Maybe you used again after treatment, and you are sitting with the shame of it. Or maybe you just found out that someone you love, someone who worked hard to get sober, is drinking or using again. Both moments feel like everything fell apart. They are also more common than most people realize, and what you do over the next day or two matters more than how you got here.

Relapse does not erase what treatment built. This guide starts with what to do right now, then explains what relapse is, how it usually unfolds in stages, and how to get back into care at Freeman Recovery Center in Tennessee without starting from zero.

What to Do in the First 24 to 48 Hours After a Relapse

The first priority is safety, not guilt. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), relapse is a normal part of recovery, but for some drugs it can be very dangerous, even deadly. After a stretch without using, the body is no longer adapted to the amount a person used before. Going back to that old amount can cause an overdose.

That risk is not theoretical. A small 2003 study in the BMJ followed 137 people after inpatient opioid detox and found that the overdose deaths in the following year clustered among people who had completed detox and lost their tolerance (Strang and colleagues, 2003). The authors said the finding needed to be replicated, but it lines up with what NIDA describes.

If someone may be overdosing or is in immediate danger, call 911. If opioids are involved, naloxone can reverse an overdose. The FDA approved Narcan nasal spray for over-the-counter, nonprescription sale in March 2023, so families can keep it at home.

Stopping again can carry its own risks. MedlinePlus describes alcohol withdrawal as a serious condition that may quickly become life-threatening. If you were drinking often and recently stopped, get medical care for alcohol withdrawal right away, and call 911 or go to an emergency room for seizures, fever, severe confusion, hallucinations or an irregular heartbeat.

Once everyone is safe, these steps help over the next day or two:

• Tell one person. A sponsor, counselor, sober friend or family member. Keeping it secret tends to make the next use easier.
• Put distance between yourself and the substance. Get rid of what is in the house, and step away from the people and places tied to using.
• Call your treatment team or Freeman Recovery Center. NIDA says a relapse means a person needs to speak with their doctor to resume treatment, modify it, or try another treatment.
• Write down what happened. What was going on in the days before? That becomes useful information for your next plan, not evidence against yourself.
• Be honest about how much and how long. The answer shapes which level of care makes sense next, and our guide to knowing when you need rehab can help you think it through.

If Someone You Love Just Relapsed

Keep the first conversation about safety and next steps, not blame. Watch for signs of overdose, keep naloxone close if opioids are involved, and offer to make the call to a treatment team together. Anger and fear are normal, and they can wait until the person is safe.

If your loved one is not ready to go back, our guide on how to get someone into rehab walks through what to say, what to do if they refuse, and what Tennessee law allows.

What Is a Relapse?

In addiction, a relapse is a return to drug or alcohol use after an attempt to stop. That is how NIDA defines it, and it applies whether someone had been sober for a week or a decade.

Relapse is often talked about as a single moment, but it usually is not one. In a 2015 review in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, physician Steven Melemis describes relapse as a gradual process with distinct stages, and says the goal of treatment is to help people recognize the early stages, when the chances of success are greatest.

Lapse vs Relapse

Some researchers split physical relapse into two parts: a lapse, meaning the first drink or drug use, and a relapse, meaning a return to uncontrolled use. Melemis cautions against leaning too hard on that line. One use can quickly lead to uncontrolled use, and it usually brings back obsessive thinking about using. A lapse is still a reason to call your treatment team.

Is Relapse a Normal Part of Recovery?

For some people, yes. NIDA explains that because addiction is a chronic condition, relapse can be part of the process, and relapse rates for substance use disorders are similar to those for other chronic illnesses. NIDA puts the rate at 40 to 60%, compared with 50 to 70% for high blood pressure and asthma, based on a 2000 review in JAMA.

That comparison matters. Nobody tells a person with high blood pressure that treatment failed because their numbers went back up. Their care team adjusts the plan. NIDA describes relapse the same way: a sign that treatment needs to be resumed, modified or replaced, not proof that it did not work.

Common does not mean safe, though. The overdose risk described above is the reason to act quickly, even when a relapse feels small.

Why Relapse Happens

Relapse rarely comes out of nowhere. Melemis points to poor self-care as the common thread in early relapse and suggests a simple check called HALT: are you hungry, angry, lonely or tired? Any one of those can make old coping habits start to feel reasonable again.

