When Recovery Feels Stuck: Understanding Plateaus in Addiction Recovery

It’s important to set boundaries with family and friends in the early stages of recovery, including healthy friends and family members. Clear boundaries will help your loved ones support your sobriety and help you avoid temptation. Many addicts have a hard time coping with difficult emotions, and for many, drug or alcohol use became a way for them to run away from negative feelings. When a person is in recovery, things may feel positive initially. Ideally, recovering addict quitting their substance abuse will opt for a medical detox to go through the withdrawal process with medical intervention to help them remain sober. During the early stages of recovery, many recovering addicts will go through the detox process and experience withdrawal symptoms.

How our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) can help after a California sober relapse

A family therapist can help you create a plan that addiction relapse protects your values while staying open to reconnection. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous, so a medical assessment is important. Some people need detox again; others can enter outpatient care with close monitoring.

• That is where a relapse prevention plan plays a critical role.
• In fact, a reported 60% of people can remain sober after two years in recovery.
• In controlled settings, such as inpatient addiction treatment centers in Idaho, patients are removed from triggering environments and immersed in a structured therapeutic routine.
• Learning to distinguish a plateau from relapse risk is key (see Addiction Relapse).

Counseling and Support Groups

• Long-term recovery is strengthened through continuity, connection, and professional guidance.
• When we stop taking care of ourselves, we inherently tell ourselves that we aren’t worthy of respect and dignity.
• At 10 Acre Ranch, we believe that recovery is possible for every person.
• Explore our programs and see why we are the top choice for drug rehab and mental health treatment in Massachusetts.
• These approaches help individuals recognize patterns, manage cravings, and build healthier habits.

Old friends or even family members that are still using/drinking or that enabled your drug and alcohol use in the past can trigger a relapse. Like emotional turmoil, mental health issues can contribute to relapse—especially if those issues are left untreated. Many recovering addicts also have underlying behavioral health concerns that may require additional, separate treatment. Sometimes, a major “down” episode can put a recovering addict at risk for relapse because they don’t know how to cope with how they feel. Relapse is a common part of the recovery journey, not a failure. Understanding triggers and having a plan are key to getting back on track toward sobriety.

Why do some substances have higher relapse rates than others?

We employ evidence-based approaches like CBT to assist you in identifying the thoughts, behaviors, and situations that lead to substance use. We then practice healthier responses that actually work under pressure. Dual diagnosis means treating substance use and mental health together.

• What’s key is to recognize the early signs of relapse, so you can stop a backslide before it starts.
• Programs lasting 90 days or longer are generally more effective.
• By targeting both the emotional and behavioral aspects of addiction, these approaches help men reduce the risk of relapse while rebuilding self-esteem and relational trust.
• If you suspect someone is self-medicating, it’s important to offer support and encourage them to seek professional help.

Others may need a harm-reduction bridge as they build skills and stability. California sober often https://aipolicylabs.org/50-best-sober-living-in-california-with-pricing/ doesn’t change enough of the environment to lower relapse risk, especially if you’ve had repeated attempts to control use. If addiction is already in the picture, the brain doesn’t just crave a specific substance.

Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous addiction is a process that continues long after treatment ends. While getting sober is a major achievement, maintaining sobriety requires ongoing awareness, structure, and support. That is where a relapse prevention plan plays a critical role. Recovery after relapse will be similar to your initial substance abuse treatment. You will likely need to start with the detox process, and opting for a medical detox will usually be your best option.

When lives are restored, streets remain clean not because they are constantly cleared, but because fewer people are driven back to them. Used in combination with therapy and counseling, MAT reduces relapse risk and supports long-term stability. These therapies equip individuals with lifelong relapse prevention tools, not just short-term solutions. These approaches help individuals recognize patterns, manage cravings, and build healthier habits. Co-occurring disorders—such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or trauma-related conditions—often accompany addiction.

Aftercare Support and Relapse Prevention

Because addiction is a chronic condition, relapse risk does not disappear once treatment ends. A thoughtful plan helps you stay prepared, aware, and supported as life continues to change. Relapse occurs when an individual that was previously sober from drugs or alcohol returns to regular drug use or alcohol use. Relapse is different than a brief lapse in judgment where a person slips up and uses a substance a single time. Instead, addiction specialists define relapse as a total return to previous substance abuse.

In fact, at some point, if you don’t use the substance, you may feel worse. While 40-60% may seem like a high number of relapses, it is not an indicator of long-term sobriety. In fact, a reported 60% of people can remain sober after two years in recovery. After five years of sobriety, the chances of relapse decrease to only 15%. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports a 40-60% relapse rate for individuals with substance use disorders. In comparison, asthma and high blood pressure have a 50-70% relapse rate.