Stress, financial hardships, interpersonal problems, and even physical pain can all lead to a relapse. Most of us can see the connection between these challenges and sinking into addictive patterns.
On the other hand, it’s much harder to understand why someone who seems to be doing just fine might return to substance abuse. Why do recovering patients relapse when things are good? Is this a form of self-sabotage?
This post will help you find the answers you need. We’ll also cover some risk factors and tips for handling the relapse of a loved one.
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Common Reasons People Relapse Even When Things Are Good
Let’s set aside the common triggers and check out other possible explanations.
1. They Get Overly Confident
Suppose someone has been working the program and maintaining sobriety for a while now. At some point, they might feel like they have their addiction under control.
They might be tempted to use drugs just once, fully believing they can handle it. After all, they’ve been doing well, so they think it shouldn’t be that big of a deal.
But it’s important to remember that addiction is a chronic disease that actually rewires the brain. Letting your confidence lull you into a false sense of security will backfire before you know it.
2. They’re Really Eager to Leave Their Past Behind
Sometimes, recovering patients are so eager to leave their substance use disorder (SUD) behind.
Sure, having a strong desire to change your life for the better is a good thing. However, it becomes an issue when your eagerness prompts you to skip important steps along the way.
Remember that treatment programs and aftercare plans aren’t set haphazardly. The counselors and other treating team members consider your unique situation, triggers, and risk factors when they’re shaping your addiction recovery process.
Skipping steps and taking a lax approach to self-care is a slippery slope towards relapse.
3. Positive Emotions Overwhelm Them Quickly
Most people can see how stressors and negative emotions can threaten someone’s sobriety. However, even a good mood can cause a relapse.
Being overly excited can overwhelm someone in recovery. Maybe they’re celebrating a new job or a relationship milestone. Either way, the intense feelings can push them to drink or use drugs “just this once.”
This usually happens when the relapse prevention plan doesn’t acknowledge the need for coping strategies during both the good and bad times. People on their recovery journey should plan for sober festivities and have a support system that respects boundaries.
4. They Find Themselves in a High-Risk Situation
Speaking of support systems, environmental and social cues play a massive role in relapse prevention.
Simply being around old friends who still engage in alcohol or drug abuse can trigger a relapse, even if nothing major happens during the meetup. Addiction triggers can involve certain places, scents, and activities.
That’s why identifying personal triggers is a focal point for many therapy sessions. The goal is to know what tempts you and how to steer clear of it.
5. Their Self-Sabotage Tendencies Take Over
To friends, coworkers, and family members, a person recovering from an SUD might look like they’re doing okay. That doesn’t mean they are, though.
If they already have a history of self-sabotage behaviors, their fear of failing might push them to use drugs again when things are seemingly okay. This is particularly true if there’s also a low self-esteem issue at play.
They may be scared that the program won’t work or that they’ll lose their loved ones’ support. To them, resorting to alcohol or illicit drugs seems like one way to avoid the emotional pain that comes with failing.
6. They’re Just Bored
For some people, letting go of drug addiction leaves a lot of room for positive experiences to bloom. Think spending quality time with loved ones, getting fit, and self-improvement in general.
When you look at it from this angle, all that space is a good thing. It creates lots of opportunities for growth and pushes the person to live a better, sober life, after all.
For others, however, free time is dangerous. It leaves them alone with their addictive thought patterns. And if they don’t have the needed willpower and coping mechanisms to deal with boredom, they might just turn to illicit drugs or alcohol.
When to Stop Worrying About Relapses
So, both hardships and good times can trigger relapses. Is there any time that would be considered “safe”? Can a person in recovery ever let their guard down?
Obviously, the risk of relapse is higher during the first months and years. That’s because a person who quit recently is experiencing a new, quite challenging way of life. Sources estimate that the average relapse rate for the first year is 40–60%.
Some experts say that the longer the period of abstinence, the lower the risk. The idea here is that the brain is remarkably plastic. It can reverse at least some of the damage left behind by illicit substances if given enough time and a healing environment.
Others believe that because addiction is a chronic disease, there will always be a relapse risk. That’s why people don’t use terms like “cure” when talking about addiction treatment programs.
Relapses Are Normal Parts of Any Recovery Journey
Regardless of which expert opinion you favor, it’s important to note that relapses aren’t a failure or a sign of weakness. In fact, they don’t necessarily have to be a bad thing.
If someone returns to drug use temporarily but learns from the experience and then uses this knowledge as they take a second go at recovery, they haven’t really failed.
3 Addiction Relapse Risk Factors to Watch Out For
Anyone could relapse even when things are going okay in their life, but certain factors can make this unfortunate scenario more likely.
Here are some risk factors to keep in mind:
1. Short Quitting Duration
People are generally more prone to return to substance abuse if they haven’t been sober/clean for long. It’s important to note that being clean and being sober aren’t the same.
Someone being clean indicates that they haven’t used an addictive substance for a short duration. Think weeks rather than months or years. You’ll also notice that “feening” for drugs is much more common among people who’ve used illicit substances recently.
Long-term sobriety, on the other hand, comes along with the sort of major lifestyle changes that can keep the common triggers at bay.
2. Poor Self-Care
Most people in recovery are familiar with the acronym HALT, which stands for hungry, angry, lonely, and tired.
For patients trying to maintain sobriety, these four states are particularly dangerous. So, they’re told the importance of self-care in any relapse prevention plan. Yes, even the most basic self-care aspects, like eating well and getting enough sleep, can help curb intense cravings.
They’re also encouraged to develop self-awareness so they can recognize the warning signs whenever they’re walking into HALT territory.
3. History of Using Particularly Addictive Substances
Some habits are harder to kick than others. For instance, studies show that the relapse rate for opioid addiction can be way higher (up to 91%) than that of alcohol dependence.
What to Do If a Loved One Relapses
Relapses that come after a good, long period of abstinence can be particularly dangerous. Unlike people who use drugs regularly, someone who’s been in long-term recovery doesn’t have a high tolerance. This makes the overdose risk even higher.
So, your first step should be seeking medical support, especially if you’re seeing overdose symptoms (lack of responsiveness, seizures, vomiting, etc.).
Some patients talk with family members and loved ones about potential relapses in advance. This way, they’ll agree on who to call in situations like this. It’s usually a counselor, a hotline, or a specific physician.
In the long term, however, you’ll want to focus your efforts on rebuilding the person’s will to get sober again. Remind them why they did it in the first place and tell them that relapsing is never a failure in and of itself. At this point, they need as much support as possible!
Get the Relapse Prevention Help You Need Today
Anything from overconfidence to emotional overload can push someone to use again despite being in a good place in their recovery journey. The key is knowing the possible triggers and planning ahead.
Being self-aware, working on coping skills, and building a reliable support system will go a long way in preventing relapses. And that’s what we focus on during our therapy sessions and support groups at the Garden State Treatment Center.
However, it’s still important to acknowledge that relapses can happen no matter what. Just know that falling back into addiction doesn’t have to be the end of your journey. There’s still hope!
Contact us today to learn more about recovery and dealing with relapses.
Additional Resources
- Recovery Support Resources from the New Jersey DMHAS
- New Jersey’s 24/7 Addiction Helpline: 1-844-732-2465
Published on: 2025-06-30
Updated on: 2025-06-30