He also describes how hard it is for people to recognize their own high-risk situations, and how often relapse starts with bargaining, such as deciding it would be fine to use on a holiday or a trip, or that switching to a different substance does not count. Our guide to building a relapse prevention plan covers triggers and how to plan around them.

The Three Stages of Relapse: Emotional, Mental and Physical

Melemis describes relapse in three stages. The earlier a person recognizes which one they are in, the better the chance of stopping the slide.

Emotional Relapse

In emotional relapse, a person is not thinking about using. They may remember their last relapse clearly and have no intention of repeating it. But they are bottling up emotions, pulling away from people, skipping meetings or going without sharing, focusing on other people’s problems, and eating and sleeping poorly. Melemis calls poor self-care the common denominator of this stage and notes that denial is a big part of it, which is one reason family members often notice the changes first.

Mental Relapse

In mental relapse, there is a fight going on. Part of the person wants to use and part of them does not. Signs include cravings, thinking about the people, places and things tied to past use, minimizing or glamorizing past use, bargaining, lying, scheming to control use, and looking for or planning an opportunity to use. Occasional thoughts of using can happen in recovery. Melemis says the warning sign is when those thoughts become more frequent or more insistent.

Physical Relapse

Physical relapse is using again. This is where the first section of this guide applies: safety first, then a call to your treatment team. For a longer list of early warning signs, see our guide to recognizing the signs of relapse.

How Relapse Prevention Works

Relapse prevention is built on the idea that relapse can be caught early. Melemis names cognitive therapy and mind-body relaxation as its main tools, used to build healthier ways of coping. Cognitive therapy helps people notice the thinking that leads toward use, like bargaining or glamorizing the past, and answer it before it turns into a decision.

He also sums up most relapses with five rules of recovery: change your life, be completely honest, ask for help, practice self-care, and do not bend the rules. They sound simple. In practice, each one takes work, and most of that work happens in therapy, in group sessions and in aftercare. If you are not sure which approach fits you, our guide on what kind of therapy is best for you breaks down the options.

How a Treatment Team Decides the Right Level of Care After a Relapse

Going back to treatment after a relapse does not mean starting over at the beginning. One widely used framework is The ASAM Criteria from the American Society of Addiction Medicine, which guide a multidimensional assessment of biomedical, psychological and social factors. Those dimensions inform the level of care a team recommends and the treatment plan that follows.

In plain terms, the team looks at the whole picture: how much and how recently you used, whether withdrawal could be dangerous, your physical and mental health, and what support you have at home. A short lapse after months of steady recovery can call for something very different from weeks of heavy use.

At Freeman Recovery Center, care runs along a continuum:

• Detox and residential care at the Burns campus. Medically monitored detox and residential treatment, with a nurse on site 24/7 and a physician on call.
• PHP and IOP at the Dickson location. A partial hospitalization program and an intensive outpatient program, including evening IOP options.
• Standard outpatient care at Dickson, with telehealth sessions as part of outpatient treatment.
• Aftercare and alumni support once formal treatment ends.

The treatment team makes each move between levels with the client, not for them. Clients can be admitted directly to PHP or IOP without detox when that is clinically appropriate, so someone coming back after a short lapse may not need to start at detox. If psychiatric care or medication management becomes part of the plan, those services are provided by Freeman Health Partners.

Coming Back to Freeman Recovery Center After a Relapse

If you have been through treatment before, coming back can feel like admitting defeat. It is not. It is exactly what NIDA describes as the right response to a relapse: resuming, adjusting or changing treatment.

Freeman Recovery Center offers same-day admissions and a free, confidential assessment. One call to (615) 645-3677 starts the process, and the assessment is where the team works out the right level of care for where you are now, not where you were the first time. You can read how it works on our admissions page.

Most PHP and IOP clients live in Freeman Recovery Center recovery housing, and vans run between the housing, the Burns campus and the Dickson clinic, so getting to care each day is taken care of. You can see both locations on our facilities page.

You will also be working with people who get it. More than half of Freeman Recovery Center’s staff are in recovery themselves. For anyone who wants faith to be part of their recovery, Arise is an optional Christ-centered track. Freeman Recovery Center is Joint Commission accredited and licensed by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Before you come back, you can verify your coverage so there are no surprises. Then call (615) 645-3677. You can call for yourself, or with someone you love sitting beside you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between a Lapse and a Relapse?

