My Spouse is Relapsing

Recovery from the disease of drug and/or alcohol addiction is a lifelong journey that requires constant management. If your spouse is relapsing, the best way to get your husband or wife back into recovery is to enter into addiction treatment. Remind your spouse that lifelong sobriety is achievable if he or she continues to seek help and support.

Relapsing is not a “failure,” nor is it a sign of weakness. Rather, it is an indicator that something in your spouse’s past or current treatment plan needs to change. Recognizing the relapse and entering a treatment program will help your spouse find the right medication, therapy, and recovery support needed to improve rehabilitation and achieve their goal.

If your spouse is relapsing and decides to enter into treatment for drugs or alcohol at Recovery Centers of America, he or she will work closely with a personalized team of highly respected professionals––including expertly trained doctors, nurses, therapists, and specialists––who will improve on, and make adjustments to, your spouse’s previous treatment plan. Recovery Centers of America’s inpatient and outpatient treatment programs provide personalized care that is convenient, affordable, and confidential.

On This Page:

• Can my spouse go through rehab more than once?
• Why does my spouse need to go to rehab multiple times?
• Will insurance cover rehabilitation treatments more than once?
• Is it too soon for my spouse to go back into rehab?
• Why does my spouse keep relapsing?
• Should I believe my spouse when they say they don’t need rehab again?
• Why didn’t rehab work last time?

Can my spouse go through rehab more than once?

Yes. In fact, anyone can go through professional drug and alcohol rehabilitation as many times as necessary to stop drug or alcohol use and to get back on track towards the goal of lifelong sobriety.

Recovery Centers of America’s highly respected staff of doctors, nurses, therapists, and specialists are trained in treating relapsed patients. They will be able to identify the cause of relapse and adjust the treatment program to help each patient succeed.

If your spouse has been through a treatment program with Recovery Centers of America in the past, the new individualized treatment plan will focus less on the areas where he or she previously excelled, and spend extra time assisting in the areas that need improvement or which may have led to the relapse. Recovery is just a phone call away.

Why does my spouse need to go to rehab multiple times?

As is the case with any disease, sometimes the methods need to be reinstated, or different treatment modalities need to be applied, in order for a person to get well. A doctor will change prescription medications when the current treatment does not improve the symptoms, and addiction rehabilitation works in the same way. While you and your spouse may feel shame, anger, or frustration after a relapse, undergoing treatment again is the best method for getting them back into recovery.

Will insurance cover rehabilitation treatments more than once?

Typically, yes; you or your spouse’s insurance plan should cover multiple inpatient rehabilitation treatments. Though each plan is different, most insurance policies have provisions for professional addiction treatment and, like any other disease, those previsions account for revisions and adjustments to the treatment after relapse. Recovery Centers of America is in-network with most insurance providers, and we can verify your insurance for free.

Our financial counselors will help your husband or wife check his or her policy to better understand whether or not it covers treatment more than once.

Is it too soon for my spouse to go back into rehab?

There is no such thing as “too soon” for a person who needs to return to rehab. One of the most critical mistakes a person can make while struggling with relapse is unnecessarily delaying additional rehabilitation treatments. Whether this is out of shame, frustration, or fear, know that there it is always better to return to rehab “too soon” rather than “too late.” Your spouse is only five minutes and a phone call away from getting back on track towards his or her sobriety.

Why does my spouse keep relapsing?

Relapse is, unfortunately, an all too common part of the recovery process. This does not mean a patient “failed,” or that previous treatment did not work. Relapsing is a sign that something in the previous or current treatment plan needs to change—whether it’s medication, a type of therapy, or something in the home environment—to achieve the goal of lifelong sobriety.

If your spouse is relapsing, pay attention to the people, places, and things around your husband or wife, as those things play a big role in the recovery process. Maintaining ties to a problematic environment that led to past behavior is a common reason for relapse.

No matter what triggers your spouse’s relapse, or the number of times he or she reaches out for help, Recovery Centers of America can provide the tools and treatments necessary for them to thrive.

Should I believe my spouse when they say they don’t need rehab again?

Deception and dishonesty can be typical behavior in addicts and, although you might not want to assume your spouse is lying, it is important to stay vigilant and focused on the goal of their lifelong sobriety.

If your husband or wife is still exhibiting the common warning signs of addiction, coming back to rehab may be necessary.

However, understand that your spouse may be afraid to admit he or she needs to enter rehab again, or they may not even recognize there is still a problem. Shame, frustration, and defeat are common feelings for those relapsing. Support your spouse by reassuring them that needing rehab more than once is not “failing,” and that it is often a necessary part of the recovery process.

If you do not know how to talk to your spouse about relapse and reentering treatment, call 1-800-RECOVERY; the professional intervention team at Recovery Centers of America can help start the dialogue.

Why didn’t rehab work last time?

Addiction is not an ordinary disease, so the recovery process must be treated accordingly. Addiction affects every individual differently and, for some people, the symptoms of addiction can resurface after treatment.

Recovery is a process and an everyday choice. It is important for your spouse to make the necessary changes at home following rehabilitation, such as severing ties with problematic relationships and environments.

But, even when all the proper steps are taken, the addiction can return. This is not your or your spouse’s fault, rather it’s an all-too-common nature of the disease. But there is hope, no matter how many times a person may have to come back to rehab.

During treatment at Recovery Centers of America, a personalized team of medical professionals will work with your spouse to determine the best next steps to get back into recovery and a roadmap towards lifelong sobriety.

Recovery Centers of America’s rehabilitation and addiction treatment is developed specifically for your husband or wife’s unique addiction. We’ll remind them that there is no “average” way to recover and that everyone’s path takes different turns. All that matters is the willingness to get better.

Following your spouse’s inpatient treatment, our ambulatory services will connect him or her with alumni and other individuals who have gone through a similar struggle, to prevent future relapse, build a community of support, and help maintain their sobriety.