{"id":119333,"date":"2023-02-16T10:29:03","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T15:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/screening.mhanational.org\/?post_type=article&p=119333"},"modified":"2025-11-13T16:08:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T21:08:40","slug":"what-happens-if-i-relapse","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/screening.mhanational.org\/es\/content\/what-happens-if-i-relapse\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00bfQu\u00e9 pasa si tengo una reca\u00edda?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Relapse\u2014or recurrence<\/strong>\u2014happens when someone returns to using a substance or drinking after they\u2019ve decided to quit. It is a difficult experience that can make someone feel shame, guilt, disappointment or feel like they\u2019ve lost progress in their recovery.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s only a moment in time and does not define who you are or determine the rest of your life. Try to be patient with and forgive yourself for what happened.<\/p>\n

Like learning any new process, it takes time to get better. When someone learns how to ride a bike, they lose balance and fall many times before they get it right. And each time they fall, they get back on the bike. Recovering from addiction<\/a> is like learning how to live again<\/a>\u2014there may be recurrences, but you can get back up and keep going.<\/p>\n

Recurrence is a part of recovery<\/h2>\n

A compulsion, not a choice<\/h3>\n

While using or drinking may have started as a choice, addiction<\/a> is not one. Between 40-60% of people in recovery experience a relapse. [1] When your brain and body have been dependent on a substance for so long, it can feel almost as essential as breathing.<\/p>\n

These cravings are compulsions, not choices\u2014they are out of your control. And having a moment of recurrence doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re not trying hard enough. It means that the recovery process is hard<\/a>. But it is possible.<\/p>\n

If you experience a craving or go through withdrawals, it may be difficult to stay strong, but you can do it. Try focusing on what coping strategies are working and what has worked for you in the past to resist using your drug of choice or drinking.<\/p>\n

Accepting recurrence and moving forward<\/h3>\n

The truth is that relapse can be very serious. Sometimes it could just be one drink or lead to an overdose. Accepting the recurrence and understanding that you can\u2019t change what happened is the only way to move forward.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to practice radical acceptance. <\/strong>This means accepting reality without fear or judgment\u2014not being angry with the universe because of the way things are. Radical acceptance is about being honest about what you can and can\u2019t control. For example, you can’t control the past (you already relapsed), and you can’t predict the future (you could relapse again), but you can control which coping skills you are using, and you can be honest about whether or not they’re working.<\/p>\n

We have to accept things for the way that they are, and not what we wish them to be. We all wish it were easier to quit using drugs or alcohol, but it’s not. It’s hard to confront yourself, but it\u2019s necessary for healing. This worksheet<\/a> can help you start practicing radical acceptance.<\/p>\n

Learning your triggers<\/h3>\n

I usually ask someone: \u201cDo you feel that there’s something that we missed or skipped over, something that’s coming up for you now that we haven’t worked on?”<\/p>\n