Well, finally the holidays are behind us. With all the festivities happening, it can be an amazing time of the year. The holiday experience can be fun, but they can also be challenging, and unfortunately for some, the challenge will, or has, translated into temptation. Addiction rears its ugly head and prevails. In many cases we addicts find ourselves right back where we started, without a light at the end of the dark tunnel. Fortunately for some of us, for those who have learned through a previous medical detox and rehab, are able to turn it around. They’ve had a slip and have gotten themselves right back into a medical detox.
Starting again is nothing to be ashamed of at all. The important lesson to learn is what triggers created the relapse.
Here’s a list of possible relapse factors:
- Stopping medications on one’s own or against the advice of medical professionals
- Hanging around old drinking haunts and drug using friends – slippery places
- Isolating – not attending 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 ones treatment plan – quitting therapy – skipping doctors appointments
- Feeling overconfident – that you no longer need support
- Relationship difficulties – ongoing serious conflicts – 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
- Sudden changes in psychiatric symptoms
- Dwelling on resentments and past hurts – anger – unresolved conflicts
- 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
- Ignoring relapse warning signs and triggers
Did any of you readers come across any of these warning factors of relapse? Over the course of the next couple weeks, we will delve into each of these factors. Stay tuned.