How Do I Stop the Vicious Relapse Cycle?

One of the most inspirational figures of the 20th Century, Helen Keller, famously said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” This is emblematic of the recovery journey, which is one of the most beautiful things a person may ever experience. However, that journey is not always smooth sailing. Sometimes the boat rocks. Many times this is due to the vicious relapse cycle.

Better Understanding Addiction

Many people don’t realize just how prevalent addiction is in the U.S. and around the world. 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.”

People also hold many misconceptions about addiction. The primary one is that addiction is some type of moral failing or “choice.” This is simply untrue. The reality is that addiction is a disease. Addiction is closer in composition to chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes than it is a choice.

It is also important to remember that addiction is not just a disease, but it is a “family disease.” This is because it does not just affect the individual struggling but it affects everyone it touches. As is often said, addiction is like a tornado that destroys everything in its path. This destruction can be even more devastating when co-occurring issues of mental health are present.

Better Understanding Co-Occurring Disorders

Just like addiction statistics, many people don’t realize just how common addiction with co-occurring disorders can be. 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. Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.”

It is also important to remember that millions of people don’t realize that they have co-occurring disorders. This can often lead to being underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Often, this is because many of the symptoms of addiction and mental illness overlap one another. This leads to one being diagnosed and not the other. 

The issue then becomes with an underdiagnosis one cannot fully heal at the cellular level. This is why being able to spot the signs and symptoms of addiction can be so important. It can literally mean the difference between life and death.

The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction

Now, it is important to understand that the signs and symptoms of addiction (and mental illness) are going to vary somewhat based on the situation and the individual. However, there are some more universal signs that can be looked out for. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:

• Not being able to stop drinking and using once started
• Loss of appetite
• No longer caring about appearance or personal hygiene
• Engaging in risky behaviors
• Exhibiting excessive mood swings
• Losing interest in activities and hobbies once enjoyed
• Isolating away from family and close friends
• Struggling with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
• Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
• Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness (depression)
• Committing self-harm or harming others
• Having suicidal ideations

Unfortunately, people often minimize the signs and symptoms of addiction and mental illness. However, as one can see, these symptoms can be extremely serious. This is why reaching out for professional help as soon as signs appear is so crucial. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. Again, this can be life and death.

Healing at the Cellular Level

When it comes to healing at the cellular level, one must understand that it is about healing all parts of the self. It is about more than simply putting down the drink or the drug. This is why many people often say (in relation to alcohol use disorder), “It’s about the drinking more than it is about the thinking.”

Healing at the cellular level is all about healing holistically (meaning healing the “whole” Self). It is about healing physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Of course, this is often easier said than done. One of the reasons for this is that many recovery centers only focus on their financial bottom line over their client’s well-being.

The Importance of Individualized Addiction Care

The reality is that the treatment industry is now worth billions of dollars. While this is positive because there are more opportunities for people to recover, there are also many bad actors that only offer overarching “one-note” treatment plans.

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we know that this type of recovery rarely works. It is critical that addiction care be individualized. After all, just as no one has the same journey in active addiction, no one should have the same journey in recovery.

Individualized addiction care should begin with a personalized intake that takes into account more than mere addiction. It must take into account one’s background, personal history, family dynamics, and occupational status. This personalized intake is also what can lead to creating the right comprehensive treatment plan.

The Multi-Angled Approach: The Importance of Comprehensive Care

Just as individualized care matters, so too does utilizing as many means, methods, and modalities as possible. This includes using modalities from all areas of recovery. One should have a recovery plan that utilizes psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). They should also utilize experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy and horticulture therapy. 

It is also critical to utilize holistic healing methods like yoga therapy, massage therapy, and mindfulness meditation. These are also methods that can help one get to the underlying root/cor causes of addiction.

The Importance of Addressing the Underlying Root/Core Causes of Addiction

It is important to understand that addiction is about more than the actual drink or the drug. No, it is more about the underlying thoughts and emotions that lead to taking that drink or drug.

