Relapse Warning Signs List

The relapse rate among drug abusers is high. Some people became addicts using legally prescribed painkillers. When the painkillers have been flushed from the body in detox, the pain returns. Without pain management help, this person will probably relapse. Knowing the relapse warning signs list can indicate when someone you love is slipping back into old dangerous behavior.

Relapse Warning Signs List

If someone you love is struggling with recovery, he or she may be close to relapse. Learn these signs and you will be able to recognize if relapse is occurring. Relapse is dangerous. Once the body has been detoxed, it is no longer used to the amount of drugs it was addicted to. If your loved one relapses, he or she will most likely to take the same amount as before they won’t through detox. This can cause a deadly overdose. Knowing the signs someone is slipping toward relapse will enable you to prevent a disaster. The following relapse warning signs list includes the most common indicators that a person is about to relapse.

• Isolation – Your loved one may start behaving differently. He or she may avoid social gatherings, become secretive, or start lying. The person relapsing may start skipping support group meetings.
• In A Rut – He or she may feel frustrated with their recovery. Sometimes a person feels they aren’t making any more progress and become discouraged.
• No Interest – Your loved one may have lost interest in doing the things that aid recovery and miss their old friends and activities.
• Anger – Being mad at someone is always used as an excuse to return to substance abuse. Your loved one may be angry that life hasn’t turned out the way he or she expected and is blaming it on others.
• One Can’t Hurt – Your loved one may believe that one pill or drink won’t hurt; after all “everyone can handle just one.” This thinking is the most common sign of an impending relapse. It’s playing Russian roulette with addiction, and everyone knows who the winner will be.

There are many other signs as well. Be alert and notice things that are out of the norm. You may be able to prevent your loved one from relapsing.

The Phases And Warning Signs Of Relapse

Among the phases and warning signs of relapse is the denial of problems. A person heading for a relapse will deny that he or she is having any problems with their new drug- or alcohol-free life. Having family and friends believe everything is okay is important to the person in recovery. Your loved one may be able to fool you and others for a time, but they cannot fool themselves. Denial is an obstacle to recovery because problems are ignored instead of faced.

Negativity is another of the phases and warning signs of relapse. When comments are constantly negative about family, friends, the job, money, and life in general, your loved one may be looking for an excuse to relapse. Equally as dangerous as negativity is overconfidence. Too much pride and confidence can set a person up for a big fall. Being overconfident leads to complacency, which in turn leads to vulnerability. When a person lets his or her guard down, relapse can occur before the person realizes what they have done.

Relapse Warning Signs And Triggers

All of the relapse warning signs and triggers result from the person in recovery feeling overwhelmed. While in this frame of mind, he or she is unable to think rationally and can easily succumb to relapse. That pill or drink will numb the mind long enough to romance back into substance abuse. Traveling down memory lane to visit old friends and haunts is a dangerous trigger to dally with. Too often they only remember the fun and “good” times. When an old buddy suggests just one drink for old time’s sake, it can be the end of recovery and the beginning of relapse.

If you suspect your loved one has or is about to relapse, call White Sands Treatment Center for counsel and advice on the next step to take. They are ready to help your loved renew their recovery before the relapse takes over.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.