Six months into your “new” sober life, and you are devastated. It only took one week, but the substance abuse of your past has got its claws in you and has completely taken over. You’ve ignored every call for the past 72 hours, called in sick to work, and have felt yourself slip back into the darkness you fought so hard to free yourself from a few short months ago. Running out of hope, just like the last time you went to rehab, you are consumed with the sinking feelings of addiction.
Relapse after completing a treatment program feeds the feeling of failure, guilt, and shame. Feeling as if you’ve failed your family, your treatment providers, and most importantly, yourself, relapse is discouraging, leaving a person feeling as if recovery is out of reach. But the truth is, recovery takes more than one attempt for many people. Relapse does not define you, and you are not a lost cause! No matter how many times a person has tried, every trip to rehab provides the potential for growth, healing, and a brighter future.
Whether it is a person’s second or even third time returning to rehab, it is a courageous act that demonstrates resilience and hope. In this article, we are going to expose just how common relapse is after rehab, what causes it, and how to approach residential rehab differently the next time. Additionally, we’ll provide tips for choosing the right residential rehab center to support a stronger sobriety that lasts. What matters most is not how many times you fall; it’s how you get back up and fight for your future that really matters.
Relapse: More Common Than You Think
Setbacks on the road to recovery are not an uncommon occurrence. Because addiction is a lifelong disease, it can take time to overcome with multiple attempts at care to manage it effectively. More common than many realize, statistics show that up to 60% of people recovering from addiction will experience a relapse at some point. Surprisingly, this statistic is identical to other types of long-term diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
There are many ups and downs in the battle for sobriety. Relapse is just part of the “downside,” but it doesn’t mean you are weak or that you are a failure. It simply means that your old recovery plan needs to be readjusted. Some research suggests that it is common for someone to go through multiple rehab treatments before achieving lasting recovery. Ultimately, an additional stay in a residential rehab center provides an opportunity to learn, grow, and build a stronger foundation on the progress already made. You may be wondering why relapse so often occurs when a person has received treatment in the past. To answer that question, let’s explore the ins and outs, the whys and hows of relapse.
Why Does Relapse Happen?
Understanding the reasons relapse so often occurs can help individuals enter their next rehab stay with a new clarity. Beyond the fact that addiction is a chronic disease that requires a lifelong commitment to sobriety to overcome, understanding the other reasons for relapse can help a person prepare differently for the next time they receive treatment. Although there’s no single reason for relapse, it is usually a combination of factors. These include (but are not limited to):
- Unresolved Issues: Entering a treatment program for the first time is overwhelming. Often, a person has years of history leading up to this point, a past that requires many hours dedicated to healing the mind, body, and spirit. If contributing factors to the substance abuse are left unresolved the first time, chances are it will creep back up in the future, contributing to relapse.
- Insufficient Coping Skills: If stress, trauma, or exposure to environments spark cravings and an individual is not able to resist, relapse happens. This does not necessarily mean they didn’t learn any coping skills during their first treatment. However, relapse is evidence that a person’s coping skills need to be strengthened.
- Overconfidence or Complacency: These attitudes can be risky for those in recovery. Dangerous, especially for those who have been sober for a while, the feeling that they have “completed” recovery is an illusion. A person should never stop practicing the skills and tools they have learned to maintain sobriety.
- Lack of Support or Aftercare: Recovery is a lifelong pursuit. Leaving a residential rehab is just the beginning of the journey. Ideally, an individual who leaves recovery should still be attending therapy, support groups, and engaging in holistic activities. Going back to “life as normal” without aftercare and support significantly increases the chances of relapse.
- Unaddressed Mental Health Challenges: Sometimes, co-occurring mental health disorders like anxiety and depression go unaddressed or remain unresolved after leaving treatment. If mental health issues continue to impact an individual’s life, they most certainly can fuel a relapse.
These factors only feed the monster of substance abuse, increasing the feelings of isolation, failure, and hopelessness. We are here to say this is absolutely not true! Relapse does not mean you are a lost cause; it is a mistake with a message. Relapse points an individual to where they need healing and support in their lives.
