The journey to sobriety is marked by ups and downs. It is not an easy task to leave an addiction. For most people, this includes getting back on the substance after being sober for long. This is called relapsing.
According to the AMA, about 50% of the people relapse back to the habit within a year of treatment. However, this does not mean that the person has failed to kick the habit. This proves to be quite common and can be a part of leaving the habit completely.
Signs of relapse
Maybe your loved one is battling addiction and you are wondering what are the signs, which can tell you that they have relapsed. Here are some indicators which can give you an idea:
- High Levels of Stress: If the person is taking high levels of stress due to changes in their lives, it may be a sign. These can be significant changes or minor ones. However, it can reveal a lot about the person. Leaving addiction can cause significant changes in the life of a person. It can be adjusting to life outside of addiction, finding a new job or divorces. Therefore, if the person is on the edge all time, it can be a good indicator.
- Solitary practices: When people get out of a treatment facility, it can be tough for them to adjust back into society. This causes them to not respond to the people and be unsociable. But, it does not mean that the person should not make any attempts towards socialization. If your loved one is making excuses, then there may be something wrong.
- Attitude towards therapy: When the patients leave the rehab, they seem proactive about their commitment towards sobriety. They will attend the group therapy sessions, talk with their sponsors and practice good habits. However, after a few months these habits may start to fall apart. They may start to become more isolated from the society and may seem less enthusiastic about their recovery.
- Risky Behavior: Leaving a substance requires a complete shift in the life routine. Nevertheless, people may shift back to their old self as changing the old can be burdensome. This may also lead them back into risky behavior. They may also start to make irrational choices such as engaging in recreational usage or developing a dependency on other substances.