Some researchers use “lapse” for the first drink or drug use and “relapse” for a return to uncontrolled use. Either one is a reason to call your treatment team, since a single use can quickly lead to more.

Is Relapse a Part of Recovery?

For some people, yes. NIDA puts relapse rates for substance use disorders at 40 to 60%, similar to other chronic illnesses, based on a 2000 review in JAMA. That makes relapse common, but not safe, because lost tolerance raises the risk of overdose.

What Are the 3 Stages of Relapse?

Emotional relapse, when emotions and habits start setting up a relapse; mental relapse, when part of you wants to use; and physical relapse, when use begins again.

What Should You Do When Someone Relapses?

Make sure they are safe first. Call 911 for any sign of overdose, and keep naloxone nearby if opioids are involved. Then talk calmly, without blame, and offer to call a treatment team together.

Can I Go Back to Freeman Recovery Center After a Relapse?

Yes. Freeman Recovery Center offers same-day admissions and a free, confidential assessment, and the team decides the right level of care with you. If you want to know what to expect, our guide to what rehab is like covers what to expect. Call (615) 645-3677 to start.

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This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For crisis support, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For treatment referrals and information, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), which is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably worried about someone you love. Maybe you’ve watched their drinking or drug use get worse for months. Maybe you’ve already brought up treatment and been shut down. Either way, you’re likely tired, and you may be wondering whether anything you say will make a difference.

It can. Many people get to treatment because someone who cared about them kept the door open, and there are approaches that make that more likely. This guide covers how to tell when it’s time to talk, what to say, what to do if your loved one refuses, what Tennessee law does and doesn’t allow, and what happens once they say yes.

Signs Your Loved One May Need Treatment

Families usually notice changes before the person using does, or before they’re ready to admit them. Some of the most common:

• Missing work or school, or falling behind on responsibilities they used to handle
• Money problems, unexplained spending, or asking to borrow money often
• Hiding how much or how often they drink or use, or getting defensive when it comes up
• New or worsening health problems
• Feeling sick, shaky, or irritable when they can’t drink or use
• Pulling away from family, friends, or activities they used to enjoy

None of these is a diagnosis, and you don’t need to be certain before you speak up. If you’re seeing a pattern, that’s reason enough for a conversation.

How to Talk to Someone About Going to Rehab

There’s no perfect script, but how and when you start the conversation matters as much as what you say.

Pick the right moment. Choose a private, calm time when your loved one is sober. Avoid bringing it up during an argument, right after an incident, or when they’ve been drinking or using. A quiet morning at home will usually go better than a tense car ride after a family event.

Lead with concern, not blame. People tend to dig in when they feel attacked. Start with how much you care about them and how worried you are, then talk about what you’ve seen.

Be specific. “You drink too much” is easy to argue with. “You missed your daughter’s game last Saturday because you were hungover” is harder to wave away. Stick to things you’ve seen yourself, and keep the list short.

A few phrases families have found useful:

• “I love you, and I’ve been worried about you. Can we talk for a few minutes?”
• “I’ve noticed you’ve been calling in sick a lot, and you seem exhausted. I’m scared something’s wrong.”
• “I’m not trying to judge you. I just don’t want to keep watching you struggle by yourself.”
• “Would you be willing to make one phone call with me, just to ask some questions?”
• “You don’t have to decide anything today. I just want you to know I’ll help however I can.”

These are starting points, not lines to memorize. Use words that sound like you.

Expect pushback. Denial, anger, minimizing, or promises to cut back on their own are all common first reactions. That doesn’t mean the conversation failed. Plan on more than one talk, and try to end each one without burning the bridge for the next.

Have the next step ready. Before you talk, know exactly what you’ll do if they say yes. Freeman Recovery Center offers a free, confidential assessment over the phone. If your loved one agrees, you can make that call together right then, before second thoughts set in.

If They Say No: Approaches That Help Families

A “no” today is not a “no” forever. And while you can’t make the decision for your loved one, research shows that what families do in the meantime can make treatment more likely.

