Signs of Relapse

Like diabetes, addiction is considered a chronic illness that requires regular management by a physician over a recovering addict’s lifetime.  During the course of recovery, an addict is likely to experience cravings of varying intensity and frequency as well as triggers—that is, people, places, or objects that make the person experience a strong desire to use a substance or engage in a behavior.  Even if the person has gone to residential rehab or participated in an outpatient program and therapy, the urge to use may be too strong, and they may relapse.  However, relapsing does not always lead back to active addiction, especially if the addict remains committed to being sober and if he or she has a strong support network. Part of keeping relapse from becoming a more serious problem is recognizing the signs of impending or likely relapse and helping the person immediately.  Learn more about signs of relapse in the points that follow.

• Not attending support groups – A number of studies have found that the likelihood of relapse goes up as more time passes between a person’s last meeting with a group like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.  Regardless of whether this decreased attendance is intentional (e.g., the person thinks he or she no longer needs to go) or unintentional (e.g., illness or other life events make it unrealistic), family and friends should pay closer attention to the person’s behaviors if this occurs.
• Substituting substances or behaviors – A phenomenon known as cross addiction, this occurs when an addict begins using another drug or engaging in another behavior in lieu of the previous one.  Replacement behaviors are not always negative (for example, exercise) as long as they are done in moderation.  However, increasing interest in anything should be carefully monitored for new addictions or reverting to the old addiction if something should go wrong (e.g., a romantic relationship ending).
• Increased defensiveness and moodiness – Whether because of a substance or guilt from relapsing, a person who has relapsed may seem more argumentative or irritable than before.
• Increased negativity – There is a strong relationship between addiction and depression; a person who has relapsed could be spiraling back into this cycle as evidenced by inaccurate yet negative thoughts about his or her life situation, friends, abilities, etc.
• Insufficient social support – Addiction usually offers a person an entire social circle, and, when a person commits to recovery, he or she commonly loses many of the relationships that were once invaluable to him or her.  This can lead to feelings of loneliness; the person may have fears about trying to meet new people, especially since the topic of conversation that they are most comfortable with is no longer appropriate.  If you know a recovering addict, you can help by encouraging them to join you when going to social functions and introducing them to your friends.
• Stress – Because addiction is often an unhealthy coping strategy for an addict’s stressors, new forms of stress—like job loss, a bad end to a romantic relationship, the death or serious illness of a loved one, etc.—can make the addict desperate for a way to feel better or more in control; they may resort to addictive behaviors or substances.  If you learn that someone who is recovering is going through a stressful situation, try to increase your support for that person.