Relapse is a natural part of the recovery journey and can happen at any time of the year. The summer months can present a higher risk of relapse for some people in recovery, as celebrations like the 4^th of July, weddings, graduations, and vacations can all introduce relapse triggers.

For some clients with substance use disorder (SUD), relapse can be so debilitating that they may even consider death by suicide as an option (Kinney, 2024). Yet, relapse can also be a powerful teaching tool on the road to recovery. Below are 8 lessons relapse can teach clients:

1. Recovery is not linear! Relapse teaches that recovery does not always occur in a straight line but through a series of ups and downs. Setbacks do not mean failure and can be a part of the recovery process. We can help clients view relapse as a learning experience and normalize the experience as something that happens on the journey of recovery from all chronic conditions. Some long-term cancer survivors have periods when tumors return, and people in recovery from diabetes often experience ups and downs in blood sugar levels.
2. Trigger identification: Experiencing a relapse can help clients identify specific triggers or situations that lead to substance use, providing valuable information for avoiding or managing those triggers in the future.
3. Reaffirm the commitment: Relapse often reignites the commitment to recovery. It can serve as a reminder of why the journey began and the importance of staying dedicated to the process.
4. The need to adjust the recovery plan: Relapse can highlight for some clients the need to adjust their recovery plan to meet new challenges. For example, a client wanting to get closer to his family in recovery relapsed at midnight during a family alcohol toast. As a part of his adjusted recovery plan, when attending family gatherings in the future, he will be the first to arrive and the first to leave (before drinking starts), host events at his own home where no alcohol will be served, or spend time with individual family members instead of the entire group if group gatherings are a trigger for him.
5. The importance of a support network: Relapse can remind some clients of the importance of a recovery support network. This network can consist of individuals in recovery, supportive friends and family, and members of a recovery support group. While isolation can be a best friend of relapse, community can be a best friend of recovery!
6. The importance of self-compassion: When clients relapse, we can remind them of the importance of self-compassion. While we say SUD is similar to many chronic illnesses, stigma often causes those with SUD to feel intense shame, self-blame, and disgust when relapse occurs. As counselors, we can help by having a non-shaming and non-blaming attitude.
7. A learning experience: The road to recovery is an ongoing learning process. Each relapse offers new insights and lessons that can strengthen future recovery efforts.
8. The need for a whole-person approach to recovery: We are physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual beings. Relapse can be a reminder of the importance of focusing on all five areas in recovery, as a return to drug use can sometimes be traced back to unaddressed challenges in one of the five areas. For instance, the client who starts to isolate (social)  or is overwhelmed by feelings of distress (emotional) may be more vulnerable to a return to drug use if these areas remain unaddressed.

Helping clients recognize and prepare for summer triggers can empower them to navigate their recovery journey more effectively and embrace the joys of these sunny days with confidence and resilience.

In 1905, philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”  This post shares eight strategies that we hope you can use to instill hope and help clients who relapse learn from their histories and avoid returning to use.

References

Kinney, J. Loosening The Grip. (2024). Outskirts Press. Parker, CO. 

About the Author

Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, is the Illinois state project manager for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC. He is an international speaker and behavioral health consultant whose presentations and publications have reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, West Indies, Lithuania, and Guam. He is the recipient of four lifetime achievement awards, including NAADAC’s prestigious Enlightenment Award, the National Association for Addiction Professionals’ 50^th Anniversary Legends Award, the Illinois Certification Board's Professional of the Year Award and Jessica Hayes Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Barbara Bacon Award for outstanding contributions to the social work profession as an alumnus of Loyola University of Chicago.