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Warning Signs of Relapse

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Recovery encompasses overcoming challenges, celebrating victories, and sometimes facing setbacks. While going through all of this, it is important to notice the warning signs of relapse to maintain long-term sobriety. 

This guide provides deep insight into the early signs that may suggest an impending relapse, supported by current data and relevant studies. 

Southern Sky Recovery is committed to walking this path with you and supporting you through every high and low. Our outpatient rehab in Bluffton, SC, can help you get back on the path to recovery. Contact our team today to learn more.

The Early Birds Catch the Worm: Identifying Warning Signs

Relapses don’t happen instantly but develop slowly over weeks or even months before the actual incidence. Recognizing these first symptoms can mean the difference between stumbling or falling completely.

Emotional Stage Signs

The journey toward relapsing usually begins way ahead of the return of physical cravings. Here are some emotional symptoms to watch for:

  • Becoming more isolated: Moving away from friends, family, or recovery groups who might be offering support.
  • Missing meetings: Failing to go for therapy sessions or support group meetings without genuine reason.
  • Mood swings: Having swift unexplained mood shifts from fury to sorrow.
  • Defensiveness: Reacting negatively when loved ones raise issues concerning their conduct or well-being.

Mental Stage Signs

Then, it starts getting tough as one’s mind battles against itself. The warning signs within this phase include:

  • Pining for past use: Remembering past substance abuse fondly while forgetting about its adverse outcomes.
  • Negotiating: Considering using “just one time” or thinking they will handle themselves better this time.
  • Lying: Hiding true feelings and actions from themselves and others around them.
  • Planning a relapse: They are beginning to plan when, where, how much drugs to get, and how they are going to do it.

Physical Stage Signs

This is the final step before a full relapse occurs and is often characterized by:

  • Reconnecting with old friends: Contacting friends who still use.
  • Going back to hiding places: Visiting areas where drugs were commonly used.
  • Craving the substance in physical form: Yearning again for substances that were once consumed.

Staying One Step Ahead: Treatments for Each Stage

At each point of these warning signs, various measures can be essential in preventing a person from falling back into addiction.

Emotional Stage Interventions

  • Boost support networks: Re-engage with helpful family members, friends, and groups.
  • Voice feelings: Encourage open communication channels regarding feelings and challenges that arise during the recovery process.
  • Take care of yourself: Concentrate on maintaining good health through regular exercise, enough sleep, and a balanced diet.

Mental Stage Interventions

Physical Stage Interventions

  • Immediate professional help: If you need urgent professional help, immediately call Southern Sky Recovery Center or any other relevant treatment facility.
  • Drug intervention services: Stage an intervention before the actual relapse transpires.
  • Family therapy: Involving the entire household in healing enhances an individual’s support throughout this period when understanding is needed most. 

Harnessing Hope: Southern Sky Recovery

The path toward recovery is not always straight, but it can be navigated with diligence, support, and the right tools. Knowing the warning signs of relapse is essential for maintaining sobriety.

At Southern Sky Recovery, we are more than a treatment center; we are a community that supports each other.

If this is your first time seeking treatment or recovering from a relapse, we have resources to meet your unique needs. These include:

Face the Warning Signs of Relapse with Southern Sky Recovery

Facing the risk of relapsing is challenging, but you do not have to go through it alone. At Southern Sky Recovery, we offer a caring, holistic approach to addiction treatment, as we believe it’s the best way to help those struggling with substance abuse.

For us, recovery is not about finding a cure—it’s about living better. Our team of professionals understands the complexities surrounding substance use disorders and can help guide you through the maze of recovery. 

If you or someone you know exhibits warning signs of relapse, we encourage you to contact us today. 

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Pam Deloach

Care Coordinator/CPRS

Pam is a Peer Support Specialist with Southern Sky, dedicated to supporting individuals on their recovery journeys with compassion, understanding, and hope. Born and raised in Hampton, South Carolina, Pam is a proud mother of two amazing boys, ages 20 and 10. She has always been drawn to work that helps others, spending 20 years as a massage therapist before beginning her own journey through recovery. Inspired by her experiences, Pam chose to use her story, strength, and insight to walk alongside others who are struggling with addiction.

In her free time, Pam enjoys going to the lake, spending time with family and friends, attending church, and cheering on her son at his baseball games. These moments keep her grounded and remind her of the joy in everyday life. She is committed to empowering individuals, building trust, and creating a safe, supportive environment for healing and growth.

Ben LaGrange

Community Relations Advocate

Ben is a person in long-term recovery with a gift for creativity, a deep connection with people, and a passion for helping others find their path to sobriety. After getting sober in 2018, he discovered that authenticity was the greatest gift he could offer. Embracing it brought genuine connection, creative freedom, and a beautiful life in recovery.

With experience in multimedia, fine art, and digital design, Ben studied photography at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and art at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has spent years working as a professional photographer and marketer. He has also worked in recreational and art therapy for substance use treatment and has led educational groups on anger management and relapse prevention.

Ben believes that connection is the opposite of addiction—and that when we allow ourselves to be fully authentic, we become our most powerful selves, capable of deeper connection and better equipped to help others navigate a turbulent world.

Keith Toomer

Residential House Manager

Keith began his career in the maintenance and plumbing industry, where he built hands-on experience and a strong work ethic. During that time, he faced significant challenges with addiction. His decision to seek help led him to Southern Sky Recovery in Bluffton, South Carolina—an experience that transformed his life.

Through the support of Southern Sky Recovery, Keith rebuilt his foundation and discovered his true passion: serving others on their recovery journeys. He was given the opportunity to become the Men’s Residential House Manager, a role that allows him to guide, support, and mentor men as they work toward lasting recovery.

“For the first time in my life, I found a career that truly fulfills me. I love working in addiction recovery and being part of a community dedicated to helping others heal and grow.”

Outside of work, Keith enjoys spending quality time with his family. He remains committed to his own recovery and has a strong interest in nutrition and exercise, which help him stay grounded, healthy, and focused.

He is grateful every day for the opportunity to serve his community and work in a field that gives his life purpose.

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