Relapse/re-occurrence: The person has a slip and reverts back to a previous pattern of behavior.

Relapse/re-occurrence: The person has a slip and reverts back to a previous pattern of behavior.

• A. Relapse is a sign of failure that ends treatment.
• B. There is no pattern to relapse.
• C. The person has a slip & reverts back to a previous pattern, may become discouraged, but should recognize that most people making a behavior change have some degree of recurrence.
• D. Relapse is uncommon in behavior change.

Answer: (C)

Relapse is treated as a normal part of the change process. When someone slips and slides back to an old pattern, it can feel discouraging, but it doesn’t mean the effort has failed. The strongest understanding is that most people who attempt behavior change experience some recurrence or relapse at times. This perspective encourages viewing the slip as information—an indicator of triggers, gaps in coping strategies, or aspects of the plan that need adjustment—so the person can re-engage, refine their plan, and use supports to move forward. That’s why the best choice avoids labeling relapse as a total failure, denies any pattern, or claims relapse is rare; those views mischaracterize how change typically unfolds and can undermine motivation and recovery efforts.

Relapse is treated as a normal part of the change process. When someone slips and slides back to an old pattern, it can feel discouraging, but it doesn’t mean the effort has failed. The strongest understanding is that most people who attempt behavior change experience some recurrence or relapse at times. This perspective encourages viewing the slip as information—an indicator of triggers, gaps in coping strategies, or aspects of the plan that need adjustment—so the person can re-engage, refine their plan, and use supports to move forward.

That’s why the best choice avoids labeling relapse as a total failure, denies any pattern, or claims relapse is rare; those views mischaracterize how change typically unfolds and can undermine motivation and recovery efforts.