Counselor Toolbox - Addiction, Counseling, And Mental Health Continuing Education | Recovery | Relationships | Clinical | Psy

Introduction Understanding Relapse Definition of Relapse: Relapse is the return to a problematic behavior or symptom that was previously under control or in remission. It can occur in various contexts, including psychosis, mood disorders, addictions, and chronic pain. Multi-Dimensional Nature: Relapse can occur physically (e.g., fatigue, pain), interpersonally (e.g., unhealthy relationships), emotionally, cognitively, environmentally, and spiritually (e.g., loss of meaning). Warning Signs and Vulnerabilities Early Signs: Relapse begins long before the behavior or symptom reappears; early signs may include stress, sleep deficits, nutritional deficiencies, and HPA axis dysregulation. Vulnerabilities: Factors like sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, chronic pain, and interpersonal conflicts increase vulnerability to relapse. Emotional vulnerabilities include dysphoria, anger, grief, and even euphoria (which can lead to overconfidence and neglect of recovery behaviors). Preventing Physical Relapse