Learning From the Past: Doing Things Differently This Time
Every rehab opportunity is a fresh start with new insights and a renewed focus to build a brighter future. Learning from the past provides valuable feedback about what was missing the first time. The fact that a person is willing to re-enter treatment demonstrates their resolve and determination for a better life. Here are strategies that can strengthen your next attempt at sobriety and make your next experience more successful:
- Be Honest: Take a deep look at what was working for you and what wasn’t working from your last rehab visit. Openly communicate these specific details with the current treatment center so they may tailor a plan to meet your needs. For example, if you felt like you did not have enough support after leaving rehab last time, it can be addressed when you complete treatment this time.
- Learn New Coping Skills: Make an intentional effort to learn new coping skills at future rehab stays. Whether it’s trying CBT, MAT, meditation, prayer, or mindfulness, you’ll want to implement new strategies into your toolbox unti you find what works for you.
- Address Co-Occurring or Underlying Issues: If you have realized co-occurring mental health issues since you left rehab the first time, be sure to relay this information to your next professional care team. If new things have come to mind, perhaps something from the past, ensure that the underlying issues are addressed this time.
- Rebuild a Healthy Routine: The structure and consistency of a residential rehab center significantly contribute to the success of the program. Individuals who leave rehab and fall back into old routines have a greater chance of relapsing. Take advantage of this second chance and work on creating a healthy routine that you can follow long after you leave.
- Engage with Community: Lean into your support systems, whether it’s friends, family, fellowship with fellow church patrons, or surrounding yourself with supportive peers in rehab. Connection is everything in recovery; you don’t have to go through it alone.
Every attempt at sobriety teaches you something. Even if it’s not your first time, learning from past experiences and approaching rehab with the openness to learn and grow, you can build a solid future on the lessons of the past. Each challenge on the way to sobriety is a stepping stone to a happy, healthy, and sober life. If you have been to rehab before but need to go back, read below to find out how to choose a rehab center to make this the last time.
Tips To Choose A Residential Rehab Center for Lasting Success
Going to rehab is not an easy step for a person to take, especially if it’s not the first time. Selecting a facility where you feel comfortable, safe, and secure can make all the difference. Reflect on your previous experience at rehab and determine what worked and what did not. Here are tips to help you choose a residential rehab center in Salt Lake City that will set you up for lasting sobriety:
- Look for a treatment center that prioritizes personal treatment plans for each of its residents. Rehab is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Each person’s story and history are different, and their treatment plans should be different as well.
- Look for centers that offer science-backed, evidence-based treatments, such as CBT or MAT. These treatments, along with therapy, counseling, and holistic activities, can provide comprehensive care that addresses complete healing.
- Look for programs that are capable of treating co-occurring issues, such as alcohol use and PTSD or drug addiction and depression. All issues must be addressed to prevent relapse in the future.
- Look for residential treatment centers that have aftercare, such as outpatient programs. Entering rehab for a second or third time demonstrates the need for continued support after you leave.
- Look for rehab centers that offer programs of different lengths. Relapsing may indicate the need for a more lengthy stay for complete recovery.
In Salt Lake City and throughout the country, there are many treatment centers devoted to helping people rediscover hope and purpose and build a firmer foundation for a sober future. The right rehab center will meet you where you are and get to the bottom of what’s holding you back from a healthy, meaningful future.
Hope Is Never Lost
No matter how many times a person tries rehab, hope is never lost. Recovery from substance abuse is about perseverance, not perfection. Every attempt made is a true testament to your strength, resilience, and desire for a better future. By learning from the past and embracing the opportunity of a second chance (or third, or fourth, or whatever), you can gain the tools and skills to lead a happy, healthy, sober life. Residential rehab centers are here to walk with you, offering personalized care, a supportive environment and community, and the hope you need to succeed. With the right care, the right support, and the right mindset, lasting sobriety and a brighter future are entirely within your reach.