Many people don’t realize that they have these underlying issues. Often, this is because these underlying issues are related to unaddressed trauma and/or post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).

Many people don’t realize just how prevalent trauma actually is. According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Medicine, “General population studies have shown that a large proportion of people in developed countries have been exposed to at least one TE [traumatic event] in their lifetime (estimates from 28 to 90%), with the most common events being the unexpected death of a loved one, motor vehicle accidents and being mugged. Much more limited evidence for less developed countries suggests that fatalities due to injuries and accidents are more common in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries… .” 

These unaddressed traumas can lead to deeper issues of PTSD. They can also lead to a relapse or a cycle of chronic relapsing. 

Better Understanding the Relapse Cycle

The relapse cycle is much more common than many people may think. 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.”

The relapse cycle has a lot to do with the underlying issues previously mentioned. However, it also has a lot to do with “people, places, and things” that can be triggering in sobriety. These are often people, places, and things that are associated with past drinking or substance use. Avoiding these situations is one of the best ways to stop the vicious relapse cycle.

How Do I Stop the Vicious Relapse Cycle?

Another ideal way of stopping the vicious relapse cycle is to connect with other people in recovery. Working with others can be such an important component of recovery that there is even a chapter in the primary text of 12-Step recovery (commonly referred to as the Big Book) entitled “Working With Others.”

The chapter states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking [and using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail….You can help when no one else can.” So, not only does working with others help someone else avoid a relapse but it helps the individual do so as well. It also gives an essential sense of purpose that is often needed for recovery.

Stopping the Relapse Cycle With ‘Traditional’ Therapies

There are many types of recovery that one should utilize while they are getting sober (the “multi-angled” approach). However, it is often recommended that the primary modality one uses be a “traditional” psychotherapy like CBT or DBT.

CBT and DBT can be particularly beneficial because it helps get to the underlying issues that lead to a relapse. They help an individual better see the negative way they view themselves and the world around them. CBT and DBT then help individuals change their cognitions (thoughts) and emotions (feelings) to ultimately change their addictive behaviors (actions).

CBT can also be particularly beneficial because it makes the individual an “active participant” in their own recovery. 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.” 

Experiential therapies can also be particularly helpful for recovery. This is especially true when it comes to stopping the vicious relapse cycle.

Stopping the Relapse Cycle With Experiential Therapies

One of the most common experiential therapies is nature immersion therapy. There is a reason for this; nature immersion therapy is also one of the most effective experiential therapies.

Nature immersion therapy also offers a myriad of benefits other than mere physical wellness. 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.” Also, “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” is also a big part of surf therapy.

There may be no better place to surf than on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. Thus, there is also no better place for experiencing the benefits of suf therapy. 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.”

Stopping the Relapse Cycle With Holistic Healing Methods

The iconic yogi and spiritual teacher B.K.S. Iyengar famously said, “Yoga allows you to rediscover a sense of wholeness in your life, where you do not feel like you are constantly trying to fit broken pieces together.” This is especially true when it comes to stopping the relapse cycle. Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years. Initially, it was solely a religious or spiritual practice. However, it has since moved into the realm of recovery.

The benefits of yoga 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.” Also, “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.”

Other highly beneficial types of holistic healing methods are acupuncture, massage therapy, reiki, aromatherapy, and mindfulness meditation. The key to multi-angled recovery is finding the right combination of modalities for the individual and sticking to it.

Stopping the Relapse Cycle and Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is especially true when it comes to helping clients who struggle with the vicious relapse cycle.

That is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive with a focus on the future. At Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, the future is friendly and recovery is right over the horizon line. The key is going out there and getting it. There is hope. Recovery is possible. We can help. As Helen Keller said, “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.”

Relapses remain highly prevalent both in the U.S. and around the globe. Many people struggle with chronic relapses, which can ultimately lead to recovery fatigue and devastation. The good news is that there are many safe and effective means, methods, and modalities for long-term success and recovery. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about the prevalence of relapses and how to best recover, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.