According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an estimated 40-60% of recovering addicts will experience a relapse. This is why Footprints Beachside Recovery is dedicated to giving recovering alcohol addicts the tools they need to beat the odds. Our program emphasizes the importance of healthy coping techniques that are proven to help people maintain a long-lasting recovery.
If someone you care about is a recovering alcoholic, you can also help prevent a relapse. We assembled this list of seven common alcohol addiction relapse triggers that could indicate your loved one is in danger of falling back into old habits. Here’s what to look for:
- Isolation from Friends or Family:The longer a recovering alcoholic remains in a state of social isolation, the greater the chances of an eventual relapse. Is your loved one constantly alone or unwilling to converse with you?
- Painful Life Events: At Footprints, we teach recovering alcoholics how to use healthy coping skills to heal after difficult situations in life. However, effectively using these skills requires ongoing practice. If your loved one has recently experienced a traumatic event, he or she may be at increased risk of relapse.
- Peer Pressure:Does your loved one hang out with people who are actively using alcohol or drugs? Recovering addicts who are exposed to alcohol use among peers are more likely to suffer a relapse.
- Boredom: Some alcoholics drink because they feel it makes life more exciting. This is why it’s important for recovering addicts to find healthy activities to pass the time. Is your loved one actively engaged in pastimes like painting, music or athletics?
- Drinking to Celebrate: Having a drink to celebrate a new job, birthday or happy occasion may seem harmless enough. In fact, some families even encourage this behavior. But, for recovering alcoholics, it could be the first step to a full-blown relapse.
- Being Overly Argumentative: Arguing over trivial matters or overreacting to the slightest transgressions could indicate a conscious or subconscious attempt to rationalize the use of alcohol again. Pay attention if your loved one is quick to engage in verbal fights or always needs to be “right.”
- Difficulty Sleeping:In a recent study released by the Journal of Addiction Medicine, it was determined that alcoholics in the early stages of recovery who got treatment for insomnia and other sleep disorders decreased their relapse chances. If your loved one frequently complains about poor sleep, consider looking into a sleep study.
Alcohol Addiction Rehab at Footprints Beachside Recovery
At Footprints Beachside Recovery, our alcohol addiction experts will develop a personalized addiction rehab program for your loved one, including a proven relapse prevention plan. Through the right treatment and support, we have helped hundreds of alcoholics stop drinking and start living.
