Are you a fan of auto racing? If you are (and probably even if you are not), you know that many, many races are slowed by one or more crashes. When a crash occurs, the yellow flag comes out, letting the drivers know something on the track needs to be attended to—and that they should slow down and wait for the green flag to wave again.
Often, while a race is under yellow, the drivers will head to pitlane to have adjustments made to their cars, tires changed, damage repaired, or fuel added—and sometimes all four. That way, their car is in the best possible shape to be successful when the race restarts.
You probably did not come to this blog in search of an explanation of the restart procedure for auto racers. Nevertheless, we think that slowing of the cars, the trips to the pits, and the eventual restart of the race are an excellent metaphor for what you should do if you experience a relapse.
Let’s consider why you need a restart after a relapse—and how to get the restart underway.
A Relapse Can Feel Like a Car Crash
In an ideal world, once your recovery got underway, you would never have to worry about drugs or alcohol ever again. It would be wonderful if pursuing treatment—including detoxification and rehabilitation—was always a one-time proposition.
For many people, however, that is simply not the case. That is because a substance use disorder is a treatable but incurable brain disease. As a result, the risk of relapse is always present—in the same way a risk of a crash is always present during a race. Indeed, a relapse can feel as catastrophic as a car crash as all of your hard work toward recovery seems to come undone.
In that situation, it might be easy to give up—to decide that you are not going to be able to maintain your recovery over time. But remember what that racer does following a crash: they slow down and make a pitstop.
Returning to Treatment Is Like a Pitstop for Recovery
If you find yourself back under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is time to make the recovery equivalent of a pitstop on the race track. It is time to return to treatment.
At first, that might seem counterintuitive. After all, you have already been treatment and here you are—right back where you were before you sought out help. But if you think of your treatment center’s staff as your pit crew, it can be easier to understand how going back to treatment is your best move.
Your recovery “pit crew” will help you get the drugs or alcohol out of your system again, and then they will set to work to help tune up your recovery efforts during the rehabilitation process. They will help you get as ready as possible for your restart. And they will do these things with dedication and kindness.
Does that mean you will not ever struggle with drugs or alcohol again? Nope.
Just like a race can have more than one crash, a recovery journey can need more than one restart. Fortunately, both you and our imaginary racer can rely on your skilled pit crews to get you back on track again.
Your Recovery Race Is Not a Competition
We have been using the sport of auto racing as a stand-in for the recovery journey—and we think the comparison is apt. But we do want to make one thing clear: unlike a race, your recovery is not a competition. That means you cannot “lose” at recovery.
It can be easy to forget that if you find yourself comparing your recovery to the recoveries of other people. Maybe it seems like everyone finds recovery a whole lot easier than you do. That can feel discouraging. In fact, it can be discouraging enough to have you considering giving up on recovery altogether.
But if you remember that you are not in competition with anyone else, you can simply run your recovery race—and get help whenever you need it.
Struggling? Race to Bel Aire Recovery Center
Located near Wichita, Kansas, Bel Aire Recovery Center relies on evidence-based practices and personalized treatment plans to help those struggling with a substance use disorder. We are also able to address mental health disorders that may be entangled with your substance use.
We will see you through medically supervised detoxification and a rehabilitation program designed to give you the strategies, resources, and confidence you need to get your recovery journey underway. Our alumni program keeps you in touch with others who understand what you have gone through in the past and are going through now, creating a sense of mutual support that can boost your motivation in recovery.
And if you experience a relapse, we will be here to help you get your recovery underway again. You will never encounter judgment at Bel Aire Recovery Center. Instead, you will find a team dedicated to helping you leave drugs or alcohol behind. Recovery is not always easy, but Bel Aire is always here to help.