One of the best-studied approaches is Community Reinforcement and Family Training, or CRAFT. Instead of a single confrontation, CRAFT teaches family members practical skills over time: how to communicate without triggering defensiveness, how to reward sober behavior, how to let natural consequences happen, and how to recognize the moments when a loved one may be more open to help. A 2020 systematic review in the journal Addiction looked at 14 studies and found CRAFT was twice as effective as comparison approaches at helping the loved one enter treatment. Treatment entry rates varied widely depending on how the training was delivered, so it isn’t a guarantee, but it gives families real tools beyond waiting and hoping.

Looking after yourself is part of this too. Living with someone’s addiction is draining, and it’s hard to stay patient and steady when you’re running on empty. Consider a family support group or counseling of your own. Setting boundaries, and stepping back from covering for your loved one’s drinking or drug use, can protect your own health while making the consequences of their use clearer to them.

What About an Intervention?

A formal intervention is a planned conversation in which several family members and friends talk to the person together, sometimes with a professional leading it. It can work for some families, but it’s one option among several, not the only path, and many families start with the one-on-one conversations and CRAFT-style approaches above.

Can You Force Someone Into Rehab in Tennessee?

It’s a question many families ask once they’ve run out of patience. The short answer: a court can order involuntary care in some circumstances, but the bar is high.

Tennessee’s mental health code defines mental illness to include alcohol dependence and drug dependence (Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-1-101). Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-502, a court can order someone into involuntary care only if all of these conditions are met:

1. The person has a mental illness.
2. They pose a substantial likelihood of serious harm because of it.
3. They need care or treatment because of it.
4. All available less drastic alternatives are unsuitable.

That is a court process with a demanding standard, not a way for a family to require treatment simply because someone is drinking or using. Every situation is different, so if you have questions about your own family’s circumstances, talk with an attorney. For many families, the approaches above, along with patience and persistence, are the place to start.

If You Think Someone Is Overdosing

If someone may be overdosing or is in immediate danger, call 911. If opioids could be involved, naloxone can help: it reverses opioid overdoses, and the FDA approved Narcan nasal spray for over-the-counter, nonprescription sale in March 2023, so it can be sold in places like drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores, and online. If someone in your family uses opioids, you may want to keep it at home. A quick guide on the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s website says to give naloxone immediately and call 911. Follow the directions on the package.

What Happens When They Say Yes

When your loved one agrees to get help, the next step is a phone call. Freeman Recovery Center’s assessment is free, confidential, and handled in a single call. The admissions team will ask about:

• What substance they use, how much, and how recently
• Any past withdrawal symptoms
• Mental health diagnoses and current medications
• Where they would live during outpatient care
• Work, school, or family obligations
• Insurance

You can help by gathering those answers ahead of time, so the call goes quickly and your loved one doesn’t have to carry it alone. For people who need urgent help, Freeman Recovery Center offers same-day admission.

Care takes place at two Tennessee campuses. Medical detox and residential treatment are at the Burns campus (1615 HWY 96, Burns, TN 37029). Partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and outpatient programs are at the Dickson campus (250 State St, Dickson, TN 37055). The assessment helps determine which level of care fits, and where your loved one will start.

Paying for Treatment

Cost is one of the first worries for many families. Before admission, Freeman Recovery Center can help you verify your benefits, so you know what your loved one’s insurance may cover before they arrive. You can start that by phone or through the coverage verification page.

Taking the First Step With Freeman Recovery Center

You don’t have to have every answer before you reach out. Call Freeman Recovery Center at (615) 645-3677. You can call together with your loved one, or call on your own first to ask questions, talk through what you’re seeing, and learn what the process would look like.

Sometimes having a plan in hand is what makes the next conversation easier. When your loved one is ready, Freeman Recovery Center will be ready too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Help an Alcoholic Who Doesn’t Want Help?

You can’t make the choice for them, but you can make treatment more likely. Approaches like CRAFT teach families how to communicate in ways that lower defensiveness and encourage treatment over time. Just as important, look after yourself with support of your own, so you can stay steady for the long run.

Can You Force Someone Into Rehab in Tennessee?

Only in limited circumstances. Tennessee law allows a court to order involuntary care when strict conditions are met, including a substantial likelihood of serious harm and no suitable less drastic alternative. If you have questions about your situation, talk with an attorney.

Can I Call Freeman Recovery Center for Someone Else?

Yes. Family members can call (615) 645-3677 to ask questions, learn how admission works, and find out what information the admissions team will need. When your loved one is ready, the assessment itself is free and confidential.

What Should I Do After They Agree to Go?

