Your cravings may have returned, especially if you’re under extreme stress or dealing with co-occurring physical or mental health challenges. You may have failed to overcome them.
- Maybe you used a substance once, and you feel horrible.
- Maybe you’ve been quietly using a substance for a while now.
- You may suspect or even know that your loved one is using again.
You may feel like relapse is an enormous, unforgivable setback, but it’s a typical stop on the majority of everyone’s recovery journey. It doesn’t have to define you or end your recovery.
Your risk of relapse isn’t a purely personal failure, either. Whether you relapse often depends on:
- The severity of your prior substance dependence.
- How developed your coping skills are at this point in recovery.
- Your proximity and reliance on a stable, healthy support network.
Regardless, St. Gregory Recovery Center understands that relapse happens, so we focus on relapse prevention, not penalization. If you or someone you love is in danger of relapse or has already relapsed, know that there is hope. We provide essential detox services for anyone who has relapsed for a prolonged period. You or your loved one can also eat well, receive nutritional education, evidence-based therapies, and crucial peer support while they stay with us.
Most importantly, we believe you can’t recover in isolation—and shouldn’t have to. Recovery takes a village, and that village is here for you in Iowa.
Understanding Relapse
Relapse can occur in two phases: lapse and full relapse. Lapsing is your first use after entering recovery, and it may only happen once. Experts consider continued use after a lapse to be an official relapse. Whether you lapse or fully relapse, you can still reflect and recommit to recovery and prioritize the following:
- Increasing self-care and awareness
- Committing to work-life balance
- Cutting out unhealthy relationships
- Nurturing a strong recovery support network
- Proper nutrition, sleep, and exercise
- Effective craving management
Overall, both lapsing and relapsing are ongoing processes, not an isolated moment. Each can start with subtle shifts in your mindset or mood. You might pull away from outpatient support groups in Des Moines or skip therapy sessions entirely. You could also find yourself visiting old haunts where you used or spend time fantasizing about past use.
Here are other early signs that your relapse risk might be growing:
- Slipping into behavioral patterns or habits that you had before entering inpatient treatment in Bayard.
- Failing to take your prescribed medications.
- Choosing to ignore or modify aspects of your treatment plan.
How Common Is Relapse in Recovery?
Very, especially during early recovery. However, relapse can also occur years down the road, which is why long-term support matters. For many, both the experience of relapse and the improvement that can follow could lead to lasting, positive change.
About half of the people recovering from alcohol use relapse within three months of detox, and studies suggest that about 60% of people with substance dependence eventually reach sustained recovery, but often only after multiple attempts. If relapse happens, reflect on what led up to it.
Getting back to balance may take a few cycles of:
- Lapsing and then boosting your involvement in a 12-Step program.
- Relapsing for a sustained period and then reentering detox services if needed.
- Shifting from intensive outpatient treatment back to residential treatment.
- Adding more boundaries and personal support to your routine.
Remember, relapsing doesn’t mean you’re a failure—it means you’re human. Each time you fight for recovery after a relapse, you build valuable experience.
How To Prevent Relapse in Iowa
Preventing relapse can start with the right support at St. Gregory Recovery Center. We provide services that address the physical and emotional elements of recovery and relapse. These may include:
- Detox support and management of withdrawal symptoms.
- Detecting and addressing any co-occurring issues like anxiety, depression, or insomnia.
- Introducing or reintroducing new prescription medications.
- Experimenting with or blending therapeutic tools that may reduce cravings and help you cope with difficult emotions.
- Behavioral therapies to help you build new responses to unexpected triggers.
Some effective therapy and support options include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you identify and manage high-risk situations.
- Family therapy strengthens your home support system.
- 12-Step facilitation connects you with group-based recovery communities.
St. Gregory’s approach can combine all of these elements, along with faith-based values, to help you build a stable, supported life in recovery. Whether you’re just starting or finding your way back after a full-blown relapse, you don’t have to do it alone. Contact us at either of our facilities in Bayard and Des Moines, IA, to get started today.
