What is Chronic Relapse?

During recovery from addiction, relapse is always a risk. Relapse happens after you begin using and abusing drugs or alcohol after you have achieved short-term or long-term sobriety. Chronic relapse is also a potential complication during recovery. However, what is a chronic relapse?

During recovery, nearly half of people experience a relapse. Relapses can vary in severity and can cause more damage than your original addiction. While some people are able to return to sobriety on their own, many times relapses require additional treatment.

Addiction is considered a chronic disease, meaning it is a disease you have to manage throughout your life. If you are wondering what chronic relapse is and how to prevent relapse during recovery, the best answer is to ensure that you receive the right treatment. Treatment centers can help you develop a discharge and relapse prevention plan to help you during recovery and maintain your sobriety.

If you’d like to know how an Alumni Program can help prevent chronic relapse, call us today at 866.605.0532.

What is Chronic Relapse? 

So, what is a chronic relapse? Relapse happens after you achieved sobriety but return to abusing drugs or alcohol. This can last days, weeks, months or years. The definition of a chronic relapse is when a person falls into substance abuse several times after one or two past periods of abstinence from drugs and alcohol.

For individuals who have been sober for some time, though perhaps not long enough to have established a pattern of relapse-free sobriety, the chronic relapse signifies a pattern of repeated relapses. Some theorists suggest that chronic relapse occurs due to the individual’s lack of coping skills and unwillingness or inability to deal with life’s stressors without resorting to substance abuse.

Some of the most common causes of relapses include:

• Major life changes, such as illness, divorce, or career changes
• Increased stress
• Mental health symptoms worsening
• Housing issues
• Relationship problems
• Medical problems

If you struggle with a co-occurring disorder, which means you have a mental health disorder in addition to a substance abuse problem, failing to treat it can cause a relapse. When mental health symptoms worsen, it can increase your risk of relapse because using substances can temporarily alleviate those symptoms. Instability at home, work, or school can also create stress that can lead to a relapse.

Likewise, losing a job or having to deal with a family emergency, such as the death of a loved one, can increase your chances of relapsing.

How Treatment Helps Prevent Relapses 

In understanding what chronic relapse is, it’s important to know that treatment can greatly reduce your risk of relapse. There are several different treatment options, which can include:

• Inpatient and residential treatment
• Partial hospitalization
• Outpatient programs
• Peer led support groups
• Individual counseling
• Family and group therapy

Throughout treatment, you work with your treatment provider to outline a relapse prevention plan. During therapy, you and your counselor will discuss and identify your triggers and how to cope with them. For instance, if you know that stress can trigger your substance use, a relapse prevention plan creates healthy ways you can cope with stress, such as taking a walk or meditating.

Relapse prevention includes discovering coping strategies that help you overcome and control cravings and triggers. Remember, however, that it’s important to know that a relapse prevention plan isn’t a guarantee. If you have a relapse, your treatment team will work with you to develop a new relapse plan and discuss how to handle the situation.

Finding Treatment

Battling an addiction, substance abuse issue, or alcoholism can be difficult, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you are struggling during recovery or experiencing chronic relapse, reaching out for help is the first step toward regaining control of your life.

Battling an addiction, substance abuse issue, or alcoholism can be difficult, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re struggling during recovery or experiencing chronic relapse, don’t despair. Chronic relapse treatment centers in Florida are the first step toward regaining control of your life.

Beaches Recovery, which offers mindfulness based relapse prevention therapy and personalized substance abuse treatment, boasts an experienced, compassionate environment that promotes recovery. If you or a loved one would like to learn more about our treatment programs and your recovery options, call us today at 866.605.0532.