what does it mean to relapse

To relapse means to return to a previous state or behavior that had improved or stopped, especially referring to the recurrence of illness symptoms or a return to bad habits or substance use. In medical terms, it is the return of a disease or symptoms after a period of improvement. In addiction recovery, relapse refers to resuming substance use or old harmful behaviors after a period of abstinence and recovery. It often involves the return of old patterns of thinking and behavior before actual substance use occurs. Relapse can be a one-time lapse or a more sustained return to former behaviors or substance use, and it does not mean failure but rather a part of the recovery process that requires attention and support.