Many people get nervous that their loved ones in recovery are going to relapse. The reality is that this might happen. Relapse is a part of addiction and addiction recovery. However, that does not mean that a relapse is inevitable. There is also a lot of room for growth, hope, and healing after a relapse.
Help After a Partner Relapses
No one knows us better than our loved ones, which is why we can become so affected when they are struggling. This includes struggles after a relapse.
However, there are many helpful tools and support resources that can help both you and your partner after a relapse. Often, our recovery becomes stronger after a relapse occurs. However, it is important to understand how addiction and relapse can affect the whole family. Addiction is a family disease.
Better Understanding Addiction as a ‘Family Disease’
So, what exactly does “family disease” mean? It simply means that addiction affects far more people than just the individual who is struggling (especially the family). This is often why many people in 12-Step recovery refer to addiction as “a tornado that destroys everyone and everything in its path.”
Addiction affects the very way a family functions. According to the peer-reviewed journal Social Work in Public Health, “The family remains the primary source of attachment, nurturing, and socialization for humans in our current society. Therefore, the impact of substance use disorders (SUDs) on the family and individual family members merits attention. Each family and each family member is uniquely affected by the individual using substances, including but not limited to having unmet developmental needs, impaired attachment, economic hardship, legal problems, emotional distress, and sometimes violence being perpetrated against him or her.”
However, the good news is that while the family (especially the partner) is often the most affected by a loved one’s addiction, they are also in the best position to help. However, they must first know the signs and symptoms of addiction to look out for.
The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
Now, the signs and symptoms of addiction (also co-occurring mental health disorders) are always going to vary based on the individual. However, one can look out for many universal signs and symptoms of the disease of addiction. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Not being able to stop once starting to drink or use substances
- Experiencing physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
- Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
- Isolating oneself from family and close friends
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Experiencing trouble at work or school
- Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness
- Loss of appetite and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and well-being
- Engaging in risky behaviors
Now, as one can see, these signs and symptoms are serious. This is why reaching out for professional help as soon as possible is critical. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. Another way to avoid these long-term consequences and to recover from a relapse is learning to meditate in recovery.
The Benefits of Meditation for Recovery
Many people think that meditation requires a lot of preparation and a specific environment. While these aspects can be important, to start, this is simply untrue. One needs a quiet space, some solitude, and a willingness to quiet the mind. This is why it can work so well in the home. Of course, quieting the mind is often easier than it sounds. However, like anything else that is important, learning to meditate in recovery takes time. For some people, reading books on meditation can help, as well as playing calming music and utilizing aromatherapy.
Mindfulness meditation also offers countless benefits. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “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.”
The key is to find the right recovery tools that can help to avoid a relapse in the future. The beautiful part is that you and your partner can connect with these tools together.
A Focus on Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” We also know that a relapse isn’t the end, it’s a new beginning.
If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, then the time to recover is now. You can do this! We can help.
Partnerships (long-term relationships) can be challenging. This is especially true if addiction is involved. It can be difficult to navigate a partner’s relapse and then get them the help they need right away. However, there are many effective means, methods, and modalities that can help. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about helping a loved one get the recovery help that they need, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
