Why Do Addicts Relapse When Things Are Good?
Even after extended periods of sobriety, people often fall into active substance use again. Why do addicts relapse when things are good?
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Why Do Addicts Relapse When Things Are Good?
Relapse is an unfortunately common experience among people who are trying to overcome the compulsion to use alcohol or other drugs. The risk is greatest when a person is in early recovery, but slip-ups can occur after years or even decades of sobriety.
The simple answer to why addicts relapse when things are good is that substance use disorders (addictions) are chronic, progressive diseases:
- Chronic indicates that they are likely to be lifelong conditions, so the goal of treatment is symptom management, not a cure.
- Progressive means that, without effective care, the disease may become increasingly worse over time.
Examples of other chronic conditions include arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease. Not to be flippant, but in this context, asking why do addicts relapse when things are good would be similar to asking why someone experienced heart failure when their life was otherwise going so well.
Of course, relapses rarely occur out of the blue with no warning whatsoever, though their causes may not be readily apparent in the moment. And it’s understandable to wonder why things went wrong, especially if a person had been making steady progress and hadn’t run into any obvious roadblocks to their continued recovery.
Understanding Triggers
Another potential answer to the question of why do addicts relapse when things are good is that they encountered a trigger that they weren’t able to avoid or deal with in a healthy manner.
Triggers are situations or circumstances that can push a person back into active substance use. Often, triggers are negative experiences such as:
- Having a serious conflict with a loved one
- Going through a breakup
- Losing your job
- Being reminded of a past trauma
- Dealing with a financial problem or another type of ongoing stress
But sometimes it doesn’t take a serious setback to trigger a recovery. Below are four other reasons why someone might relapse even during a relatively positive time in their life:
Overconfidence
There are many good reasons why “one day at a time” is such a popular mantra within the recovery community. One reason is that focusing on the next 24 hours keeps you grounded in the present instead of worrying about the months and years to come.
A second reason is that it can prevent you from becoming overconfident. Every day represents a new challenge, and you can’t expect to simply coast on your past successes. You have to keep putting in the work.
If a person doesn’t guard against overconfidence, they may get to the point of believing that they can handle “just one drink.” This mindset, which can be reinforced by other successes in their life, can easily lead to relapse.
Misguided support
This is similar to overconfidence, but it extends to friends and family members.
When someone has established a solid foothold in recovery, their loved ones may mistakenly believe that they have been cured of their addiction. After enough time has passed, they may think it’s OK to encourage the individual to have an occasional drink without realizing they are jeopardizing their sobriety.
Boredom
Active addiction is a time-intensive experience. Acquiring, using, and recovering from the effects of alcohol and other substances can consume large parts of your daily life. When you stop using the substance, it can be hard to find healthy ways to fill these hours.
If a person doesn’t develop other interests or take on new challenges, it may be increasingly difficult for them to manage their urges and cravings. From that point, it can be a quick slide back into bad old habits such as using substances.
Self-sabotage
For many people, one of the more significant challenges of recovery is accepting that they truly deserve good things. Once a person has gotten used to the chaos and pain that are associated with compulsive substance abuse, it can be difficult for them to adapt to a healthier and more hopeful lifestyle.
Intentionally or not, people who struggle with these types feelings may seek ways to self-sabotage, which can include using substances again.
How to Respond to a Relapse
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 40%-60% of people with substance use disorders will relapse at least once. This doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to be successful, as the 2023 version of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NS-DUH) found that 74.3% of adults who have struggled with addiction consider themselves to be in recovery.
These statistics highlight the importance of responding to relapse in a healthy manner. Taking the right steps can prevent a small slip-up from turning into a long-term problem. Here are a few tips that can help:
Identify the cause
Understanding why you relapsed can be a vital step toward protecting yourself from similar setbacks in the future.
Maybe you had a particularly bad day, or encountered a trigger that you weren’t prepared for. Or maybe you’d become overconfident, stopped going to support group meetings, and otherwise failed to vigilantly protect your recovery.
It’s not always easy to identify a sole cause of a relapse. But the more you know about what contributed to the problem, the better prepared you’ll be to prevent it from happening again.
Assess the damage
Relapses frequently have repercussions. For example:
- Did you have a one-time slip-up, or have you fallen back into a pattern of habitual substance use?
- Has your substance use harmed your relationships or job status?
- Has it contributed to a recurrence of anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges?
If you don’t address these types of concerns, it may be difficult for you to put the relapse behind you and make sustained progress in your recovery.
Talk to someone
Few people enjoy talking about their worst moments. But in the case of a relapse, holding everything inside can undermine your efforts to get back on the path toward lifelong recovery.
Isolation can be a breeding ground for shame, guilt, and the other negative emotions that frequently accompany relapse. Talking to someone can help you process your experiences and put your recent setback into context. It can also help you determine which next steps are right for you.
You may prefer to talk to your sponsor, a loved one, or a professional. What’s most important is that you don’t try to get through it on your own.
Take appropriate action
Once you’ve identified potential causes, assessed the damage, and discussed the matter with someone you can trust, you’ll be ready to take whatever steps are necessary to heal from the relapse and minimize your risk of relapsing again. That may involve:
- Getting more involved with your support group
- Scheduling regular sessions with a therapist or counselor
- Altering your typical schedule to avoid certain people or places
- Entering a residential or outpatient program
These are by no means your only options, and none of them are necessarily right or wrong. All that matters is finding the path that’s right for you.
Find Help After Relapse in Northern California
If you’ve recently relapsed, or you fear that your sobriety is in danger, Bright Future Recovery is here to help.
Our rehab in Northern California offers a full continuum of customized services, including detox, residential treatment, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and virtual (online) treatment.
Regardless of where you are in your recovery, we can help you find your way toward the healthier future you deserve.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
