and honest with us regarding your substance abuse issues so that we can help you put together a plan that is specific to your recovery needs.

How Resurgence Behavioral Health Can Help

With years of experience in the industry, the Resurgence Behavioral Health team understands that relapse is always a possibility. We do everything that we can to provide you with the tools that you need regarding relapse prevention so that you can go on to live a life that revolves around sobriety. However, we also pride ourselves on creating the type of environment that accepts and welcomes clients that may have suffered from a relapse with open arms. Whether you are ready to begin your addiction recovery treatment, or you’ve experienced a relapse, we encourage you to reach out to us today at (855) 458-0050.

Josh Chandler
After growing up in Chicago and North Carolina, Josh chose to get help with substance use disorder and mental health in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than five years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for four years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. Josh remains passionate about the field because he understands that one phone call can alter the course of a person's life.

Research | Editorial