Addiction impacts the lives of millions of people in the United States. The effects of addiction can be devastating. The condition often causes severe harm to a person’s health, safety, and emotional well-being.

Overcoming addiction usually requires treatment and a great deal of dedication and energy. Even after treatment, addiction is a lifelong condition. If you live with substance abuse or addiction, you will need to find ways to stay active and engaged in recovery for the rest of your life.

But what happens if you experience a setback and need to go to rehab multiple times? What does it mean if you can’t seem to break the cycle of addiction and need to go to rehab more than once?

Understanding addiction as a complex condition may help you understand why it’s essential for people to go back to rehab after a relapse. If you live with substance abuse or addiction, you must stay committed to the goal of lifelong sobriety and seek the support and treatment you need to get there.

For information about starting rehab or going back to rehab after a relapse, reach out to the Arise Treatment Center specialists today.

What Happens in Rehab?

Substance abuse treatment is offered in many settings and several levels of care. The type of treatment and level of care you need depends on various factors, including the severity of your addiction and your mental health and medical treatment needs.

The goal of all addiction treatment programs is the same: to help people overcome the physical, emotional, and behavioral roots of addiction so they can move forward into a healthy, sober lifestyle.

Because addiction is a complex condition, people require comprehensive treatment programs that include:

• Individual counseling
• Group therapy
• Education
• Skills practice
• Medications
• Mental health treatment
• Medical care
• Family therapy
• Holistic treatments, including mindfulness, yoga, massage, nutrition counseling, and art therapy

Before beginning, your doctor or addiction specialist will evaluate your needs and recommend an appropriate level of care. Many people require detox to get through withdrawal safely before entering rehab.

Should I Go to Rehab More Than Once?

For many, the road to recovery is not a straight path. Even after completing a comprehensive treatment program, people may experience a relapse–a return to substance abuse after a period of abstinence. Relapsing can be discouraging and may cause people to wonder if they are truly ready for sobriety. People who relapse may doubt that treatment is effective or lose hope that they can meet their goals.

But a relapse isn’t a roadblock. Instead, people who relapse can learn from the experience and use it to move forward in recovery stronger than before. For some, this may mean going back to rehab. Spending more time in rehab or completing another level of treatment can help people start fresh after a relapse and recommit to sobriety.

While many things may lead to a relapse, some of the most common causes are:

• Stress
• Boredom
• Overconfidence about your ability to stay sober
• Challenges that overwhelm your ability to cope
• Not enough time in treatment
• Cravings
• Exposure to triggers

It is crucial to seek treatment or support in the early stages of relapse before continuing down a destructive path.

Signs You Need to Go Back to Rehab After a Relapse

A relapse usually happens in stages. First, people may experience an emotional relapse. They may begin to alter their behaviors, including:

• Straying from their routine
• Skipping therapy appointments and meetings
• Neglecting hygiene
• Irregular sleep
• Eating irregularly or poorly
• Isolating

Mental relapse is the next stage. People experiencing a mental relapse may attempt to justify their thoughts or behaviors. They may say things like:

• “I’ll hide it better this time.”
• “If I quit once before, I can do it again.”
• “I’ve been working hard–I deserve it.”

The next phase is a physical relapse–using substances again.

Relapse is sometimes a sign that a person didn’t spend enough time in treatment to learn the skills they need to manage the addiction. It might also suggest that they are experiencing new stressors that overwhelm their coping ability. Whatever the reason for relapse, it is often a sign that a person requires more time learning and practicing new skills or more time to address the physical aspects of addiction.

If you recognize any of these thoughts or behaviors, getting the support you need to interrupt the relapse and get back on track is essential. This may mean you need to go back to rehab after a relapse.

What Should I Do to Break the Cycle if I Go to Rehab Multiple Times?

If you live with chronic relapse or need to go to rehab multiple times without success, you may require a different type of treatment or level of care. You can take steps to stop relapsing and set yourself up for long-lasting recovery from addiction, including:

• Attending an evidence-based substance abuse treatment program
• Finishing your treatment program
• Following your aftercare plan carefully
• Getting regular mental health and medical care
• Building a community support network–a therapist, 12-step group, alumni network, or other support groups

Don’t give up on your goal of a healthy, sober lifestyle. The support and treatment you need are available.

Get Help Now

There is no shame in having to go to rehab more than once. In fact, relapse is part of recovery for many people, and anyone can benefit from returning to treatment for stabilization after a relapse. But at ARISE Treatment Center, we can help you develop an effective relapse prevention plan and get you involved in an aftercare program, both of which will help you prevent relapse in the future.

If you or someone you love requires addiction treatment, contact the caring Arise Treatment Center specialists today.