The road to recovery is not linear. People often experience many ups and downs during addiction recovery. Part of this may involve lapses or relapses. Lapses are different from relapses in their level of severity.
Defining Lapse vs. Relapse
Lapses are different from relapses in their level of severity. A lapse is different from a relapse. Knowing the difference is essential as you develop prevention strategies.
What Is a Lapse?
A lapse is when somebody experiences a small setback from their recovery goals. Let’s say a person has dealt with addiction to alcohol, and during their most active use cycle, they were drinking an entire case of beer in one evening. If this person were to experience a lapse, they might drink one or two beers. This lapse will last only a short time.
What Is a Relapse?
In contrast, a relapse is when a person resumes full-blown consumption of a substance. During a relapse, this person will lose sight of their goals for reducing substance use. It is important to know the difference between a lapse and a relapse as you learn about relapse prevention.
Key Differences Between Lapse and Relapse
Overall, a lapse is often temporary and allows an individual to stay committed to their recovery goals. Relapses cause significant disruption of maintaining recovery goals.
Causes and Triggers of a Lapse
Many things can cause or trigger a lapse. These may be negative events that activate anxiety, or being in the presence of alcohol or other drugs. It is important to recognize your own personal triggers.
Stress and Emotional Triggers
Stress and emotional triggers can cause a lapse. These stress-related triggers can come from a variety of sources, from work to relationships. These triggers can be internal or external. For example, a person may deal with an internal stressor of anxiety, or an external stressor like a conflict with a friend. It is important to identify triggers so that emotions can be managed.
Exposure to Alcohol or Other Drugs
It is common for individuals in recovery to be in the vicinity of alcohol or other drugs. One challenging part of recovery is that individuals must manage the feelings that come up when they are exposed to alcohol or other drugs. For many, the familiarity of substance use leads to lapses, particularly when being placed in locations that remind the individual of their addiction.
Lack of Relapse Prevention Strategies
During addiction treatment, some people may have access to a range of relapse prevention strategies that can help identify triggers and develop awareness about their recovery. Relapse prevention often relies on having a variety of relapse prevention strategies. When someone lacks relapse prevention strategies, it can be more challenging to commit to long-term recovery, as lapses or relapses can be more common.
From Lapse to Relapse: How It Happens
Lapses can trigger full-blown relapses. During a lapse, a person’s use may escalate.
The Risk of Returning to Previous Levels of Use
A relapse means that a person has returned to previous levels of use. When this happens, it is much more challenging to resume the road to recovery. Depending on the severity of the relapse, a person may need medical assistance such as going into a detoxification program at a hospital.
Recognizing the Warning Signs of a Full-Blown Relapse
It is crucial to recognize the warning signs of a full-blown relapse. For many individuals, a full-blown relapse is usually accompanied by emotional triggers, such as anxiety, anger, or shame. A person will likely disregard or dismiss their commitment to recovery.
The Importance of Early Intervention
Early intervention plays a critical role in addiction treatment. A person who experiences a lapse can get help before they experience a full-blown relapse. Relapse prevention should be tailored to your unique needs and goals.
Opportunities to Learn and Grow After a Lapse
Lapses should not create shame. Instead, they are experiences that can solidify your commitment to recovery.
Treating a Lapse as a Learning Experience
While a lapse can be frustrating or shameful, it helps to reframe a lapse as a learning experience rather than a setback. By reducing negative feelings, a person is able to evaluate the circumstances that lead to the lapse. Judgment and shame can be triggers for full-blown relapses. Therefore, it is more useful to view a lapse as an opportunity to learn.
The Role of Medical Assistance in Recovery
For many, medical assistance plays a key role in recovery. Substance abuse is complex, and the road to recovery is rarely accomplished alone. Medical assistance can alleviate physical and psychological symptoms.
Adjusting Your Relapse Prevention Plan
Recovery from alcohol or other drugs is different from everybody. Therefore, adjusting your relapse prevention plan means that your plan is customized for your own goals and your history with substance abuse. Identifying triggers and strategies will help optimize your relapse prevention plan.
Relapse Prevention Strategies for Long-Term Recovery
Identifying your own prevention strategies is a benefit that will serve you for years to come. Learning more about strategies will build a strong foundation for long-term recovery.
Building a Support Network
Having a strong network of friends and community members will help you on the road to recovery. Identify people who support and honor your goals. You should not feel alone while navigating addiction treatment.
Developing Healthy Coping Mechanisms
For many people, developing healthy coping mechanisms helps to prevent relapses. Some of these coping mechanisms include calling a friend, meditation, therapy, or exercise. Replacing healthy coping mechanisms with the impulse to use alcohol or other drugs will create new, healthy habits.
Seeking Professional Addiction Treatment
It is never a weakness to seek professional addiction treatment. Rather, it is a strength. Professional addiction treatment provided by Aware is customized to fit your specific needs and goals in the road to recovery.
Working with Aware Recovery Care for a Personalized Approach
Aware Recovery Care provides In-Home addiction treatment that reflects you and your unique journey. With 78% sobriety success, we would love to be part of your support network.
In-Home Addiction Treatment Services
In-home addiction treatment services are ideal for many individuals because they can avoid the unpleasant nature of a hospital setting. An essential part of recovery involves understanding what will help with relapse prevention. For many, in-home addiction treatment services are ideal, as you are able to maintain the comfort of your own life while developing strategies and coping mechanisms. Whether you are addressing alcohol use, opioid use, or use of other substances, Aware is here to help.
Supporting Sobriety Through Long-Term Care
While short in-patient visits may lead to lapses and full-blown relapses, in-home addiction treatment services support the longevity of the road to recovery. Long-term care that is facilitated in-home leads to better outcomes for sobriety.
Conclusion:
Expert Care for Addiction Recovery, Without the Wait
Imagine if you could begin your addiction recovery today. Waiting for a space to open in an in-patient or out-patient program can take weeks, during which the road to recovery can be compromised by lapses and relapses. You deserve expert care now, within the comfort of your own home. Trust Aware as we help you navigate the road to recovery. Click here to speak with one of our team members.
