Can You Talk to Your Drug Rehab Counselor About a Relapse?

Being committed to your recovery doesn’t mean that you’re never going to experience or struggle with cravings. In fact, once you exit the treatment environment, whether at the end of your program or as part of an earned, unsupervised visit, there may be times when you find yourself dealing with temptation constantly. Countless people have relapsed at some point in the treatment process.

The key to achieving long-term success often lies in admitting these failings, and learning how to rise above them. Without being able to speak with counselors about any mistakes that are made along the way, patients are at high risk of simply reverting back to their old habits entirely. As such, not only can you talk to your drug rehab counselor about a relapse, but you absolutely should. This will give you the opportunity to work through the many negative emotions that relapsing often causes. These include:

  • Feelings of failure and hopelessness
  • Low self-worth
  • Fear of failing again
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Anger

It will also give your drug rehab counselor the best ability to identify the mitigation strategies and support resources that are going to be best for you. Although relapsing can be incredibly dangerous for patients, it is unfortunately, quite common. It takes some people many unsuccessful attempts before lasting sobriety is achieved. The more comfortable that you feel in talking about all aspects of your journey; the more streamlined and needs-specific your care can become.

Identifying The Causes Of Relapse

One of the greatest benefits of being able to speak openly with your drug rehab counselor about relapse is the ability to identify its cause. More than anything else, treatment is a learning process. It gives you the opportunity to identify the underlying causes of your addiction, the stressors that cause you to use, and the temptations that are hardest for you to resist. You might be vulnerable to:

  • Unhealthy or codependent relationships
  • Guilt that’s causing self-defeating behaviors
  • Co-occurring disorders
  • Insufficient life skills
  • Damaging environments

Contrary to what many drug and alcohol users believe, lifelong sobriety isn’t about becoming stronger than the temptations that exist around you. It is about learning how to structure a life that is conducive to success. Over the course of a long-term treatment program, you will learn how to identify relationships and environments that are unsafe for you. Ultimately, by surrounding yourself with people who support your recovery and who are invested in your well-being and health, you can eliminate many of the triggers that compromise your ability to stop using, and can avoid relapse.

Identifying And Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-occurring disorders are among the most common causes of relapse. These are mental health issues that have yet to be identified, formerly diagnosed, and properly treated. For instance, if you struggle with chronic anxiety or chronic depression, you may be using drugs or alcohol in your efforts to self-medicate. Although substance abuse is having a very detrimental impact on your life, it may be that the substances you are using are also making it possible for you to live with the symptoms of an undiagnosed disorder. Getting proper treatment could be key to experiencing lifelong sobriety.

With the right medication plan, you can achieve mood balance and higher levels of health, without maintaining reliance on alcohol or illicit drugs. Speaking with your counselor about relapse can give this professional more insight into the state of your overall health. It can also be the first step in identifying any co-occurring disorder that may be at risk of completing derailing your recovery efforts altogether, until it gets treated. The overarching goal of drug rehab is to help patients achieve lifelong success. Although you might experience setbacks and other disappointments along the way, sharing these things with your counselor could be critical to achieving the desired outcome.

The more open and honest that you are in your counseling sessions; the more targeted and needs-specific your treatment will invariably come. If you are tired of experiencing the vicious cycle of drug use, get in touch with us today. We can help you establish a solid plan for reclaiming your life, improving your life quality, and overcoming the temptations and cravings that have overwhelmed you before. Call us at 772-266-5320 to get started on your journey to wellness.

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Essentials mission is to renew lives impacted by addiction through personalized and complete behavioral healthcare. Our main purpose is to provide services and education to the client and family that will support long lasting recovery of mind, body, and spirit.