You’ve started with the best of intentions, you’ve gone through recovery, and then it happens. A bad day, a breakup, a trigger, or just falling back on old habits, and suddenly you’re using again. Why does this happen and what can you do about it?
Slips and Relapses
A slip is a short-term return to previous behavior. A relapse is when a person returns to the old addictive behavior. Around 90 percent of people attempting sobriety have one or more slips or relapses before achieving success.
Why it Happens
The main reason people slip and relapse is an absence of the tools or a support network needed to achieve success. Slips are usually m+et with an immediate sense of guilt. Sometimes this guilt can be funneled back into the recovery and prove to be merely a bump in the road. Other times, people fall back into old habits and try to solve their guilt with their addiction which spirals out of control.
What To Do
If you slip or relapse, don’t assume you’re a failure or that you will never be able to recover. You have to let go of thinking you can do it on your own. There are many detox facilities in Florida or whatever state you’re in that can help you with medically trained professional care and advice.
Another common reason for relapse, which may actually surprise people, is fear of success. The old adage of “better the devil you know than the devil you don’t” comes to mind. A sober life is on which may look quite different than your old life. We may need to form new relationships, cut toxic relationships, and develop very different hobbies. This can be daunting. Thankfully you don’t need to do it alone. There are many addiction recovery centers who can help you find the tools necessary to deal with your addiction. If you’ve relapsed, it’s okay, get back on path and let’s make sure you get to your goal of sobriety this time.
Don’t wait until your life gets into a better place, the fact that you relapsed should be evidence that you need help sooner, rather than later. Send us a message or call us for help at (833) 596-3502.
