Signs of relapse after alcohol addiction treatment
When it comes to alcohol addiction treatment, relapse is a common feature that affects many people who leave rehab.
It is important to mention that a relapse does not happen instantly, it is a gradual process that creeps in on you without notice. Hence, a relapse doesn’t begin when you start to abuse alcohol, it starts when your behaviors, feelings, and attitudes begin to change.
If you want your sobriety to be permanent, you need to watch out for the warning signs of a relapse. When you know how to identify them, you will be able to take conscious steps to prevent them.
Poor social interactions
When you begin to notice that you no longer like staying around people, it might be a sign of relapse. If you begin to isolate yourself, it might be that you are relapsing because you will leverage your alone time to take alcohol without being monitored by anyone.
Therefore, you are likely to turn down opportunities where you will be around people because you want to spend time all by yourself.
Mental health symptoms
According to some studies, people who are experiencing mental health issues are at a higher risk for relapse. When you have an untreated mental health problem, it can prevent you from remaining sober in the long term.
For instance, if you have depression or anxiety, you might be tempted to self-medicate with alcohol, which can signify the beginning of a relapse. Therefore, it is important to get treated for it so that it doesn’t affect your sobriety journey.
Hanging out with friends who abuse alcohol
If you see the need to stay around friends who take alcohol regularly, you are likely to be back to your old lifestyle in no time. It is sometimes difficult to withstand peer pressure especially when you are not doing what everyone is doing.
Other signs of relapse may include a decline in self-care, missing your old lifestyle, cross addictions, cravings, etc. If you notice some of these signs, it is best to seek support before you actively become addicted.