Author: Brook McKenzie, LCDC

Identifying Chronic Relapse: Measuring Periods of Sobriety

The constant cycle of relapse raises an important question: how can we tell if someone is indeed building a foundation for lasting sobriety versus temporarily abstaining from substances? Additionally, what can our loved one’s patterns of behavior tell us about an impending relapse?

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Identifying Chronic Relapse: Non-Compliance with Aftercare Instructions

When Michael walked out of his third rehab facility, his family thought he’d finally turned a corner. He seemed to be doing well with his recovery. But six weeks later, his mother found herself rushing Michael to the emergency room after finding him unconscious in his apartment. What happened between Michael’s discharge from rehab and his relapse in the following weeks?

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Identifying Chronic Relapse: A Strong Sense of Entitlement

Entitlement in addiction is a tricky beast. It’s not always obvious, but its impact on recovery can be devastating. We treat a lot of different kinds of mental health disorders at Burning Tree Ranch, and so I’ve watched countless individuals struggle with this mindset. Usually, they don’t even realize how it undermines their efforts to get sober. It’s a self-defeating behavior that also tends to push away others that might try to offer us help.

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