Slip vs. Relapse: What Is the Difference?

Slip and relapse are two terms often used when referring to a setback in addiction recovery. However, they are different based on the severity of the consequences they have on alcoholics.

A slip is a temporary setback in your sobriety journey. It often occurs as a brief incident of consuming alcohol before acknowledging the momentary lapse and restoring recovery efforts.

A slip is followed by feelings of guilt and shame, but also by taking accountability and recommitting to sobriety. It does not equal failure and is a part of the recovery process for many patients.

A relapse refers to returning to a pattern of substance abuse after practicing sobriety. It happens when an addict gives up on their recovery progress entirely to resort back to old habits.

Relapses usually require an intervention followed by counseling and therapy in a rehab facility. This helps alcoholics get back on track by teaching them relapse prevention and sustainable coping strategies.

In this article, we explain the differences between slips and relapses. We aim to help you recognize their telling signs and continue your alcohol addiction treatment despite setbacks.

What Is a Relapse?

A relapse is a recurrence of addictive behavior after a period of abstinence. After a relapse, an alcoholic usually returns to the same or enhanced levels of substance use as they did before beginning their recovery.

Relapsing has significant implications for your physical and emotional well-being. You can differentiate them through the following relapsing phases:

• Emotional relapse: This is the earliest stage of relapsing, during which the person displays emotions that signal a possible relapse. These include mood swings, irritability, and a lack of self-care (not sleeping or eating well). Emotional relapse is manageable with support and a network of experts and resources.
• Mental relapse: During this stage, an alcoholic starts consciously thinking about going back to alcohol or drug use. They reiterate the reasons for becoming an alcoholic in the first place, glorify past substance abuse, and minimize its consequences on their health and relationships.
• Physical relapse: In this phase, an individual returns to alcohol use again. This can range from a one-time slip to an uncontrolled use of drugs, alcohol, or other harmful substances. Functioning alcoholics often do not display any signs of relapse at first. Sometimes, they are even more cheerful and energized. However, this does not last and leads to worsened symptoms as the alcohol use continues.

How Common Is a Relapse?

According to the latest research, as many as 40% to 60% of recovering alcoholics revert to their addiction during their first year of sobriety. The most common relapse triggers include stress, social pressures, and mental health struggles.

To combat this, alcoholics must commit to a continual recovery plan and seek support from their loved ones. Mindfulness, awareness, and resilience help them avoid temptation and manage challenges in their recovery journey.

What Does it Mean to Have a Slip?

In addiction recovery, a slip is referred to as a one-time return to the use of substances without fully reverting to addiction. It differs from a relapse because it is followed by going back to the sobriety path and not by repetitive abuse of alcohol or drugs.

A slip is highly preventable. Avoid situations that can trigger alcohol cravings and rely on friends, family, and a strong community for support and motivation.

Here are a few examples of a slip:

• A person attends a wedding and drinks alcohol during a toast. They recognize their mistake immediately and reach out to their sponsor the next day to continue recovery.
• A person has a drink after a stressful day at work. Afterward, they acknowledge their slip and reaffirm the decision to continue their sobriety to a therapist. They work on finding new and healthy ways to manage stress without alcohol.
• A person who previously had an opioid addiction is recovering from surgery. They take prescribed painkillers but immediately regret it. They ask their doctor to give them another type of medication that will not result in recovery failure again.

Does a Slip and Relapse Mean the Same Thing?

While a slip and a relapse both refer to a setback in your recovery journey, they have different meanings. Here are their key differences:

• A slip is an isolated incident, while a relapse is a total return to addiction.
• A person who slips is still committed to their recovery, while a person who relapses gives up on theirs entirely.
• A slip is common in the early stages of recovery. It must be addressed promptly and can be overcome with resilience. On the other hand, a relapse involves re-engaging with harmful behavior that occurs despite progress made during sobriety. It even happens after a long period of abstinence and is triggered by cravings.
• For alcoholics, a slip can be a learning opportunity. It allows them to reiterate their commitment to sobriety and find new ways of craving management. A relapse, on the other hand, is a physical and emotional regression and erasure of all progress made during sobriety. It often requires professional attention to get back on track in recovery.
• A slip is often associated with shame, regret, or guilt, which motivates them to return to recovery. Sometimes, it indicates the need for adjustment in treatment. However, a relapse may signal underlying issues with mental health. A person who relapses experiences deeper emotions of frustration, resignation, or hopelessness that lead to self-sabotage in recovery.

