The abstinence violation effect (AVE) is a response to relapsing on alcohol, drugs, or other habit-forming substances. You may feel guilt, shame, and other negative emotions as part of the AVE, which can lead to more relapses in the future. Recovering from drug or alcohol use is a complicated process, with setbacks and obstacles. Relapses are a common part of the recovery process, and relapsing is not a sign of personal failure. However, many people can still struggle with negative emotions after relapsing. Effective coping skills can reduce your risk of relapsing, which can improve your overall mental health. You can learn effective coping strategies during a substance abuse treatment program.
How The Abstinence Violation Effect Occurs
The psychologist Alan Marlatt popularized the idea of the abstinence violation effect. His model of relapse prevention from the 1980s still influences how we treat addictive behaviors today. In Marlatt’s model, you go through a period of abstinence before experiencing a high-risk situation, which can be any stressors in your life. If you do not have effective coping skills, you may think about and eventually lapse into abusing alcohol or illicit drugs to deal with this stress. This is known as the initial lapse. You may feel happy, relaxed, or energetic in this state, but also feel guilty for breaking your abstinence. The negative emotions and cognitive dissonance that can happen after a lapse or relapse is known as the abstinence violation effect (AVE).
How The Abstinence Violation Effect Can Affect You
The abstinence violation effect can lead to negative emotions such as guilt, shame, and feelings of failure. According to drug and alcohol research, negative emotions after relapsing can increase your risk of another relapse in the future. Relapse is a common part of recovering from substance abuse. If you relapse on drugs or alcohol, relapsing can also be seen as a personal failure or a lack of willpower, which can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and an increased risk of relapsing again. However, relapsing is not a personal failure. Relapsing is a common part of the recovery and relapse processes. If you see a relapse as an opportunity to learn, and not a failure, your chances of managing your addiction can improve.
Effective Treatment Options For Substance Use Disorders
If you relapse on drugs or alcohol and experience guilt, shame, or despair after relapsing, a substance use disorder treatment program can help. Learning coping skills is an effective part of an addiction treatment program. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is another effective treatment option for many people. In CBT sessions, you work with a mental health professional to understand the risk factors that lead to relapse, including external factors and your own mental health. If you or a loved one are worried about relapsing into alcohol or drug abuse, contact Northeast Addictions Treatment Center today. We provide comprehensive treatment for drug and alcohol use disorders, including relapse prevention programs, management of your cravings, and other evidence-based options.
Keep Reading:
- How To Balance Work & Addiction Recovery
- Maintaining Long-Term Addiction Recovery
- Making Sober Friends
- Top 12 Relapse Prevention Skills
Sources
Alcohol Research and Health – Relapse prevention: An overview of Marlatt’s cognitive-behavioral model – PubMed
ScienceDirect – Abstinence Violation – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics