You may not know the term “chronic relapse” right now, but you’re probably aware of the behavior it describes. Chronic relapsers with drug or alcohol use disorders have been unable to remain in recovery and end up back in treatment for substance use again and again. They may not even know what’s making staying sober so difficult. Today, we’ll look more closely at what causes chronic drug relapse, the symptoms of chronic relapse, and how to identify a treatment program prepared to help women who experience chronic relapse break the cycle of addiction.
A “chronic relapser” is a person who’s been unable to stay in recovery and returns to drug and alcohol treatment or 12-Step programs over and over. Many factors may be affecting their sobriety. Some of them include an unstable home environment and a lack of treatment for a mental health disorder. They may also avoid getting the necessary support and care after detox or a residential treatment program. Many will identify with feeling emotionally or spiritually “empty” and a feeling of hopelessness or uselessness. Chronic relapsers can find help in a program offering dual diagnosis treatment for substance use and any co-occurring mental health disorder. Trauma therapy is an additional service that can help women whose past trauma is a factor in their use of drugs or alcohol.
Recognizing Addiction as a Chronic Disease
Substance use disorders can last for years, even decades, and relapse is common. Chronic relapsers may get sober on their own for a short time and then go back to drinking or using drugs. Some may try brief stints in 12-Step fellowships, hoping that meetings will make or break their recovery. They may stay sober while they’re in treatment, then return to drug use once the program is over. It’s important to recognize a chronic condition of any kind has no quick solutions.
How Hannah’s House Understands Common Signs & Symptoms of Chronic Relapse
The treatment team at Hannah’s House is used to seeing the signs of chronic relapse in the patient we treat. We see signs of hopelessness about recovery or a sense that staying sober is impossible. We see patients who come to us with a long history of relapse and time spent in various treatment centers. We see patients with little or no family support when they start treatment. Our addiction specialists recognize resistance in patients to accept how other issues in their lives are affecting their ability to stay sober. We hear the stories from chronic relapsers who say using doesn’t put them at risk. We see the obsession to drink or use drugs again.
How Hannah’s House Understands Causes of Relapse
A chronic relapse treatment center team has a full understanding of what factors can affect a patient’s sobriety. We’re aware of the harm of an unstable home life. We’ve seen patients who tried to quit using drugs by only going to detox. We hear about experiences in other treatment programs that weren’t customized for a patient’s needs. We’re aware of the strong connection between a co-occurring mental health disorder and relapse, and we see patients whose mental health has not been considered in their previous attempts at treatment in other places. We recognize why patients who attempted treatment before often struggle without a detailed, personalized recovery plan afterward.
Treatment of Chronic Relapse at Hannah’s House
We have a “big picture” thinking about chronic relapse at Hannah’s House. It’s thorough and comprehensive for each patient. We recommend supervised medical detox to help patients safely experience withdrawal. As a multidisciplinary team, we assess the mental health of each woman before admission to make sure we can address any needs they have in that area. In diagnosing conditions like anxiety or depression, we can create treatment plans integrating those needs with drug and alcohol treatment.
Working together, we customize a program to meet all the needs of each patient. We teach skills to help women avoid relapsing once they’re out of residential treatment. Those tools will be important for women when they return to their daily lives at home, with family, at work, and in the community. We encourage family involvement during treatment for chronic relapsers to begin to reconnect with loved ones and get the support they need to succeed.
Seeking Help for Chronic Relapse at Hannah’s House
Our treatment team sees patients who have been in and out of rehab for years. We’re equipped to help the chronic relapser with dual diagnosis treatment for substance use and mental health disorders. In each program designed exclusively for women and supervised by an all-female treatment team, we teach the skills needed to start and keep a recovery going. We place an emphasis on restoring good mental health and addressing any unresolved trauma as part of ending chronic relapse. We offer family programming to get loved ones involved, the same relationships that have been harmed by years of relapsing. Also, Hannah’s House offers help in planning for continuing care. We see this next step beyond residential treatment as an extremely important step in protecting the work our patients have done in their programs. The goal of giving women the tools they need to succeed and end chronic relapse is the biggest part of our mission.
About Hannah’s House
Hannah’s House is a well-known care provider offering a range of treatment programs targeting the recovery from substance use, mental health issues, and beyond. Our mission is to provide a clear path to a life of healing and restoration. We offer renowned clinical care for addiction and have the compassion and professional expertise to guide you toward lasting sobriety. For information on our programs, call us today: 561.841.1272.
