Understanding the Link Between Loss and Relapse

Most people will experience some type of loss in their lifetime. It is something that comes with the journey that we are all on. However, everyone processes loss a little differently and in their own way. This is also a natural occurrence. However, when that loss threatens one’s sobriety and recovery, it becomes an issue that must be addressed as soon as possible, because loss and relapse quite often occur together. The good news is they don’t have to.

Better Understanding the Prevalence of Addiction in the U.S.

Many people don’t realize just how prevalent issues of addiction are in the U.S. (and around the globe). According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “In 2022, 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (or 17.3%) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 29.5 million who had an alcohol use disorder (AUD), 27.2 million who had a drug use disorder (DUD), and 8.0 million people who had both an AUD and a DUD.” Addiction also often occurs with other comorbidities of mental health.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, 37.9% also had mental illnesses.” Also, “Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.” These comorbidities also often occur related to some form of trauma or “loss.”

It’s also important to understand that addiction is a disease, rather than some type of moral failing or personal choice. According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), “Over time, continued substance use causes permanent anatomic and chemical changes in the brain. Addiction is a chronic relapsing disease that we must treat as we do other such diseases. We do not expect the hearts of patients with heart failure to behave normally — we understand that their function has been altered by disease. Why, then, do we expect the brains of substance abusers to behave normally, since we know that their function has also been altered by disease?” 

The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction

Of course, one will not be able to determine whether a loved one is struggling with loss and addiction unless they are able to recognize the signs. The good news is there are many signs and symptoms of addiction that are rather universal. The following are just a few of those signs:

• Isolating away from loved ones and close friends
• Losing interest in activities and hobbies once enjoyed
• Not being able to stop drinking or using substances once started
• Experiencing physical problems such as extreme headaches (potentially “hangovers”) and gastrointestinal problems
• Feeling overly anxious, “stressed out,” or nervous
• Having feelings of uselessness, worthlessness, and loneliness
• Exhibiting excessive mood swings
• With loss and addiction, experiencing uncontrollable crying
• Exhibiting signs of self-harm
• Having suicidal ideations

As one can see, these are not insignificant side effects. This is why it is highly recommended that professional help be sought as soon as possible if any, many, or all of these symptoms are present. Getting this early help could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences.

Better Understanding the Prevalence of Relapse in the U.S.

Just as many people may be surprised to discover that the rates of addiction are so high in the U.S., they may also be surprised as to how prevalent relapses are. According to the peer-reviewed journal Current Psychiatry Reports, “It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature. Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment.” Also, “For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.”

Many people who relapse answer that they did not see it coming if asked after the fact. However, these same people often express that they stopped connecting with their recovery plan and stopped reaching out to others who helped to keep them sober. These are just a couple of the signs that a relapse may be on the horizon.

The Signs and Symptoms of a Potential Relapse

It can be particularly difficult to recognize a potential relapse for multiple reasons. One is because many people who relapse don’t realize that they are in danger of a relapse until it is too late. Two is because many people who “plan” a relapse do so while keeping their actions hidden from others. 

However, there are signs that a relapse is on the horizon. The following are just a few of those signs:

• Stops connecting with recovery meetings (such as no longer attending 12-Step meetings)
• Starts to become secretive with their finances
• Avoids their friends and connections in recovery
• Isolates away from family and friends
• Becomes easily irritated
• Expresses feelings of wanting to drink or use substances
• Starts to blame their feelings on outside circumstances (“playing the victim”)
• Expresses that recovery “isn’t working”

These are a few of the symptoms that loss may be leading to a relapse. Of course, there are also signs that a relapse may have already occurred (which look much like the “signs of addiction” list). Regardless of whether a relapse is about to happen or has just occurred, it is important to get help as soon as possible. These individuals need help healing at the cellular level.

What Does Healing at the Cellular Level Look Like?

Healing at the cellular level is all about healing the entirety of the “Self.” This means holistically healing oneself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Now, this essential cellular-level healing is particularly critical for individuals who are struggling with loss and relapse. This is because the loss and the addiction must be addressed at the same time if any progress and long-term recovery is going to occur.

Understanding the Link Between Loss and Relapse

It’s important to remember that relapses can often be a part of recovery, but they should never be normalized. According to the peer-reviewed thesis Addiction Relapse Prevention, by Doctors Guenzel and McChargue, “Individuals recovering from various forms of addiction frequently encounter relapses that have gained acceptance as an almost inevitable part of the recovery process. However, the normalization of relapses can reduce the urgency for providers, patients, and support individuals to prevent them from occurring. Countless individuals lose their employment, families, freedom, and even lives as a consequence of relapses.”

The link between loss and relapse also has to do with a physiological response that people who struggle with addiction often share. According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychodynamic Psychiatry, “With respect to addiction as a pathological attachment that must be extinguished, repaired or replaced, [in] ‘Denial/Precontemplation’ the environmental need for drastic change has presented itself, but the individual is only minimally aware. In ‘Anger/Contemplation’ the individual is aware of the need for change but also their investment in the status quo, and so is drawn into a consuming inner conflict, often with substantial emotional manifestations, about what to do.” 

