Myth #1: All people relapse in recover.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, “as addiction is a chronic disease, periods of relapse, which may interrupt spans of remission, are a common feature of addiction.” However, it is also important to recognize that relapse is not inevitable. With learning, practice, and support, you can prevent relapses from happening.

Myth #2: Relapse just happens out of the blue.

Relapse is a process that begins long before the person picks up a drink or uses a drug. There are relapse warning signs that can alert you and the people around you that you might be in relapse mode. The earlier you can spot those signs and have a plan to deal with them, the better you will be able to prevent a relapse.

Myth #3: It is relapse only when you use your drug of choice.

An addiction is an addiction, whether it be drugs or alcohol or addictive behaviors. They all affect the brain and its functioning in similar ways. When you are addicted to one, you are more likely to get addicted to others. In addition, using any addictive substance takes away your ability to think clearly and rationally. You will more likely go back to your drug of choice.

Myth #4: When you relapse, you have to start from zero.

If you have been in recovery for a while, learning about addiction, acquiring necessary tools, and making positive changes, relapse does not take away all the progress you have made. Used appropriately, it actually provides another learning opportunity for you to build on what you have accomplished before and to strengthen your recovery.

Myth #5: Talking about relapse will make it happen.

Sometimes people are scared of talking about relapse. Because they believe it will make them think about using and then make them relapse. Some clients tell me: “I don’t want to go to treatment. It makes me want to use after talking about it.“

Risk of relapse and thoughts of using won’t go away just because you don’t talk about it. Besides, you can’t avoid all thoughts and triggers. It is simply a reality in recovery. What a wonderful opportunity it is to be triggered in a safe environment and practice your coping strategies with support!

Relapse is more likely to happen if you deny its existence and fail to plan. Secrets will keep you sick. But if you talk about it and proactively plan for it, you will be better prepared to deal with triggers and high risk situations .

Myth #6: Relapse means treatment has failed.

Recovery is a learning process. It requires many adjustments to a person’s way of thinking, feeling, and behaving, based on continuous learning and feedback. In other words, it takes time and practice. Treatment also needs time to adjust and to better help the person.

Myth #7: Relapse means the person lacks motivation.

Sometimes people have the best intentions. They sincerely want to stay sober. But they relapsed. Maybe they need more treatment or different treatment, better understanding, more effective coping strategies, more support, or a safer environment. A lot of factors can come into play. And only blaming on the person’s motivation can be very discouraging and hurtful. It also does not help with finding solutions.

Myth #8: Those who relapse over and over again are hopeless.

Some people do face more challenges in recovery than others, depending on the risk factors that led them to addiction and the length and severity of their using history. They may need more intensive addiction treatment. Trauma, depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues may get in the way. They may need more time to obtain necessary knowledge and skills, learn about their triggers and relapse warning signs and how to deal with them, know how to manage their mental health symptoms, and practice new learning in their daily lives. It is not easy but there is always hope.