Call the same day if you can, while they’re still willing. Have the basics ready: what they use and how much, any past withdrawal, mental health diagnoses and medications, and insurance information.

This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For crisis support, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For treatment referrals and information, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), which is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

For most people, detoxing at home is not safe. Withdrawal from alcohol and benzodiazepines can cause seizures or delirium, and symptoms can turn dangerous quickly, often after someone seems to be doing fine. People try home detox to save money, avoid missing work, or keep the struggle private, and those worries are real, but most of them have practical answers.

At Freeman Recovery Center, medically supervised detox happens at our campus in Burns, Tennessee, where a nurse is on site around the clock and a physician is on call. This guide covers why detoxing alone is risky, how withdrawal differs by substance, which symptoms mean you need emergency care, and what supervised detox actually looks like, so you can make a safer choice for yourself or someone you love.

Why Detoxing Alone Is Risky

How dangerous withdrawal gets depends on the substance, how much and how long you have been using, and whether you have been through withdrawal before. Symptoms can also change quickly, and someone in severe withdrawal is rarely in a position to judge when it is time to get help.

In a medical setting, a nurse is watching for those changes and can treat them right away. That is why detox should start with a medical assessment rather than a guess. A clinician can review your history and decide whether you need around-the-clock monitoring, a short supervised stay, or can safely begin in outpatient care.

How Withdrawal Risk Differs by Substance

Not every withdrawal looks the same. Some substances carry a real risk of seizures or death, while others are miserable but rarely dangerous on their own. Timing differs too, and that matters, because people often assume they are in the clear just before the most dangerous window opens.

Alcohol

Alcohol withdrawal carries the highest risk of any common substance. Mild symptoms such as shakiness, sweating, anxiety, and trouble sleeping usually begin six to eight hours after the last drink. Seizures can happen anywhere from six to 48 hours in, often in people who had seemed to be handling withdrawal fine up to that point.

The most serious complication is delirium tremens, or DTs, which typically begins two to four days after the last drink and can last up to two weeks. DTs bring severe confusion, fever, a racing heart, and hallucinations, and they require emergency medical care. The timing is what catches families off guard: by day three, everyone assumes the worst is over, and that is exactly when DTs tend to appear.

Our alcohol detox program is built around that window, with staff watching for early warning signs so complications are treated before they become emergencies.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium can also cause seizures when stopped suddenly after regular use. Withdrawal from short-acting benzodiazepines like Xanax usually begins around day two, while long-acting ones like Valium may not start until around day five. The acute phase can last anywhere from five days to four weeks.

Because of that, benzodiazepines are almost never stopped all at once. A medically managed benzodiazepine taper lowers the dose gradually so your nervous system has time to adjust, which is something that cannot be done safely by guessing at home.

Opioids and Fentanyl

Opioid withdrawal is rarely fatal on its own, but it is intensely uncomfortable, and that discomfort is what drives so many people back to using. With short-acting opioids like heroin, oxycodone, and fentanyl, symptoms usually start eight to 12 hours after the last dose and peak around 48 to 72 hours. Long-acting opioids like methadone start later and peak around days three to five. Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dangerous dehydration, especially for someone who is alone and cannot keep fluids down.

The bigger danger often comes after withdrawal. Tolerance drops within days, so going back to the amount you used before can cause an overdose, and fentanyl in the drug supply makes that risk far higher.

Supervised opioid withdrawal care keeps you safe through the worst days and connects you to treatment, including medication options, that lowers the chance of relapse and overdose once you leave.

Stimulants Like Meth and Cocaine

Stimulant withdrawal does not usually cause the physical emergencies seen with alcohol or benzodiazepines. What it brings instead is exhaustion, intense cravings, and a heavy crash in mood. For some people that low turns into severe depression or thoughts of self-harm, which is reason enough not to go through it alone. Our meth detox program treats the emotional side of stimulant withdrawal alongside the physical symptoms.

Which Withdrawal Symptoms Are an Emergency?

Some symptoms mean your body needs medical care right now, not after you wait to see if they pass. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you notice any of the following:

• Seizures or convulsions, which can happen without warning during alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal
• Hallucinations or severe confusion, such as seeing things that are not there or losing track of where you are
• A racing or irregular heartbeat that does not settle
• High fever or heavy sweating along with other symptoms on this list
• Severe, uncontrollable shaking, which often comes before more serious complications
• Extreme agitation or delirium, a hallmark of delirium tremens
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm, which call for reaching out right away by calling or texting 988, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Why Do People Try to Detox at Home?

