Whether it’s outpatient treatment or inpatient rehab, taking care of your physical and mental health is vitally important. Sign up for our Newsletter and receive the latest on addiction treatment news. Keep up on new treatment methods, new intervention methods, new self help techniques, new drug and alcohol rehab centers and much more. Whether or not relapse is a “normal,” or even necessary, part of drug-addiction recovery is debatable. In order to determine if you should return to rehab, it is first important to fully understand relapse and the dangers it presents.

Why Didn’t Treatment Work The First Time?

If you or your loved one have recently relapsed, going back to rehab may be the best option to getting back on the path to sobriety. It is vital for those experiencing relapse to know that it is perfectly normal and in no way means that they have failed or are not worthy of living a happy, sober life. There are some legitimate reasons why you may find yourself at a bar or club. Weddings, business meetings, awards dinners and other events often include drinks or gatherings at places that serve alcohol or where drugs may be obtained.

• A success plan or action plan for your recovery can be a great tool to help you embrace a successful new lifestyle.
• If you find yourself in the middle of a relapse, get help immediately.
• If you are transitioning back to work after rehab, it is important to establish any needed accommodations with your employer.
• Treatment providers are available 24/7 to answer your questions about rehab, whether it’s for you or a loved one.
• Having a disruption in income in addition to the expense of rehab isn’t sustainable long-term.

Sometimes you can handle it on your own, but in some cases, returning to rehab is necessary. In this article, you discover this difference and what to do if a relapse after rehab has happened. If you or a loved one experienced a relapse after a period of sobriety from drugs and alcohol, you can benefit from an addiction treatment program. Avoiding going back to rehab could cost you your life, making this decision imperative for your safety. Failing to fully commit to sobriety and a recovery program can also lead to relapse.

• For the past 9 years, she additionally has been overseeing the detox area, health services, and office of family support.
• I’ve had experience with recovery since 1996 and began working in the field in early 2004.
• Suppose you’ve gone through significant transformations after completing rehab the first time.
• Usually, physical relapse occurs in a window of opportunity for drug or alcohol use².
• Many people need multiple rounds of treatment before they’re able to stay sober long-term.

Elevate Locations

Begin your journey to recovery with personalized drug & alcohol rehab—verify your insurance coverage in under a minute. The best way to determine if you should go back to rehab after a relapse is to look at how severe your relapse was and how likely you are to continue using substances. If you only had a “lapse” or a “slip,” have told your sponsor, and have re-committed yourself to your recovery, returning to rehab may not be necessary. Relapse doesn’t mean the treatment program didn’t work — it simply means the treatment plan needs reinforcement or adjustment. Falling back into old habits is easy, as it’s a common response to cravings, boredom, triggers and doubt. The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Taking Back Sunday, Justin Timberlake, Fergie, and Kanye West.

• Relapse is a common and often normal part of recovery for many people.
• By properly aligning their priorities, understanding the dangers of relapse, and learning to navigate triggers and cravings, individuals can continue to make strides toward recovery.
• If you relapse and begin using drugs again, you may attempt to use the same amount of a substance that you could handle before getting sober.
• If relapses — physical or mental — are becoming a more common occurrence, you might want to consider going back to rehab.

Navigating Triggers and Cravings

If your workplace included coworkers who used to do drugs and alcohol with you, it may not help return to this environment. You may be worried about losing your job after being away for rehab. Or, perhaps you are concerned that the stress of returning to community life will be a trigger for relapse. While these feelings are normal, many people are able to make the transition back to work and continue a sober lifestyle after rehab. Supportive resources and legal protections are available to ease the transition and promote long-term recovery. It could help you to find a program that offers a different approach to treatment than your previous substance abuse treatment program.

Getting Help For an Addiction

Patients can return to their homes each night after treatment; this is ideal for those with families or jobs that they are unable to leave for rehabilitation. For many, continuing care after treatment can help lessen the chance of relapse and the need for more rehabilitation. If the emotional and mental stages of relapse are not corrected, they will lead to the final stage of relapse. When people think of a drug and alcohol relapse, this is what they picture. Substance use disorders are complex and progressive diseases that require constant dedication and hard work to maintain lifelong recovery. Unfortunately, many people believe the misconception that attending an addiction treatment program will cure their substance use disorder.

The feelings of shame and guilt further drive the substance abusing behavior in an effort to numb any uncomfortable emotions. Each day the person continues using makes recovery more difficult. Relapse must be taken seriously, as a return to drug or alcohol abuse can have dangerous — and even deadly — consequences. When you or your mental health professional detect the early warning signs of a relapse, you may take steps to prevent a full resumption of substance misuse. This is only one of many reasons why it’s important, throughout your time of healing, to be completely transparent in all your interactions.

• Camille is dedicated and compassionate, with a deep-rooted passion for helping individuals and families navigate the complexities of addiction.
• Also, the "Dead-Again Christian" line in this song has been used several times before in Sage's past songs, which I guess is a good description of his beliefs.
• You most likely need to return to treatment if you’re debating it.
• Our team is comprised of doctors, clinicians, therapists, mentors, and recovery coaches with decades of experience in the field.
• For the past 17 years, Christina has been managing the Health and Wellness Department at EAS in Watsonville, CA.

Matt has been working in the substance abuse treatment field for 20 years. Matt is credentialed as CADC-CS (Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor – Clinical Supervisor) through CCAPP (California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals). He helped create an effective, holistic alcohol & drug treatment curriculum that has been in use at Elevate Addiction Services since 2015. As the Supervisor of Group Counseling, Katie ensures our clients in both the educational and group setting are getting the tools they need to be successful in recovery. Katie provides a compassionate and safe environment for our clients to work through the tough issues, make the necessary changes, and find joy in life again. Katie takes an active role in each client’s recovery, and works individually with them to ensure they get the most out of the Elevate curriculum, and achieve their individual treatment plan goals.

Treatment Resources

But one aspect of caring for yourself Halfway house during recovery should not be overlooked. Caring for your physical health means that you’ll be well enough to support the intense emotional work of recovery as well as reach out to others to help them. According to a study reported in Psychology Today, the more ties you have to others, the happier you will be. Both strong ties (close, personal relationships) and weak ties (simply being around people you know) can both influence happiness. Relationships are indeed an important aspect of happiness, a buffer against stress, and an important part of recovery.

When you stopped using drugs, you were accustomed to the number of drugs you were using after building a tolerance. If you relapse and begin using drugs again, you may attempt to use the same amount of a substance that you could handle before getting sober. When someone relapses, they either did not receive the effective principles of treatment or stopped using their recovery maintenance techniques. To define relapse simply, this occurs when you return to using drugs after a period of abstinence. However, understanding what the success factors of treatment are can help you better understand relapse as a whole.