If a loved one has just recovered from drug or alcohol abuse or addiction, it is important for you to be able to identify any signs of relapse so that you can help the person take corrective action right away.
Here are the common relapse triggers to watch out for – Hunger, Anger, Loneliness, Tiredness.
Hunger, here, refers to the inability to nurture self, have adequate diet for right nutrition and live a healthy lifestyle.
Anger refers to the inability to regulate own mood. Anger may arise from an inability to accept life the way it is or from having unrealistic expectations. If the newly recovered addict is angry and they can’t get to a place where they can talk about their sadness or pain, anger can become a big relapse trigger.
Loneliness is also a big red flag and a warning sign of a relapse behavior. Feeling disconnected from others, especially loved ones and living in isolation can be a real problem. Recovery is all about connection and isolation and loneliness can push the person back towards addiction.
Tiredness of feeling lethargic all the time is a sign the person is not taking care of self. Exhaustion can be a sign of an inability to regulate feelings or overdoing it. A balanced lifestyle is important for relapse prevention and complete recovery.
If you find your recovering loved one hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, it is time to ask for help.
