Addiction isn’t the end of a person’s life. Addicted individuals can get better with the proper professional help and treatment. But getting professional treatment for an addicted person doesn’t mind that a such would recover.
In recovery, there is the possibility of relapse, which is when a person falls back into addiction. It isn’t a good feeling, as it often feels like a failed attempt at recovery and dampens the hope of recovery. But there are ways to prevent relapse, which begin with you recognizing when you are about relapse.
Therefore, this article will highlight signs which show that you might relapse. These signs include;
- Loss of Interest
When you begin to lose interest in the recovery process, it is a warning sign that relapse is close. Here, the initial zeal you towards recovery feels zapped away and now you are simply wondering what is the essence of everything. This is a warning sign of relapse.
- Overwhelmed by Stress
When you begin to feel overwhelmed by stress, that you cannot handle the burden and stress of the program anymore. This could lead to relapse, especially for someone whose excess stress was a cause of addiction initially. There is a tendency that you return to your addiction to handle stress, so be very careful.
- Anxiety and Depression
When you begin to be overwhelmed by stress, then comes the feelings of anxiety and depression. You become scared about the prospect of reintegration into society and whatnot. Then, you be depressed and the hope of getting better begins to leave gradually.
- Change in Daily Routine
After that, you begin to experience changes in your daily routine. Things that were helping you remain sober; you begin to change them opening yourself up to the vices of relapse. This is a very dangerous move.
- Skipping Support Group Meeting
Eventually, you start skipping support group meetings. You feel like they don’t matter or are not helping you in any way. Gradually you cut off your support system exposing yourself to relapse.
In summary, these are a few signs which show that a person is falling into relapse. You must have noticed that these signs are sequential. They may not always be that way in every instance, but often it begins with minor changes then advance to bigger issues.
These signs work collectively and some noticed, careful steps should be taken to help avoid relapse in the life of a recovering addict.