Relapse

Relapse

"Relapse refer to the recurrence of any disease,disorder or behaviour after the compete recovery from that disease,disorder or behaviour and that condition is more worse than earlier condition."

Relapse of addiction

"Relapse of addiction refers to the recurrence of chemical or non-chemical addiction after a complete recovery from that addiction"

Reasons of Relapse

There are some reasons that leads to addiction relapse that are described below:

• Stress 

The most important factor contributing to addiction relapse is stress.  "Stress is a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life,work etc." By facing stressful environment the probability of relapse increases. The person can reuse the drug to reduce the stress as a coping technique and it leads to relapse. To avoid relapse person should adopt some healthy coping strategies.

• Negative environment and company

After compete recovery from addiction when a person come back to the same environment and company of friends that was responsible for his earlier drug addiction the probability of relapse increases. His friends (addicts) may forces him to reuse the drug again and he could not stop himself to take a drug. In this way chances of relapse increases. To avoid the relapse a person should change his environment.

• Unawareness about Triggers

If the person did not know about the triggers after recovery the probability of relapse increases. Every person have different triggers. For some people even a slight sight of an addictive object can lead to relapse while for other person it does not matter. Some people feel craving in addict's company that can lead to relapse. To avoid a relapse person should know about the triggers.

• Negative Emotions

After recovery person may have some negative emotions due to some unpleasant situations in his life like argument with friends, health problems, financial issues etc. When they feel helpless, hopeless, anger etc the probability of relapse increases.

• Lost or Unstable Support System

After recovery a person need support of his family and friends to adjust in the environment. When a person did not get any support or little amount of support the probability of relapse increases.

• Lack of enough sleep

The probability of relapse when a person do not get enough rest or sleep. He will get exhausted and it will effect to his mood badly. Lack of enough sleep leads to relapse.

• Hunger

After recovery person needs healthy diet. Researches have shown that main reason of relapse is poor nutrition. Healthy diet triggers many hormones in brain that can alter our behaviuors or emotions. Unhealthy diet effects our mood and emotions that can lead to relapse.

• Loneliness

Loneliness is also very important factor that leads to relapse. After recovery person feel guilty because of his earlier addiction. He did not know what he have done during the unconscious condition of drug addiction. He feels ashamed to face people. For this reason person may feel uncomfortable and begin to make excuses so they will not have to attend social gathering. By doing this he lives alone and feel sad. This loneliness leads to relapse.

• Craving

Craving is another factor that leads to relapse. It is not easy to get rid of craving even after recovery. Whenever a person get exposure of addictive objects he can feel craving that leads to relapse.

• Exercise

Exercise plays very crucial role in our lives. Researches have shown that exercise exerts anti-stress effects and main reason of relapse is stress. It mean insufficient amount of exercise leads to relapse. Exercise increases the level of chemical in brain that is known as galanin. Whenever a person feel stress it will activate the epinephrine in the brain, which activate dopamine, which is a chemical that is reported to induce drug or alcohol craving; conversely, galanin has shown to decrease nor-epinephrine, thus someone who exercises should experience fewer craving.