Relapse Isn’t Failure
It’s also important to understand that relapse isn’t failure. This view of relapse uses the morality and willpower models of addiction. These models aren’t effective. They don’t account for the latest research and discoveries regarding addiction treatment.
Relapse can be a part of the recovery journey. After all, most people don’t do anything right the first time. Also, relapse can provide important insights to help you get clean. You can talk over the issues that caused you to relapse. This gives you a better idea of how you respond to different situations. As a result, you can work on better ways to stay clean.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says “when relapse occurs many deem treatment a failure. This is not the case: successful treatment for addiction typically requires continual evaluation and modification as appropriate, similar to the approach taken with other chronic diseases.”
For example, imagine someone being treated for high blood pressure. Their blood pressure goes down while they’re being treated. However, after they stop treatment, their blood pressure goes back up. That doesn’t mean the treatment failed. Addiction recovery is no different. You need to learn to forgive yourself if you ever want to get clean.
Additionally, different recovery programs work better for different people. Let’s go back to the example of someone with high blood pressure. That person might have a friend who also has the condition. A treatment that works for one may not work for the other. That doesn’t mean the treatment is at fault. It also doesn’t mean the person is at fault. It just means that a different approach is needed.
Relapse isn’t a sign your treatment failed. It also doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to a life of addiction. Instead, it means you need to rethink your approach to treatment. 12-step programs work for some people. Other people get no benefit from them. Some people benefit from all-natural detox treatments. Others respond better to replacement therapy. Relapse doesn’t mean you failed. It means you need to keep trying.