Addiction Recovery: Why Change Is Hard

When chemically dependent individuals go through treatment and begin addiction recovery, then they return to alcohol or whatever drug of dependence they preferred, the “failures” are always noticed because of the consequences that usually follow. Those who go to treatment and remain abstinent simply go about their lives — their family and friends appreciate the new way of life in addiction recovery, but it doesn’t draw attention. Addiction is called a disease of relapse because when the brain is rewired during addiction it takes a long time to readjust in recovery. The cravings and the triggers to use or drink again are powerful. It’s not uncommon for a person to relapse during the first six months of recovery. Some relapse after years of abstinence.

A few examples will help understand. A cocaine addict goes through treatment, then, once out of treatment, goes through a period where life is dull and colorless. This perception of greyness and dullness is the brain adjusting from the slow regeneration of brain chemicals and a sometimes long adjustment period. The brain chemicals that make a person feel good naturally have not regenerated. If in treatment the person was educated on this process of brain chemical readjustment, the recovering cocaine addict might make it through this period, but it can become so overwhelming the person might decide to drink alcohol as a substitute just to feel better, even if her treatment counselor warned against drug substitution. Once the alcohol has clouded her judgment, she might feel better but begin craving cocaine to feel even better. Let’s say she goes to a bar to drink, then she sees a old friend, and the old friend has cocaine, and then you can finish the rest of the story.

Another scenario is a recovering alcoholic in the first six months who is an executive. The executive is invited to a party with his boss and several important business associates. There’s a good possibility that if the executive makes a good impression on the boss and the important associates he might get a promotion he’s been working on. The executive has never felt comfortable at social events without alcohol. The executive knows he can’t drink, and he’s been doing good in AA, but he dreads going to this event sober and awkward. The executive gives in to the urge to ease his tension and decides he’ll only have two drinks, just to relax, then he’ll continue his recovery the next day. It’s hard to remain abstinent when there are so many environmental triggers and so much adjustment to go through to feel comfortable without the drug of choice.

Relapse is not the end of the world. Relapse can be avoided but it takes great and persistent effort. There comes a time in addiction recovery when the adjustment period is pretty much over and the desire to drink or use drugs is gone, and the temptations are easy to manage, but getting to that point is the struggle. If a person relapses, they can get back on track — the danger of relapse, though, is that many people don’t make it back. It’s always better to stay abstinent and to not relapse — then the risk is removed. Easier said than done, I know.