Tommy Recovery Coaching

When Is Relapse Most Likely during Addiction Recovery?

One of the most compelling addiction memoirs published in recent times is Quitter, by Erica C. Barnett, a Seattle-based journalist whose recovery from severe alcoholism caused her to relapse many times over seven years. The book is filled with long and painful passages about Barnett’s struggle to stop drinking after more than two decades. Nonetheless, her frank self-assessment of “hitting rock bottom” too late in life makes Quitter remarkable. Barnett didn’t recognize rock bottom until she wrote about it, and she remembers reaching it during her second relapse.

The Reality of Recovery and Relapse

Recovering from severe addictions is seldom easy. It takes a few Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for many people to understand some of the difficulties they may encounter, including relapse. When the AA honeymoon period known as the “pink fog” collapses under the weight of relapse, many alcoholics get a stark reality check about recovery. Relapse is when you return to the patterns of substance abuse that made your life unmanageable. It’s almost expected by recovery coaches, including Encinitas addiction recovery professionals. However, they always prefer never seeing their patients fall into relapse. Although many patients recover without relapsing, it’s easier to assume it will happen at least once.

The Holy Grail of Recovery without Relapse

From a neurochemical perspective, preventing individuals from relapsing is the holy grail of addiction recovery. Whether you can accomplish this through militant abstinence or responsible use is irrelevant. You can stay clean if you spend your life successfully avoiding relapse. Nevertheless, many neuroscientists think this is a holy grail because they don’t fully understand the brain chemistry interactions that guide relapse episodes. We know about the mechanisms of addiction, but the mechanisms of relapse are far more intricate. To a certain extent, it’s easier to accept that many addicts will relapse and get back on the recovery wagon using the willpower they’ve cultivated through the process. Mathematicians at the University of Cincinnati are using powerful computers to execute machine-learning models evaluating synaptic homeostasis, but their work is still scratching the surface.

Emotional Stress and Withdrawal

When patients relapse within a few days or weeks after detoxification or initial intake, the intense discomfort of withdrawal is often the culprit. This happens more often to patients with severe alcoholism or opioid addictions. Post-acute withdrawal symptoms can persist for as long as 18 months, which explains why this is when most addicts relapse. When dealing with negative emotions like anger, anxiety, and depression, the neurochemical reaction to this stress amplifies the risk of relapsing. Life stressors are notably linked to relapse through all stages of recove.

Managing Relapse Triggers

Until neuroscientists can fully understand the brain chemistry of relapse, the best strategy to avoid falling into it is by learning how to proactively manage specific triggers. Memories of past substance use can be mental, social, or environmental. Encounters with certain individuals or exposure to locations can result in powerful cravings. When combined with emotional stress, there’s a higher risk of falling into relapse. A significant aspect of sober lifestyle coaching involves clients learning to recognize and effectively manage these triggers instead of hastily trying to avoid or escape them.

If you or a loved one is struggling with relapse or early recovery challenges, Sober Lifestyle Coaching is here to help. Whether they need a compassionate recovery coach or an experienced interventionist, Encinitas residents can trust us to guide them through the recovery process and provide personalized support to build lasting sobriety. Contact us today to take the next step toward a healthier, substance-free life.