Abstinence Violation Effect AVE

Additionally, individuals may engage in cognitive distortions or negative self-talk, such as believing that the relapse is evidence of personal weakness. Abstinence can be considered a decision to avoid behaviors that are risky in and of themselves, like using drugs. That said, abstinence can also come from a desire to avoid a potential high-risk situation later on. For example, someone might decide to quit smoking to lower their health risks later in life, even if a single cigarette might not be life-threatening in the moment.

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This phenomenon manifests itself in different ways depending on the behavior of which you are trying to abstain. In the case of addictions, for example, the abstinence violation effect can lead to intense relapse and greater difficulty recovering from the addictive behavior. In the area of eating, it can lead to compulsive binge eating after periods of food restriction.

• With the right help, preparation, and support, you and your loved ones can still continue to build a long-lasting recovery from substance abuse.
• Ark Behavioral Health offers 100% confidential substance abuse assessment and treatment placement tailored to your individual needs.
• It’s important to establish that a one-time lapse in a person’s recovery from drugs or alcohol is not considered a full blown relapse.
• Rather, remember that relapse is a natural part of the journey and an opportunity for growth.
• So while the AVE is not a concept that relates only to addiction, strong symptoms of it can be present in substance use disorder situations.
• Naturally, the risk of returning to an addiction can be another effect of abstinence.

Learn From Relapse

Fortunately, professional treatment for addiction can improve outcomes for people experiencing the Abstinence Violation Effect. Set realistic expectations for your recovery journey, understanding that progress may not always be linear. Rather than only focusing on the end goal, celebrate small victories and all positive steps you’ve taken thus far. It’s important to challenge negative beliefs and cognitive distortions that may arise following a relapse.

Cognitive Dissonance

Twelve-step can certainly contribute to extreme and negative reactions to drug or alcohol use. This does not mean that 12-step is an ineffective or counterproductive source of recovery support, but that clinicians should be aware that 12-step participation may make a client’s AVE more pronounced. AVE describes the negative, indulgent, or self-destructive feelings and behavior people often experience after lapsing during a period of abstinence. Identify triggers that may have contributed to the relapse and develop strategies to address them proactively abstinence violation effect in the future.

Understand The Relapse Process

For Jim and Taylor, this might involve acknowledging the months of sobriety and healthier lifestyle choices and understanding that a single incident does not erase that progress. The idea of AVE also describes the behavior of dieters who overindulge when they exceed their daily calorie goal because they consider that the day is lost. For example, if dieters eat “forbidden” foods (e.g., a piece of brownie) their diet is ruined. They have impulsive thoughts, like ‘‘I’ve already blown my diet, I might as well continue to eat,’’ and Alcoholics Anonymous start overeating. This motivational explanation of overeating has been termed the “what-the-hell-effect” by Polivy and Herman (1985). Once the diet is broken for the day, dieters appear to give up control, perhaps anticipating starting their diets anew the next day.

• Cognitive processes may include self-blame, rumination, and heightened self-awareness.
• For example, if dieters eat “forbidden” foods (e.g., a piece of brownie) their diet is ruined.

Evidence of the abstinence violation effect can be seen in any individual who attributes a lapse and subsequent relapse to entirely uncontrollable conditions, such as a perceived character flaw or adherence to the constraints of addiction. In realistic, healthy approaches to addiction recovery, relapse is seen as a very real possibility, and actions are taken to minimize the risks involved. An important part of this process involves developing self-awareness and creating a thorough understanding of what triggers the desire to engage in certain behaviors. Gordon as part of their cognitive-behavioral model of relapse prevention, and it is used particularly in the context of substance use disorders.

What Can Clinicians Do To Counteract the AVE?

Substance use disorders are clinical mental health disorders, meaning addiction is a matter of neurological and biological predispositions and changes that take time to rectify. These rectifying steps usually include changing external elements rather than finding a magic button of willpower. Another example is Taylor, who has been doing a wonderful job taking walks and engaging in healthier eating. Taylor uses an app to watch her intake of calorie limit and does see positive outcomes to her new lifestyle.

• We are dedicated to transforming the despair of addiction into a purposeful life of confidence, self-respect and happiness.
• Abstinence can take various forms, with alcohol abstinence being one common example.

Although many view recovery as a static state that must be achieved, practitioners and individuals working to combat the AVE recognize that recovery is a spectrum, and that lapse and relapse operate on that spectrum. A single lapse does not have to result in a downward spiral of additional lapses and prolonged relapse, and a significant period of relapse does not have to culminate in a lifelong powerlessness over addictive behavior. Having healthy and effective coping strategies in place to anticipate a lapse or relapse can be pivotal, because the likelihood of never again lapsing into an addictive behavior is often quite low. Understanding the AVE is crucial for individuals in recovery and those focused on healthier lifestyle choices.