Why Do Addicts Relapse When Things Are Good? | Icarus

The Relapsing Nature of Addiction and How to Get Support in Place

One of the hardest questions to answer in the recovery process is this: Why do addicts relapse when things are good? Someone you love may have completed a treatment program and had months or even years of sobriety, only to fall off track in their recovery journey. Why does this happen?

Drug or alcohol relapse doesn’t always make sense from the outside. On this page, we’ll break down some of the reasons why relapses happen and what you can do to provide continued support during these difficult times.

If you would like to explore addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one, reach out today to the helpful team at Icarus Wellness & Recovery in Boise, Idaho.

Get Effective Detox and Rehab Options at Icarus

Call Now: (208) 907-8881

Addiction is Known to Be a Chronic and Relapsing Condition

Addiction is technically known as substance use disorder. This is a condition that affects the brain systems responsible for reward, decision-making, and stress regulation. Those changes to the brain don’t disappear just because an active addiction is no longer in place.

It is considered a chronic relapsing condition because even after extended periods of sobriety, there is always the possibility that addiction will return and substance abuse will resume.

Environmental triggers, such as social gatherings associated with past substance use, can occur even during positive life events, leading to cravings.

It’s important to understand that a relapse doesn’t mean that treatment has failed or that the individual lacks motivation or discipline. Rather, it’s simply an indication that they need additional coping skills to deal with negative emotions and handle things well when stress from normal life appears.

Understanding the “Pink Cloud” Phase

One of the explanations for why addicts relapse when things seem good is known as the “pink cloud” phase. During this phase, positive emotions are running high, and the individual feels very optimistic about sobriety overall.

They are full of energy, excited about living a healthy life, and are confident that their addiction is under control and they’ll be able to achieve recovery for a lifetime.

This kind of hope sounds great, and there are plenty of positives about it, but the risk of overconfidence does exist. Long term sobriety is sure to include challenges and include plenty of ups and downs, and having too much confidence is dangerous.

That kind of confidence can lead to skipping support group meetings, failing to build a strong support system, and generally ignoring a recovery plan. When stressors come along, like relationship problems, it may prove impossible to avoid relapse because a strong foundation is no longer in place.

Emotional Triggers Don’t Just Disappear

During good times, it’s easy to believe that life won’t bring along any more experiences that are stressful, depressing, or overwhelming. Of course, that’s not how life works. There are sure to be events that come along and test your sobriety in a number of ways, and not all of them will look “bad” on the surface.

For example, there are plenty of occasions that are seen as positive things but can still be challenging for someone with substance use disorder. Events like weddings, promotions, vacations, and other celebrations all tend to encourage substance use, specifically drinking alcohol.

It’s easy enough to think that “one drink won’t hurt,” or “I’ve proven I can control myself now,” but that tends to be how problems begin.

And it is important to remember that relapse is often a gradual process that begins with emotional relapse, mental relapse, and ends in physical relapse.

Even a Healthy and Successful Life Includes Many Stresses

Stress in life comes in many different forms. We tend to think about stressful events as being things like a family member being sick, losing a job, or ending a relationship. These all do bring stress, but so too can positive developments that bring their own sense of responsibility and uncertainty.

For example, imagine getting a new job that offers stable employment and a good salary. This is a positive, but it can bring feelings of stress associated with maintaining the job and performing at a high enough level to keep the role. This can feel overwhelming.

In the same way, it can also be overwhelming to enter a new relationship that is going well at the start. You want to keep the relationship going well, and may feel stressed about the things you do that could cause it to end abruptly.

Getting Complacent in Recovery

We touched on this topic earlier, but complacency is one of the biggest risks that is faced in long term recovery. If you have been sober for years, it might feel like that part of life is behind you and that you’ve “graduated” from your substance abuse challenges of the past.

That’s not how this works, however. Rather than moving on, what you’ll be doing is setting the stage for a potential relapse when things get tough in the future. This is why mental health professionals tend to refer to relapse as a process rather than a single event. The emotional and mental stages of relapse usually happen long before the substance abuse actually occurs.

Allowing Mental Health Issues to Go Unresolved

Addiction and mental health conditions go hand in hand. If you manage to address your addiction without treating the underlying mental health issue, relapse will be likely at some point in the future.

Unresolved psychological or emotional issues can resurface during happy times, leading individuals to lack new coping skills for dealing with them.

Only when things like depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders have actually been addressed properly and treated by a professional will a future of sobriety start to come into better focus.

Letting Social Isolation Grow

The early stages of recovery usually include a strong support system and plenty of people being around to help keep you on track. These people can be friends and family members, sponsors and counselors, or others. This is a great start to sobriety, but it often fades gradually over time.

Eventually, these connections tend to fade, and social isolation can grow. That can bring emotional struggles to the surface and the temptation to turn back to substances to deal with loneliness and isolation will grow stronger. This is why maintaining a strong social network is considered to be one of the biggest keys to staying in recovery.

Helping a Loved One Who Has Recently Relapsed

As we’ve reviewed above, relapse is a common challenge for individuals in recovery from addiction.

For the person who relapsed, it is important to acknowledge what occurred during a relapse and take responsibility for actions. But this may not happen immediately.

In the interim, offering constant support and understanding is the best way to help a loved one after a relapse.

And while you cannot force them to get help or support, families should engage in their own recovery programs to better support their loved ones.

This can look like attending Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, or other forms of support for families who have a loved one who is struggling following a relapse.

Up To 100% of Rehab Costs Covered By Insurance

Call Now: (208) 907-8881

Get Professional Help Following Relapse at Icarus Wellness

Relapse prevention is a complex topic. There are many reasons why relapse occurs, and to make it less likely, all areas of life need to be considered.

If you have recently experienced a setback in your addiction recovery, or if you have a loved one who is trying to stay sober, getting help from a treatment program could be a wise step to take.

Reach out to Icarus Wellness & Recovery in Boise at any time to learn more about our services. Whether you are in early recovery or have been on this journey for many years, we would be proud to help. Give us a call today to get started.

References

Medical Reviewer

Edward Pelham