This is the first stage and begins well before a person is even thinking about using substances again. This stage is mostly subconscious but shows itself through negative actions and behaviors. Healthy coping mechanisms begin to hang in the balance as unhealthy emotions begin paving the way towards a relapse. Since the individual is not actively entertaining these thoughts, denial plays a huge factor in the overall admittance of these behaviors. Other signs of this stage include:
. Avoiding emotions
. Increased isolation and levels of irritability
. Poor sleep and eating habits
. Abandonment of self-care regimen
When the warning signs of an emotional relapse are ignored and go uncared for, there is an increased risk of elevating to the second stage of mental relapse, further opening the door for the third stage. This stage feels like being at war with yourself, as part of you wants to maintain lifelong sobriety, while the other part battles the conscious decision to actually use again. As resistance decreases, the brain’s stimulation to triggers increases. Signs of this stage include:
. Cravings and urges to use drugs or alcohol
. Minimizing negative consequences of past use
. Bargaining or substituting addictive substances
. Actively planning or looking for opportunities to use again
The final stage arrives when you neglect the warning signs that something is not okay. This is the stage when you begin using again, made easier when you are presented an opportunity coupled with the feeling of either getting away with it or justifying the act. This initial lapse can often progress to a complete relapse and feelings of no longer being in the driver’s seat of recovery.