Most people who try home detox are not being reckless. They are worried about something real, and most of those worries have practical answers:

• “I can’t afford it.” Detox is often covered by insurance because it is treated as medical care, and our team will verify your insurance for free before admission. If you are uninsured or your plan leaves a large balance, our guide on how to pay for detox walks through other options.
• “I’ll lose my job.” Detox stays are usually short, and many people step down to outpatient care that fits around work, including evening IOP.
• “I can’t be away from my kids.” A short supervised stay is far less disruptive than a seizure or a hospital admission.
• “I don’t want anyone to know.” Federal law protects the confidentiality of substance use treatment records.
• “I want to prove I can do it myself.” Getting through withdrawal safely is not the hard part of recovery. Staying stopped is, and that is where support makes the biggest difference.

Talking with our admissions team is free and does not commit you to anything.

If You Are Helping Someone Through Withdrawal

Families often end up in this position without planning to, because a loved one has decided to quit and will not go anywhere. Having someone there is better than being alone, but watching is not the same as medical monitoring. A family member cannot treat a seizure, adjust medication, or always tell the difference between rough withdrawal and the early signs of delirium tremens.

If you are in that spot, do not leave them alone, keep the emergency symptoms above where you can see them, and call 911 if any of them appear. Then call us. We can talk with you about what your loved one is using and help you figure out whether supervised detox is the safer path, even if they are not ready to make that call themselves.

What Happens During Medical Detox at Freeman Recovery Center?

Detox starts with a phone call, not a bed. Our admissions team asks what you use, how much and how recently, whether you have been through withdrawal before, and about your diagnoses, medications, and insurance, so your care is planned before you arrive. If you need detox, you stay at our Burns campus at 1615 HWY 96, where a nurse is on site 24/7 and a physician is on call to treat symptoms as they come up. You can read more about how our medical detox program works.

What Comes After Detox?

Detox gets you through withdrawal, but it does not treat the reasons behind substance use. Most people continue care in steps:

1. Detox at our Burns campus
2. Residential treatment on the same Burns campus
3. Partial hospitalization program (PHP) at our Dickson facility, about 10 minutes away
4. Intensive outpatient program (IOP) in Dickson, with evening options
5. Outpatient care and telehealth
6. Aftercare and alumni support

Each step is a clinical decision your treatment team makes with you, not a separate admission you have to arrange yourself. Most people in PHP and IOP live in our recovery housing, which includes more than 20 homes in the area, and our vans handle daily rides between housing and the clinic so transportation never becomes the reason someone falls out of treatment.

Can You Skip Detox and Start Outpatient Care?

Sometimes, yes. If your assessment shows a low risk of serious withdrawal, you may be able to start directly in PHP or IOP at our Dickson facility. That call belongs to a clinician who knows your history, and getting it is exactly what our free assessment is for.

How to Get Started

If you are thinking about detoxing at home, talk with us first. A free, confidential assessment tells you whether you need supervised detox and which level of care fits, and same-day admission is often available when you are ready. You can reach our admissions team at (615) 645-3677.

FAQs About Home Detox

Is home detox ever safe?

For some substances and lighter use, the physical risk is lower, but only a clinician can make that call after an assessment. Withdrawal from alcohol and benzodiazepines should always happen under medical supervision, never alone at home.

How long does detox take?

It depends on the substance and your history. Many people complete detox in several days to about a week, while benzodiazepines can take longer because they need a gradual taper. Your care team sets the timeline based on how your body responds.

Can I keep working during treatment?

Detox and residential care require a short time away, but many people keep working once they step down to outpatient care. Our evening IOP is built for people balancing treatment with a job or family responsibilities.

How do I know if I need a higher level of care?

Severe withdrawal symptoms, a history of seizures, co-occurring mental health concerns, or an unsafe living situation all point toward a higher level of care. A professional assessment at Freeman Recovery Center can determine the right fit.

Is it safe to taper off alcohol on my own by drinking less each day?

Self-tapering is unreliable because it is hard to control amounts once withdrawal and cravings set in, and seizures can still happen. If you drink heavily every day, talk with a medical provider before cutting back.

