Relapse after a period of sobriety is an emotionally challenging experience. A common concern for individuals struggling with alcohol dependency is whether they’ll face withdrawal symptoms again if they relapse. Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Not only that, but the symptoms may also get increasingly severe.
However, despite being a disheartening experience, it doesn’t erase your progress in recovery. Relapse is not a failure but a setback to overcome with the right mindset and support. This article explores the connection between alcohol relapse and withdrawal symptoms and the stakes involved.
What Happens During Alcohol Withdrawal?
Alcohol withdrawal is your body’s response to the absence of alcohol after gaining some dependency on the substance. Alcohol’s removal after prolonged use leads to your brain struggling to restore balance. This issue manifests as withdrawal symptoms, which can range from mild to severe depending on factors like consumption rate.
The common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety, restlessness, and irritability
- Headaches, nausea, and sweating
- Tremors or shaking, seizures, and hallucinations
- Delirium tremens (DTs)
Another issue with relapse is the possible intensification of the withdrawal symptoms. This is due to the phenomenon called the kindling effect, where repeated withdrawal leads to more severe symptoms. Every time you go through a withdrawal, your symptoms will tend to be worse than the last time.
This makes safe withdrawal management difficult to do on your own. Sometimes, seeking professional help isn’t a suggestion but a crucial move to protect your health while taking steps toward recovery.
The Cost of Relapse
Photo by Yan Krukau: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-holding-his-face-7640494/
Unfortunately, relapse is a pretty common occurrence. One study indicates that roughly two-thirds of individuals treated for AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder) experience relapse within the first six months. The good thing is that it doesn’t dictate the end of your recovery journey. You also get better at managing and preventing relapse in time. Some studies claim that the longer you stay sober, the risk of going into relapse goes lower.
Relapse may feel like you’re starting over, except with the stakes higher with each incident. However, it’s important to reframe your mind and consider it a setback to overcome. But it’s equally important not to downplay its effects. After all, it carries significant costs that can affect more than just your physical health. It also poses risks to your emotional well-being and social relationships.
Physical Risks
Whenever you relapse, the severity of the withdrawal symptoms often increases due to the kindling effect. This places additional strain on your body and brain, which, in time, will lead to more intense symptoms. The milder ones, like nausea and sweating, can turn into tremors and seizures. It may even lead to the potentially fatal delirium tremens (up to 37% mortality rate).
Furthermore, repeated cycles of relapse can cause long-term health issues. It includes cardiovascular problems, cognitive decline, and liver damage. Keeping yourself from relapsing is important to protecting your physical health.
Emotional Toll
Relapse can trigger a new wave of negative emotions. You might feel shame, guilt, and frustration. You’d blame yourself for lacking willpower and not being strong enough, leading to diminished self-worth. You might feel like a failure and that you let your loved ones and everyone else who supported you down. This can create a cycle of relapse fuelled by self-doubt, which you try to soothe with alcohol.
When you relapse, you might also feel like you lost all your progress. This is a discouraging feeling that can lead to hopelessness. It can make you doubt if you’re capable of being sober at all, significantly dampening your motivation.
Social Impact
Relapse can place a big strain on your relationships, especially on those closely involved in your recovery. Your loved ones may feel hurt and disappointed. Or worse, they might be unsure how to help, creating a misunderstanding and distance. Your drunken state can also lead to arguments and even physical altercations.
It can lead to decreased work performance and absenteeism, culminating in job loss. Moreover, a relapse can lead you to withdraw yourself from your social circles, isolating yourself from friends and families. Your risk of getting into legal trouble, like DUIs or domestic disputes, increases with every relapse as well.
Stakes of Relapse and Motivation to Stay Sober
Whenever you go into relapse, losing sight of how far you’ve come is easy. Keep in mind that every day of sobriety is a victory you must cherish. And while you shouldn’t undermine the effort you put into your recovery, relapsing puts your hard-won progress at risk. Here are some important facets of life that are at stake due to a relapse:
- Your health. Prolonged use of alcohol can have a devastating effect on your body. It can have an immediate impact like the risk of injuries and long-term effects like neurological impairments and cardiovascular disease. Many of your organs are also at risk, not to mention the increasingly intense alcohol withdrawal symptoms you’ll face. Repeated relapse escalates these dangers.
- Your relationships. Recovery is rarely a solo endeavour. You probably have your family, friends, and support network who believe you can succeed. They may be actively helping you in your recovery journey as well. Relapse may strain the bonds you formed with them, maybe even destroy them.
- Your progress. Relapse doesn’t erase your achievements. However, it creates obstacles that slow your progress and make you feel like you are stepping backward. Recovery is a long-term investment, so the fewer setbacks you have to deal with, the better.
Steps to Take If Relapse Occurs
If you relapse, it’s essential to take immediate steps to minimise the harm done and regain control. The first thing you might want to do is to seek help immediately. Don’t let shame or guilt prevent you from getting the needed help. Contact your support network, such as your therapist or a close friend.
With the immediate issue, like withdrawal symptoms, out of the way, it’s time to reflect. Reassess your recovery plan. Which steps worked and which did not? Adjust them accordingly with the help of a specialist. However, don’t turn your reflection into an invitation to dwell on regret. Remember that regret won’t change anything, but your actions will. Acknowledge what happened and then commit to the next steps.
Keep the bottom line in mind: Relapse doesn’t completely erase your progress.
Renew Your Commitment With HARP
While relapse can bring back withdrawal symptoms, it doesn’t mean that it’s the end. It only means you need to keep going to overcome alcohol and build the life you’re proud of. A good mindset and the right support can go a long way.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to handle relapse, keep in mind that help is always available. At HARP, we specialise in compassionate care tailored to your needs while providing the maximum comfort. Whether you’re struggling with a relapse or are trying to prevent one, we’re here to help. No judgment, no blaming, just help.
Take the next step and connect with an alcohol specialist at HARP.
