Beware the relapse dynamic

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Last month, I looked at the 37 relapse warning signs that may become present in the life of a person in recovery. This month, I will study the relapse dynamic. The 37 warning signs can be summarized in 11 steps or stages that carry the individual from the recovery to relapse phase.

These 11 stages recognize the progression that includes physical, psychological, behavioral and social aspects of relapse and their relationship in the progression.

Change - Change is a part of life and is a major cause of stress. It can easily act as a trigger if the person is unaware that it is happening or is unprepared to manage it. Change can be either an internal or external event. Internal meaning a change in thought patterns, behavior and a change in life structure that interferes with the recovery program.

External meaning that something occurs that forces an alteration in daily structure and thus, increases stress.

Elevated stress - Change produces stress to which a person in recovery is apt to over-react or may have low tolerance.

Denial reactivation - As stress levels are elevated and become critical, there is a tendency to deny the presence of excessive stress in one's life. When the person in recovery begins using denial patterns to deal with the stress, other associated thought processes are triggered.

Post Acute Withdrawal (PAW) - Elevated stress intensifies the symptoms of PAW. As these symptoms, thought and emotional process and memory problems, intensify, stress levels are elevated further.

Behavior Change - As the results of PAW, reactivation of denial and chronic elevated stress, the recovering person begins to act differently. Although he/she may appear to be doing the same things, their behavior invites more stress and sets the stage for future crises.

Social Breakdown - With change in behavior, comes change in relationships. As the person in recovery begins to change behavior, that person begins to interact in a different way and there begins the breakdown in social structure.

Loss of Structure - Life structure begins to breakdown. Recovery plans, routine and daily habits are altered.

Loss of Judgment - Lack of structure, lack of support systems and increasingly severe PAW leads to confusion, disorder and the inability to solve problems or make decisions. The recovering person may be emotionally numb or be overreacting emotionally.

Loss of Control - The next step in the relapse dynamic is loss of control of thought processes and behavior. The person doesn't make rational choices and is unable to interrupt or modify his actions.

Option Reduction - The recovering person comes to believe that he/she is no longer in control of their life and believes that the only alternatives are insanity, physical or emotional collapse, suicide or using.

Acute Degeneration - The person returns to using. In this acute degeneration it is not uncommon for a person to have an emotional or physical collapse or attempt suicide.

In conclusion, many people begin recovery but fail to complete the entire process. The dynamics of partial recovery become cyclical and have a repetitive behavior pattern, more deeply entrenched with each repetition. What happens is that the person progresses to a certain point, but is unable to progress further and switches into the relapse dynamic. It is important to remember that the relapse process begins long before the first drink/drug is taken. Once a person begins actively participating in a relapse dynamic, he begins to undo the progress of treatment.

Until next month . . . .