Substance Use Statistics in Tennessee

Substance Use Statistics in Tennessee

• About 13.9% of Tennesseans 12 and older reported past-month illicit drug use in 2022 and 2023, rising to 22.0% among young adults ages 18 to 25, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
• 15% of Tennessee adults reported excessive drinking in 2023, based on CDC survey data compiled by America’s Health Rankings.
• Fentanyl was involved in 2,720 of Tennessee’s 3,616 drug overdose deaths in 2023, about 75%, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

Men often attempt to hide addiction by trying to stay functional. Maybe you keep going to work, meet your obligations, laugh things off, and drink or use where no one can see. Social pressure, pride, and fear of judgment make it feel nearly impossible to admit what’s really going on, so the problem can grow for years before anyone notices.

When addiction stays hidden, it tends to get worse. Freeman Recovery Center’s men’s rehab program helps you stop carrying it alone, and this guide covers what hidden addiction looks like, why men hide it, how to bring it up, and what treatment looks like when you’re ready.

How Do Men Hide Addiction?

Many men with a substance use disorder don’t look the way people expect. You might show up to work, pay the bills, and keep things running on the surface. What goes unseen are the drinks before anyone else is awake, the pills kept hidden in a gym bag, and the slow disappearance of the person you were.

The most common covers are ordinary habits that slowly take on a second job:

• Staying busy: Long hours and constant work leave little room for anyone to notice what happens after hours.
• Using humor: Jokes about drinking or partying make heavy use seem like part of your personality, not a problem.
• Using in private: Drinking alone, in the car, or before social events keeps the true amount hidden from the people around you.
• Switching to something that sounds safer: Moving from liquor to beer, or leaning on cannabis or a prescription, lets you tell yourself and others that it’s under control.
• Showing anger instead of distress: Irritability and a short temper often replace the sadness or anxiety you’re not talking about.

High-Functioning Addiction in Men

High-functioning addiction is one of the hardest patterns to spot because productivity becomes the perfect cover. A “work hard, play hard” mindset reframes heavy drinking or drug use as a reward, and success at work becomes proof that nothing is wrong. The lack of visible consequences doesn’t make it less serious. Tolerance builds, use increases, and health, relationships, and finances usually start slipping long before the job does.

In practice, it often looks like a man who never misses a deadline but regularly misses dinner, someone who needs a few drinks every night to wind down or to fall asleep, or who saves his heaviest use for business trips and weekends alone. Your partners will likely feel it first as distance, a shorter temper, or promises that keep getting broken, well before anyone at your work suspects a thing.

Why Do Men Hide Addiction?

From an early age, many men absorb a clear message: handle it yourself, stay in control, and never let anyone see you struggle. That pressure doesn’t go away in adulthood. Asking for help can feel like admitting weakness, especially to a partner, a boss, or other men, and the longer you’ve kept it hidden, the harder it feels to come clean.

There’s often something underneath the substance use, too. Perhaps you use alcohol or drugs to manage depression, anxiety, or trauma you’ve never put a name to. Treating only the drinking or drug use leaves those problems in place, whereas dual diagnosis treatment addresses both at the same time.

Signs of Hidden Addiction in Men

When you hide addiction as a man, the signs rarely announce themselves. They’re more likely to show up as small changes that are easy to explain away, and your loved ones may sense that something is off before even putting a name to it. If you’re a loved one and are concerned, watch for these patterns:

• Secrecy around his phone or schedule: A man who was once open about his whereabouts may start guarding his phone, getting vague about where he has been, or bristling at simple questions.
• Losing interest in hobbies or people: Activities and friendships that once mattered quietly fall away, or he is in the room but clearly somewhere else.
• Changes in sleep or energy: Staying up unusually late, sleeping through the morning, or swinging between high energy and exhaustion with no clear reason.
• Irritability or emotional flatness: Mood shifts that seem out of proportion, or a numbness that replaces his usual personality.
• Money that does not add up: Unexplained withdrawals, cash that disappears, or new defensiveness about spending.
• Physical changes that are easy to dismiss: Weight changes, bloodshot eyes, poor hygiene, or a general decline in appearance that gets written off as stress or getting older.

One sign alone rarely means addiction, but several together are worth taking seriously. If you’re asking these questions about yourself, or someone you love, check out our guide on whether you need rehab.

