14/12/2025
Relapse is a process, not a moment.
Emotional, mental, and behavioural warning signs matter. Awareness gives us the power to act early and protect recovery. 💚
Relapse Warning Signs by Addiction Actually
By recognising these signs you may have a better chance to guard against relapse.
1. Mental changes
2. Attitude changes
3. Behaviour changes
Scientific research tells us that relapse is a process consisting of three disintegrating phases: emotional, mental, and, finally, physical -- the point at which we cross over from high relapse risk - to actual relapse. Whether this is drugs/alcohol or behavioural/process addictions.
Throughout these phases there are plenty of warning signs - or red flags that something is not quite right, or something is definitely wrong with our recovery.
Warning sings reveal themselves as our inability to cope with
our emotions, with changes in our thinking, attitudes and behaviours in recovery that -- if left unaddressed -- lead us straight back to active addiction.
Often relapse happens because we ignore these signs, preferring to believe the quality of our recovery is not suffering.
Based on the fact that we are not using drugs, drinking, gambling and so forth , we delude ourselves that we have nothing to worry about, that we are safe. Immune almost to relapse.
On the other hand, if we become aware of what is happening to us through recognizing these warning signs/red flags, then we can make healthy choices and take recovery measures to stop the process developing into a full blown relapse.
As a reminder of awareness and vigilance, below is a summary of the common changes that lead us down the slippery slope. It highlights changes in our thinking, directly to using again.
This is important as no one is guaranteed to survive a relapse.
- Addiction Actually. December 2025. All rights reserved.
Image Credit : Hamrah Addiction Booklet.