Addressing Loss and Relapse With Psychotherapy

Many people who struggle with grief and loss turn to psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help them address their underlying root/core emotions.

Psychotherapies like CBT and DBT are also often the foundational modalities used for those recovering from addiction because they focus on the reason why individuals drink and use rather than simply focusing on abstinence (which, of course, is also vital).

The Benefits of CBT and DBT

CBT can be particularly beneficial because it allows the client to become an “active participant” in the process. According to the peer-reviewed journal Cognitive Therapy and Research, “Consistent with the medical model of psychiatry, the overall goal of treatment is symptom reduction, improvement in functioning, and remission of the disorder. In order to achieve this goal, the patient becomes an active participant in a collaborative problem-solving process to test and challenge the validity of maladaptive cognitions and to modify maladaptive behavioral patterns…. Although these strategies greatly emphasize cognitive factors, physiological, emotional, and behavioral components are also recognized for the role that they play in the maintenance of the disorder.”

DBT can also be highly effective for individuals struggling with loss and relapse. This is especially true if they have comorbidities. According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychiatry (Edgmont), “Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD). The patient populations for which DBT has the most empirical support include parasuicidal women with borderline personality disorder (BPD), but there have been promising findings for patients with BPD and substance use disorders (SUDs), persons who meet criteria for binge-eating disorder, and depressed elderly patients.” Experiential therapies can also be highly beneficial.

Addressing Loss and Relapse With Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapies differ from psychotherapies in that they focus on natural experiences and creative expressions rather than direct discussions. Of course, discussion with professional psychologists is part of the process.

There are many types of experiential therapies that can be effective in helping individuals with loss and relapse. On Hawaii’s Big Island, nature-based therapies are particularly ideal because they offer such amazing landscapes and seascapes.

The Benefits of Nature-Based Therapies

Nature immersion therapy offers a myriad of benefits for loss and relapse. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Besides improvements to physical and psychological well-being, exposure to natural environments has been shown to bring about positive impacts on cognitive functioning…. While cognitive restoration and physiological well-being are the prominent and renowned benefits of nature exposure, there is one important construct that is often overlooked in environmental psychology research studies – that is, the human-nature relationship; also known as connectedness to nature (CN).” This “CN” can also happen when surfing in the Pacific Ocean.

The many benefits of surf therapy are still being discovered. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Carefully planned water activities tailored to the needs of the individual can contribute to correct psychosocial and cognitive development. The International Surf Therapy Organization summarizes the benefits of adequately indicated surf therapy as follows: improved physical health and mobility; improved mental health, including reduction of specific symptoms, such as posttraumatic stress and depression; improved well-being (strengthening of trust and confidence, encouragement of independence, resilience and protective coping strategies) and improved social skills.” Horticulture therapy is also ideal on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island.

According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “People’s interactions with plants, through goal-orientated horticultural activities in the form of active gardening, as well as the passive appreciation of nature, could be therapeutic to people with mental disorders in many ways. First, horticulture could have emotional benefits, such as reducing stress, reducing psychiatric symptoms, stabilizing mood, and increasing the sense of tranquility, spirituality, and enjoyment. Second, it could help people to reduce fatigue and restore attention and cognitive ability.” This also resembles many holistic practices that can be beneficial for recovery from loss and relapse.

Addressing Loss and Relapse With Holistic Healing Methods

As previously mentioned, holistic healing is all about addressing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of oneself. This is truly the best way the way to heal at the cellular level.

There are also many different ways to heal holistically, such as massage, acupuncture, reiki, aroma therapy, and music therapy. However, the two staples of holistic healing that can best be utilized for recovery are yoga and meditation.

The Benefits of Yoga and Meditation

Yoga and meditation have been practiced for thousands of years. Originally they were utilized as sole religious and/or spiritual practices but have since moved into the realm of recovery. This includes recovery from relapse and healing from loss.

The benefits of yoga therapy are vast and varied. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Therapeutic yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions. Yoga therapy involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional, and spiritual pain, suffering, or limitations. Yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.”

Meditation is ideal for recovery because it can be done anywhere. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “During the process of meditation, accumulated stresses are removed, energy is increased, and health is positively affected overall. Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency. Physiological benefits include reduced blood pressure, heart rate, lactate, cortisol, and epinephrine; decreased metabolism, breathing pattern, oxygen utilization, and carbon dioxide elimination; and increased melatonin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), skin resistance, and relative blood flow to the brain.”

Recovering From Loss and Relapse With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we understand that loss and relapse are very dangerous bedfellows. That is why all of our individualized and comprehensive recovery plans have a focus on the long term, so our clients will be able to manage the tough times when they arise.

The iconic author and spiritual leader Ram Dass famously said, in life, “We’re all just walking each other home.” The same is true here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab. Recovery is out there. The key is to walk out and get it. We can help.

There is a significant and dangerous connection between the loss of a loved one and relapse. The emotional triggers associated with loss can easily “trigger” a relapse if the right tools are not in place. The good news is that here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we provide a safe and supportive environment for healing during such challenging times. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with loss or any other issue with addiction or mental illness, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. You can do this. For more information about how to heal at the cellular level, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.