What Is the Difference Between a Slip and a Relapse?

The difference between a slip and a relapse can be explained through several factors that alcoholics face in their daily lives.

Point of Comparison	Slip	Relapse
Triggers	Acute (temporary) triggers: emotional distress, societal pressures	Chronic triggers: unresolved emotional issues, mental health struggles
Duration	Brief: a one-time mistake that occurs when stress increases, for example	Gradual and prolonged: frequent use that leads to complete regression
Impact on recovery	Does not disrupt long-term recovery	Erases previous progress and leads to a full regression back to addiction

Recovering from a Slip or a Relapse

Recovery requires immediate addressing of the issue that caused your slip or relapse, intending to resist temptation, and recognizing emotional triggers. This is done by:

1. Acknowledging a slip or a relapse: Do not deny or minimize this event. Instead, admit it was unintentional without discouraging yourself from future progress.
2. Avoid self-criticism and guilt: Instead, engage in learning-driven progress. Reach out to your support system for a boost of confidence and advice.
3. Assess the cause: Calmly lay out the information about what led to this event. Search for alternatives to avoid a slip or a relapse happening again.
4. Recommit to recovery: Emphasize to yourself, your support system, and medical professionals that you are committed to positive treatment outcomes.
5. Consider other forms of treatment: If you experienced a slip or a relapse, it might mean that you could benefit from a different or more intense type of treatment, such as a stay in a rehab facility.
6. Enforce helpful routines: Practice mindfulness, healthy stress management, exercise, and other activities that will distract you from alcohol cravings.
7. Forgive yourself: Do not be too hard on yourself. Acknowledge that a slip or a relapse could happen to anyone at any point during their sobriety. Reflect on your mistake and quickly get back on track to recovery.

Does a Slip or a Relapse Mean You Need to Re-enter Addiction Treatment?

Re-entering addiction treatment is required in some cases when slipping or relapsing.

At The Ridge Ohio, we recommend going back to addiction treatment in a rehab facility in case of a prolonged relapse or inability to regain control over your drinking habits. Our experienced medical staff also recommends another round of therapy for alcoholics with underlying mental health struggles who have experienced relapses in the past.

The Ridge Ohio is committed to relapse prevention with continuous treatment support and therapy for you and your loved ones.

Key Takeaways

• A slip is a temporary setback in alcohol recovery that can represent a learning opportunity.
• A relapse is a significant deterioration back to addiction without control that requires medical support.
• Slips and relapses can happen at any time during your recovery journey.
• They are more common in patients with underlying mental health issues, a lack of support, and people experiencing high levels of stress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does One Drink Break Sobriety?

This depends on what an alcoholic does after the first drink. If they recognize their lapse as temporary and continue their recovery, they have experienced a slip. Their sobriety continues as long as they do not drink again. However, if they continue drinking regularly or more than once, the slip turns into a relapse, and the sobriety is broken.

What Do I Do If I Have Slipped in My Addiction Recovery?

Reflect on the reasons for the slip. Ask your therapist, an addiction specialist, or a sponsor for advice on getting back on track. Rely on your loved ones and forgive yourself for your mistake.

When Does a Slip Become a Relapse?

A slip becomes a relapse if you repeat it more than once. Instead of recommitting your recovery, you are prolonging your alcohol addiction and permanently breaking your sobriety. The warning signs of this progression include mood swings, irritability, depression, frustration, or a lack of motivation to continue recovery.