How to Know When Someone Has Relapsed with Alcohol

October 13th, 2021

One fact that is sung true throughout the
addiction recovery community is that relapse is simply a part of the process.
Of course, this isn’t to say that every person who overcomes addiction will at
one point relapse. Noone’s recovery journey is identical and everyone is on
their own path. However, what most people mean when they say relapse is a part
of recovery is simply that it is very common to relapse once or even more than
once before getting back onto the ultimate path of true sobriety. The relapse rate
is something between 40-60% for those in recovery.

Relapse is something that isn’t only difficult
for the addict, but also for those around them. Recovery in general is not an
easy road for anyone involved. There is so much to be learned and there will be
struggles for all involved. This includes the relapse. A huge fear for anyone
who has a loved one starting on their road to recovery is the thought of a
relapse. Knowing how common they are, it is easy to live with a certain level
of anxiety about if or even when it may happen to your loved one on their
journey. Many loved ones walk on eggshells for a while once their addicted
loved one is out of rehab and attempting to return to a new normal way of life.
Therefore, once you try to lighten up and begin to really trust your loved one
is on the right path, the right path being the path of sobriety, it can be even
harder to spot signs of relapse.

Specifically with relapsing from alcohol
addiction, there are a few signs that you can keep a lookout for in order to
know when it may be time to step back in and say something. Experts have
identified three common stages of relapse. These are emotional, mental and
physical.

An emotional relapse is the earliest sign of a
relapse. In this period, your loved one may not have turned to alcohol, but
they are going through some emotional experiences that may be pushing them that
way. This would be a season of immense stress, anxiety and even depression and
can be caused by nearly anything in their lives – not even necessarily related
to their addiction or their recovery. This
puts them at risk for relapse because they likely dealt with these
uncomfortable feelings by drinking alcohol in the past. Some behaviors to be
aware of in this period of time are isolation, mood swings or mood changes, and
a possible lack of or decline in self care.

The next phase is the mental relapse. If you
don’t get help during emotional relapse, it could progress to mental relapse.
During a mental relapse on alcohol, the addiction is not using it, but it might
preoccupy their thoughts. They may be thinking about how good it could feel to
relieve difficult emotions, boredom, or stress with a drink. At first, they
might try to convince themselves that they wouldn’t actually do it, but toward
the end of a mental relapse, substance abuse becomes almost inevitable. Signs of mental relapse include
cravings, justifying their consequences, romanticizing the idea of drinking or
using drugs, planning a relapse, blackmailing yourself or others to use, etc.

A physical relapse is the final phase, as it
means the addiction has won and the individual has indeed begun drinking again.
One important thing to note here is the difference between a slip and a full on
relapse. A slip is usually a
one-time event where you immediately feel regret and want to get back on track
right away. A relapse is a longer, more intentional return to alcohol abuse.

In
addition to keeping an eye out for these three phases of a relapse, there are
some warning signs and behaviors that you can be aware of.

–
Changes in physical appearance.

–
Theft or asking to borrow money.

–
Impulsiveness.

–
Sudden mood changes.

–
Missing meetings, therapy sessions, etc.

–
Returning to old and unhealthy relationships that existed
pre-recovery.

Ultimately,
if you feel confident that your loved one has relapsed, it’s important to speak
with them in a calm manner and try to get them back into treatment before
things get out of hand. It’s also important to provide extra support if you are
aware that they are under more stress lately or know of any possibly upsetting
life events taking place.

Awareness
is key and support is incredibly important. If you or a loved one are in need
of help with alcohol addiction, reach out to our team here at Windmill Wellness
Ranch. We’re always available and want to help provide a safe place for you or
a loved one to find sobriety.