Relapse is when a person in recovery returns to using drugs, alcohol, or other addictive behaviors. It’s going back to unhealthy behaviors, which eventually bring about addictive patterns. People should know that a relapse is a part of the addiction recovery process. It doesn’t mean that the treatment has failed and there is a way to recover from it. After all, being in recovery is a lifetime journey.
Substance abuse and mental illness are often related. In some cases, drug abuse makes mental illness worse. On the other hand, a mental illness that is left untreated can lead to substance use disorder. In order to further understand the correlation between the two, it is essential first to define what they are.
A STORY OF REDEMPTION WITH GARRETT DEETZ
May 12, 2021
Listen to Garrett Deetz talk about how his life was like as a drug abuser and how he overcame more than just his addiction but life-threatening diseases that were about to finish him off completely.
To a lot of people, it doesn’t make sense why people who struggled with substance abuse would want to relapse and go back into whatever it was they were addicted to. It’s important to understand that their cravings are not because they are stubborn but rather because of a change in their brain that causes them to crave.
A relapse is a phase wherein a recovering drug addict patient goes back to the old ways. It only means that the patient yearns for the sensation of drugs and tries to be under the influence again. However, relapses are nothing but normal. Experiencing a relapse doesn't mean that the treatment failed. Recovering from addictions and recovery relapse prevention is a gradual process. Every little step is a victory, but every setback is an opportunity.
