The road to recovery is one of the most challenging journeys to embark on. Every step is fraught with uncertainty and insecurities. It feels surreal at best, like a dream that you never want to wake up from. Sometimes, all it takes is one little slip-up, and you’re back at square zero, wondering if you’ll ever get your life back on track. These are some of a relapse.
The Feeling Of Remorse
It’s normal to miss your old life and be filled with remorse for your past mistakes. You will never forget about them, nor should you, but the guilt does get to you sometimes, especially when you see that one person whom you’ve wronged. If you’re experiencing this, take note of it. You might just be falling into the trap of your old life again. You need to fight back and know that you have a long way to go if you want to be free of past mistakes.
The Compulsion To Drink Or Do Drugs
One of the clearest signs is when you find yourself many times throughout the day desperately craving that something to take the edge off. Sure, you’d like to believe that it’s because you’re tired or bored, but deep inside, you know better. If this happens, you have a problem on your hands. You need to take care of it before it gets worse.
The Feeling Of Being Trapped
The recovering process is a very long one. It’s not something you can do overnight. When you feel like you’re stuck in a certain routine of meetings and counseling sessions or when you find yourself thinking about how long you may have to spend in the whole thing, then take it one step at a time, so you don’t feel like you’re trapped in this process.
Doubting The Recovery Process
It is one of the most common signs of relapse. You start to doubt yourself and wonder if you’re doing the right thing in staying clean and sober. You may begin to think that it’s all a sham, that you’re fighting a losing battle. If this happens, then all it means is that your body is tempting you to return to your addiction. It would be best if you reminded yourself about the reasons why you’re doing this in the first place.
Not Going To Meetings
Sure, it might not be easy to go out of the house and do what is supposed to be an important part of your recovery, but it’s necessary. It’s much easier to resist temptation when you’re surrounded by so many other people who are trying their best to remain clean and sober. When you start to avoid meetings, especially when it’s the main platform of your entire recovery, then you have a big problem in your hands.
Isolation
Being alone is never a good sign. It’s a sign that you’re thinking about your old life and how much better things were for you before you decided to quit drinking or doing drugs. You are trying hard to convince yourself that you don’t need to “give up” on your old ways, so you isolate yourself from the people who care about you most in order to protect them from your addiction issues.
Increased Anxiety And Depression
Anxiety and depression are common symptoms of a relapse that you might not understand unless you’ve been in recovery before. Despite having made a 100% commitment to stay clean and sober, it can still get difficult to manage the thoughts that bother you, like being lonely or causing harm to yourself or others. You might find your anxiety or depression increasing, especially as you go longer without getting high or drunk.
Arguments And Fights With Friends And Family Members
You’ve always been a peaceful person, but now you seem to be arguing with everybody and everything around you. It might be because you feel that they’re pressuring you to do things your way and you’re just being defensive, but the truth is, it’s a common symptom of returning to your old ways.
Hanging Out With Old Friends
Once you start hanging out with people who you know still have a strong connection with their old lives, then it’s time to start questioning your decision. It’s a sign that you might want to go back to what you’re used to. You need to ask yourself if this is what you want right now. In conclusion, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Knowing the signs of relapse would minimize the risk of falling into old habits and taking back control of your life. To better understand the signs of a relapse call, 844-639-8371.