A relapse is a return to alcohol or drugs after some period in which either abstinence was attained or substance use was decreased. Many people believe that a relapse is an event, but it’s a process. Relapse is often preceded by pre-morbid conditions such as depression and anxiety and by high-risk situations like social anxiety and physical isolation. Often, relapse feels like the only option when managing life outside of treatment becomes difficult. Below is a list of 5 Signs Your Loved One Has Relapsed.
1. Personality Changes
Personality changes can occur because of relapses, which are hard to deal with. Your loved one might become irritable, even aggressive. They may argue, complain and feel like they have “nothing to live for.” The good thing is that their behavior can sometimes be directly related to substance use: one of them would have “gotten high” in the early morning hours, leading to daily alcohol abuse or drug abuse during their adult life. This can be easily detected at New Horizon Counseling Center.
2. Failure to Maintain a Healthy Routine
Relapses do not welcome healthy routines, which means that your loved one might have skipped out on work, school, or other important meetings. She may have quit her job and chosen to be homeless instead. She may be avoiding all responsibilities and feel like it’s not worth it to live anymore. This is a clear sign of relapse, and if she avoids responsibility, you need to take action before she hurts herself or others.
3. Appearing Rebellious
If your loved one has been acting out, you should be worried in an attempt to assert her independence. If she’s being “bad” and deliberately shocking you with sex or drugs, it may be time to seek help. She might also be rebelling because of past trauma; New Horizon Counseling Center is trained to deal with trauma-induced behaviors that threaten a patient’s life.
4. Increase in Substance Abuse
Your loved one may have been abusing substances and showing signs of addiction before the relapse. Still, their use may have suddenly increased during their time at New Horizon Counseling Center. This could mean that they’re having trouble controlling themselves, which is severe enough to receive treatment from an addiction specialist. If a patient relapses, it’s up to them to seek help for their condition. Most people suffering from addiction will try to hide their behavior: they might not admit to you that they’re using again until they’re ready to get into treatment.
5. Physical Changes
Physical changes can be caused by addiction, and some addicts start abusing drugs and alcohol during their active treatment. The same can happen during their relapse. If your loved one is not taking care of themselves properly, to the point that they suffer from serious health issues like diabetes or pneumonia, you should seek help. If they’re unable to get a job or lose a lot of weight without trying, you need to step in and make sure that they get back on track before it’s too late.
It’s hard to be the family member of an addict, but you can use these signs to stay on top of your loved one’s relapses. By acting early, you might be able to prevent serious consequences such as homelessness or the loss of a job. Relapse is just as serious as any other addiction. You must get your loved one treatment before it’s too late. You may take your loved one to New Horizon Counseling Center to get treatment for various issues, including substance abuse, anxiety, mood disorders, and more.
