15 Jul Staging a Vancouver Intervention After a Relapse
Relapsing in Vancouver, BC
Completing a treatment program and maintaining sobriety is not easy, and requires a copious amount of work and support. Although the person has learned essential tools for coping and managing risky behaviour in order to live a successful and healthy life; the possibility of relapse is a real stressor that many families and recovering addicts face.
Whether someone has been sober for years, months or days; a relapse can be devastating for everyone involved. Although the severity of the relapse can be minor, it can also progress into a dangerous downwards spiral of addiction and drug-seeking behaviour.
Some families will not be able to convince their loved ones to get help without the assistance of Vancouver Drug and Alcohol Intervention. It would be at this point where families will be required to seek out help from a qualified and professional Vancouver interventionist in order to perform a substance abuse intervention.
What to do After a Relapse
#1—Contact a Vancouver Drug and Alcohol Intervention specialist. The first step of staging an intervention is to contact Andy Bhatti Interventions Vancouver office.
A relapse is a difficult thing to face as a recovering addict. Initially, the person may lose confidence in themselves and the treatment program in order to stay sober. Additionally, they may have a harder time trusting those who were involved in helping them in Vancouver, BC such as their family. With the family’s assurance that a treatment is the best solution and will work for them; the individual may begin to justify using drugs again but have convinced themselves that they cannot be helped and have no hope for sobriety. It is then important that families support the individual and organize a Vancouver Drug and Alcohol Intervention in order to not give up hope that your loved one can maintain their sobriety and live a successful and healthy life.
Intervention specialist, Andy Bhatti, has experienced a large range of experiences orchestrating interventions. Our intervention presence is essential in keeping the intervention peaceful and productive as possible. Each person’s safety is our top priority.
With the assistance of a qualified Vancouver interventionist, the family must prepare for the most difficult aspect of the intervention, which is convincing the person to go back to treatment. Because the person has experienced treatment prior, there is some more planning involved with the family because the person will have more reasons why they refuse treatment. However, seeking the help and performing a Vancouver intervention is essential because the risk of overdose is greater after completing drug rehabilitation.
Because the rehabilitation process does a complete detox and the individual becomes completely drug free in the process; when they relapse, they generally go back to abusing the same amount of drugs and alcohol prior to relapse. Their body and the mind are not able to handle the same levels of substance abuse seen before treatment causing a higher chance of overdose after relapse.
How to Help Someone During a Relapse
A relapse does not happen at random, and it is a conscious choice made by the individual to revert to using drugs or alcohol again. However, there are indicators and behavioural changes that occur before the relapse happens that families can watch out for and use to help prevent their loved ones from relapsing.
Relapse is a process that is broken down into three stages:
- Emotional
- Mental
- Physical
Emotional
Emotional relapse is often the first stage of relapse and it generally occurs before the individual is conscious of the desire to use again. The individual will start showing emotional signs such as:
- Anger
- Moodiness and anxious feelings
- Erratic eating and Sleeping habits
- Desire for recovery often wanes
- Will begin lacking the use of their support system
These are the initial warning signs that a person in recovery could be entering the process of relapse, and it is important to recognize them as quickly as possible. Most parents, family members, or friends will generally pick up on the above indicators due to the familiarity of their previous experience. Early intervention such as encouraging communication before the relapse occurs is an option if they are still in the emotional stage and can receive support and guidance during this difficult time for everyone who is directly involved. The person recovering from addiction is experiencing a range of emotions, such as hopelessness and frustration and need a support system now more than ever to help them get back on track and recovery in Vancouver, BC.
As part of their relapse prevention, families should encourage them to stay connected with their support group, treatment centre and sober friends in Vancouver, BC.
Mental
The second stage of relapse is always mental. This is a vicious internal struggle as the individual has worked hard and has the desire to maintain long-term sobriety; however, that part of them is in a difficult battle with the other side of them that is romanticizing using. If the individual is not seeing support and re-direction prior to this phase, the mental relapse process will continue to progress causing dangerous thoughts about using. At this point, when an addict has decided to begin using, it will become very difficult to stop the progression of the relapse and it is only a matter of time before they give in to their urges to start using drugs and alcohol again, at which point the physical stage of the relapse will begin and seeking the help of Vancouver Intervention is essential in order to get them to agree to treatment.
Physical
The third stage of relapsing is beginning to use again. If a relapse occurs, it does not mean they will never be able to live a healthy, rewarding life without drugs, but they will need the support and help from the people around them. Drugs and alcohol are incredibly powerful substances and can lure recovering addicts back into dangerous habits—which is why recovery does not end and should be an ongoing dedication to maintaining sobriety. Desires for substance abuse eventually diminish and recovering addicts can live a successful and well-meaning life. Getting to this point takes time, and that is what causes the frustration—it is a marathon and not a sprint.
If you live in Vancouver, BC and are looking for information on our family intervention services or need help with a drug or alcohol intervention Call us today for your free consultation.
1-888-963-9116
Our Vancouver interventions save lives.