It is very important to understand that relapse, just like recovery, is a process not an event. In fact what we discussed the relapse process, it actually ends when a person picks up a drink or drug. At that point you are entering a using episode. Everything that happens before picking up is actually the relapse process.
When exactly somebody enters in to the relapse mode is very difficult to define and can point. What happens is that very subtle changes occur in a person’s attitudes, beliefs, and emotions, all leading to the point were returned to chemical use makes sense. It is a subtle change in attitudes and thought processes that move a person from “I know I can’t use >>>>>>>>> I can use once more and control it.”
Let’s take all look a four stage model of relapse:
4 Stages of Relapse
First stage – I am on aware. I don’t see it, and have no idea I am in trouble. (people around us may notice subtle changes in attitude and behavior).
Second Stage – We become restless, incurable and discontent. Our focus chefs from internal to external, we stop focusing on ourselves and start focusing on other people around us. We start blaming, acting the victim, fear and anger start to become evident.
Third stage - Unresolved feelings occur and they are not dealt with in a healthy manner. We go into the emotional and physical withdrawal, the start to isolate. Negative attitudes start to predominate such as compulsive behavior is, we start discounting recovery, we engage in May it magical thinking.
Fourth stage - A crisis in our life causes provides the excuse for us to start using it again, or we create a crisis that rationalizes are returned to use. In other words, we have made the decision to use, and are ready to light the fuse.
As we move through the stages of relapse, a few different things are occurring. Firstly, the need to regain our ‘right’ to re-engage in our addiction seems to make sense. We talk ourselves into the false belief that this time we can control it.
There’s a gradual and progressive destabilization of our lifestyle. Lastly, Stress and Stressors will accelerate this process. The stress factors we’re talking about here can best be pointed out by observing the warning signs of relapse.
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