Cycle of Change – Relapse

Relapse is not a stage of the cycle of change as such. But it is an important aspect of it. Relapse is returning to the old behaviour and abandoning the new changes. It sometimes leads a recovering person to revert to an earlier stage of change. But frequently, a relapse means going back to square one, back in pre-contemplation, especially for a recovering drug addict or alcoholic. Smokers may get away more lightly where a relapse may take them back to Contemplation or Preparation.