Addiction recovery is a lifelong process. The first few months after completing a treatment program is the most critical time. Drugs and alcohol may have been the only coping tool available to a person for years. Suddenly, the person has to adjust to life without a substance and apply a new set of coping skills. This adjustment period can really take a toll on a person.
Understanding Addiction
During recovery, the person experiences a barrage of emotions. One may encounter overwhelming feelings like guilt, shame, denial, and a range of other emotions. The mind has to sift through years and years of emotional baggage as well. Working through the emotional issues in a sober moment can be quite overwhelming.
Relapse Statistics
The average relapse rate is between 50 and 90%. 80% of patients battling an alcohol addiction will relapse within the first year. After multiple years of recovery, the rate of relapse drops. After two years, the relapse rate is 40 percent for those who can maintain sobriety for two years. The rate goes downs even more after a five-year period.
Rebuilding a New Life
When the addict has to rebuild a new life without drugs, the person has to change every aspect of their life. One has to create a new lifestyle, which may require removing old friends that one partied with during their drug addiction days. The person may have to stop hanging out in environments that can present emotional triggers. One may need to produce a list of high-risk environments that could put a person at risk of resuming their drug habit. A person in recovery has to create a life full of new, productive habits. Adjusting to a significant amount of change is a lot for some people to handle.
Early Challenges, Applying the Tools
Many people require ongoing treatment and aftercare. Taking into account the environmental, psychological, and social issues that can trigger substance abuse is an essential part of the recovery process. As a part of a relapse prevention program, one can learn the tools to cope with depression, stress, and other emotional issues that can come with addiction. Stressors and cravings are another part of the recovery experiences people have to be prepared for in their new life. In the right program, individuals can learn how to overcome their cravings and manage stressful situations. Learning how to envision the consequences of a potential setback like a relapse is instrumental in deterring the person from making a serious mistake. Relapse prevention can also prepare a person to deal with a minor lapse before it ultimately becomes a major relapse.
Risks in Not Being Able to Address Challenges
Relapse often happens when a person gets stuck at some point in their recovery. The person may be faced with a challenge that they may not be prepared to confront. One may not be able to handle the issue that is causing them to become stuck at their particular stage in recovery. Recovery is about progressing forward and overcoming the obstacles in a person’s path. If a person isn’t prepared to deal with the issue, the person remains at risk of relapse. Without the right tools, the person may resort to inappropriate methods of coping with issues and challenges. Lack of coping skills can make it easy to return to alcohol abuse and drugs.
