Drug Rehab Lifeline
Living without Drugs and Alcohol
Challenges | Signs of Relapse | Keys to Success
Signs of Drug or Alcohol Relapse ....
Remember, drug and alcohol relapse is common. A relapse should be considered not a failure, but a bump in the long road to sobriety. The important thing is to recognize signs of relapse and handle immediately.
Relapse is usually caused by combinations of factors. Possible warning signs and triggers might be:
- Stopping medications without a doctor's guidance
- Hanging around old drinking haunts and drug-using friends
- Isolating, avoiding meetings, not using the telephone for support
- Keeping alcohol, drugs, and paraphernalia around the house for any reason
- Obsessive thinking about using drugs or drinking
- Failing to follow one's treatment plan, skipping doctor's appointments
- Feeling overconfident, that you no longer need support
- Relationship difficulties, a spouse who still uses
- Setting unrealistic goals, perfectionism, being too hard on ourselves
- Changes in eating and sleeping patterns, personal hygiene, or energy levels
- Feeling overwhelmed, confused, useless, stressed out
- Constant boredom, irritability, lack of routine and structure in life
- Dwelling on resentments and past hurts
- Avoidance, refusing to deal with personal issues and other problems of daily living
- Engaging in obsessive behaviors, workaholism, gambling, sexual excess and acting out
- Major life changes, loss, grief, trauma, painful emotions, winning the lottery
- Excusing relapse warning signs and triggers
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