Why Does Relapse Happen Even When I Want to Stay Clean?
Recovering from an alcohol or drug substance use disorder is one of the hardest personal journeys a person will ever take. It is quite common for a person with an addiction to drugs or alcohol also to have underlying issues they are still working through, such as a mental health issue or a significant relationship or life change. This is why even though you do your best to stay clean during rehab, you may wonder why do I keep relapsing and turning back to the substance that you’re trying to stay away from. Let’s dig deeper into common triggers that may cause a relapse, what to learn from a relapse, and reasons why people go to drug rehab for professional help.
Table of contents
» What Are the Most Common Triggers for Relapse?
» How Do Cravings Affect the Brain During Recovery?
» What Can You Learn from a Relapse?
» When Should You Seek Help After a Relapse?
» Key Takeaways on Why Do I Keep Relapsing
» Resources
What Are the Most Common Triggers for Relapse?
While every person’s relapse triggers are different, the most common revolve around stress, loneliness, significant life changes, and finding yourself in a social situation where alcohol or drugs are being used.
The American Psychological Association defines a relapse as the “recurrence of substance abuse after a period of abstinence.”
When recovering from a substance use disorder, the people who experience relapse after rehab is not uncommon. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), between 40% to 60% of people with a substance use disorder will relapse at some point. This is because while rehabilitation can give you the tools you need to stop using drugs and alcohol, there is no cure for addiction, and it is something a person will battle for the rest of their lives.
Some of the most common relapse triggers include:
- Stress: One of the most common relapse triggers, those with a substance use disorder are used to turning to drugs or alcohol as a way to deal with stress. This stress can come from work, home, or any other daily situations you encounter.
- HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired): When your basic human needs, such as food, sleep, and social interaction, are not being met, this can trigger a substance use relapse.
- Major Life Change: Births, deaths, marriages, divorces, new jobs, and new homes are all massive life changes that can cause negative feelings, putting a person at risk for a relapse.
- Social Isolation: People in rehab often feel embarrassed or ashamed of their addiction, causing them to isolate themselves from others. This can cause stress and depression, leading to relapse.
- Social Situations: On the flip side, hanging out at your usual bar or with friends who use drugs and alcohol can put a lot of peer pressure on you, leading to a relapse.
- Overconfidence: While going through rehab, sometimes people feel like they are “cured” and “got this” — they can continue their rehab on their own without the guidance of a mental health professional. By not following a structured recovery program, you’re setting yourself up for a relapse.
- Physical or Mental Illness: Most times, people with chronic pain or a mental health disorder who are addicted to drugs or alcohol were using those substances for relief from their issues. If they do not receive proper care for their medical concerns, they may relapse.
How Do Cravings Affect the Brain During Recovery?
When a person is addicted to drugs or alcohol, they experience several changes to their brain, such as overstimulating the brain’s reward center. These changes to the reward center can set off and intensify cravings for substances, potentially leading to a relapse during the recovery process.
Experiencing cravings during withdrawal and rehab is not uncommon. A study published in the journal Discover Mental Health reported that about 82% of people participating in outpatient recovery for a substance use disorder who had used a substance within 30 days were more likely to experience cravings than those who did not use.
If you’re wondering, “Why do I keep relapsing?”, it could be because your brain has not yet rewired to its natural state that is not affected by substance addiction.
Dopamine
One of the most significant changes substance use disorder makes to the brain is by consistently increasing dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is released every time we do something we enjoy, prompting our brain’s reward system to want to do the same thing again.
During recovery, the brain becomes less sensitive to dopamine, meaning it requires significantly higher levels for the reward center to feel good. This can falsely make people with an addiction feel that the only way they’ll ever experience pleasure is through drugs or alcohol, and can trigger cravings.
Glutamate
Another neurotransmitter greatly impacted by substance use disorder is glutamate. In its natural state, glutamate plays a key role in reinforcing behaviors and memories. If its signaling is disturbed by drug or alcohol use, it can lead to and support addictive behaviors, and create intense cravings even during the rehabilitation process.
GABA
Addiction to drugs or alcohol can negatively impact the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), causing you to feel drowsy or sedated. When going through rehab and withdrawal, these changes to GABA can lead to extreme withdrawal symptoms, as well as cravings.
Norepinephrine
Norepinephrine plays the roles of both neurotransmitter and hormone in the body, playing a large role in the body’s “fight or flight” stress response and mood regulation. Stimulating substances can increase norepinephrine levels too much, leading to a greater feeling of stress and anxiety in people with a substance use disorder. During rehab, high norepinephrine levels can interact with dopamine, stimulating the brain’s reward center and strengthening the potential for relapse.
What Can You Learn from a Relapse?
While no one wants to relapse during their rehab journey, if it does happen, there are several things you can learn from it—such as your own personal triggers, the need for coping strategies, and better self-awareness—that can help ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Instead of asking yourself, “Why do I keep relapsing?”, ask, “What do I need to do to stop relapsing?” by learning the following from a relapse:
- Identify personal triggers that you may have initially overlooked or need to pay special attention to.
- Reinforce your trigger coping mechanisms to help protect yourself from further relapse.
- Examine and dig deep to become more self-aware of your own emotions or behaviors that could be leading to relapse.
- Recognize that relapse is not a failure and that recovery is a lifelong journey.
- Seek out additional help or talk to your mental health professional about alterations to your treatment plan.
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When Should You Seek Help After a Relapse?
Once you recognize a relapse, it’s essential to seek help from an addiction treatment center immediately. Letting a relapse continue can quickly put you back on the path to addiction.
While you may think you have learned enough to reverse your relapse and get sober alone, having the support of a mental health team as you work through the process is critical.
Additionally, professionals at an addiction treatment center can help you build a relapse prevention plan to help keep you strong and steady on your rehab journey. This plan may include:
- A complete list of your personal triggers with coping techniques for each one.
- Talking to someone about any bottled-up emotions.
- Educate yourself about your substance use disorder and what you need to do to be successful during rehab.
- Build a strong support network in your life, including family, friends, and support groups.
- Taking charge of your overall health through diet, exercise, and good sleep hygiene.
- Learning stress relieving techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, journaling, or yoga.
- Find something that brings you joy, such as a new hobby or sport.
Key Takeaways on Why Do I Keep Relapsing
- It is not uncommon for a person recovering from a substance use disorder to experience a relapse.
- There are several triggers for a relapse, including stress, HALT, social situations, and significant life changes.
- Drug and alcohol addiction changes the brain in a way that can cause intense cravings during the rehab process.
- While no one wants to experience a relapse, there are several things a person can learn from a relapse to help them not have another one.
- Once you recognize a relapse, it’s essential to immediately seek help from an addiction treatment center for further treatment and to establish a relapse prevention plan.
If you or a loved one recovering from a substance use disorder is showing signs of relapse, WhiteSands Treatment is here to help. Our drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers throughout Florida offer both inpatient and outpatient treatment services to help you recover quickly from your relapse and establish a relapse prevention plan for the future.
If you’re asking yourself, “Why do I keep relapsing?” call WhiteSands Treatment in Florida today at 877-855-3470 for the help and support you need to get back on the road to recovery.
Resources
- American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary of Psychology
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) — Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction: Treatment and Recovery
- Discover Mental Health — Craving among patients seeking treatment for substance use disorder
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