How to Help a Man Who Is Hiding an Addiction

You cannot force someone into recovery, but if you’re a worried loved one, know that how you start the conversation can make a real difference in whether he’s willing to take a step. Pick a calm, private moment when he’s sober, and avoid bringing it up in the middle of an argument. Have a next step ready, such as where he can get a free assessment, so that if he says yes, there is something concrete to do that same day.

When you do talk, focus on specific changes you have noticed and your own worry, rather than labels or judgments about his character. Expect some defensiveness the first time. Say what you need to say, let him know you care, and give him space to think. If he will not listen, a structured intervention or family therapy can help the people around him respond in a way that encourages treatment instead of enabling the problem.

If You Are Worried About an Overdose

Hidden use can turn dangerous fast, especially with opioids, pills bought outside a pharmacy, or alcohol mixed with other drugs. Call 911 right away if you notice these signs in yourself or a loved one:

• Not waking up or responding to his name
• Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
• Blue or gray lips or fingertips
• Choking or gurgling sounds

If opioids could be involved, use naloxone (Narcan) if you have it. It’s available over the counter, and keeping it at home is a reasonable step if you’re a loved one who suspects hidden opioid use.

What Treatment Looks Like for Men at Freeman Recovery Center

Treatment at Freeman Recovery Center follows the level of care each man needs. If you need medical detox or round-the-clock support, you’ll stay at our Burns campus, which is co-ed with separate wings and has a nurse on site 24/7. Or perhaps you’ll start in our partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient progam at our Dickson facility, about 10 minutes away.

Most men in PHP and IOP live in our recovery housing, which provides a stable, sober place to live while building new routines. Our vans also handle daily rides between housing and the clinic so you don’t have to worry about transportation. More than half of our staff are in recovery themselves, so you’ll be talking to people who have been exactly where you are.

Can He Keep His Job During Treatment?

Often, yes. Our evening IOP is built for when you’re balancing treatment with work or family. Ifyou need a higher level of care first, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may offer job-protected time off for eligible employees, and our team can talk through what that process involves.

Privacy is usually the bigger worry. Federal law, including 42 CFR Part 2, protects substance use treatment records, and those records generally cannot be shared with employers without written consent. Getting help doesn’t mean coworkers have to know the reason for the absence.

Does Insurance Cover Addiction Treatment for Men?

Most health plans cover some level of addiction treatment, including detox, residential care, PHP, and IOP. What you pay depends on your plan, deductible, and any prior authorization requirements. Under the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, most plans also cannot make addiction coverage more restrictive than coverage for comparable medical care, such as through higher copays or tighter visit limits. Our admissions team can verify insurance benefits for free and explain coverage in plain terms before any commitment, which takes one of the easiest excuses off the table.

How to Get Started

FAQs About Men Hiding Addiction

How do I know if my husband is hiding a substance use problem?

There is rarely one definitive sign. Look for a combination of changes, such as more secrecy, emotional withdrawal, shifts in sleep or appearance, and growing defensiveness about drinking or drug use. Trust your instincts if something feels different about someone you know well.

What is the difference between addiction and high-functioning use?

High-functioning use describes someone who keeps a job and meets obligations while privately depending on alcohol or drugs. It’s still addiction. The lack of visible consequences does not make it less serious, and it tends to escalate over time.

What if he refuses to get help?

You cannot force an adult into treatment, but you can stop covering for him, set clear boundaries, and keep the door open. Family therapy or a structured intervention can help, and support for yourself matters just as much while you wait for him to be ready.

Are men and women treated together at Freeman Recovery Center?

Our Burns campus is co-ed with separate wings for men and women. Your unique treatment plan determines therapy groups and daily schedules, and our team can answer specific questions during the assessment.

Men’s Addiction Statistics

• Men are more likely than women to use nearly all types of illicit drugs, face higher rates of dependence on both illicit drugs and alcohol across most age groups, and are more likely to experience emergency department visits or overdose deaths from drug use, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
• From 2018 to 2023, the age-adjusted drug overdose death rate among men in Nashville rose 130.2%, from 52.4 to 120.6 deaths per 100,000 male residents, the Metro Public Health Department of Nashville/Davidson County reported.
• Men died of opioid and psychostimulant overdoses at two to three times the rate of women in 2020 and 2021, according to a study led by researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The best therapy for you depends on your addiction, whether co-occurring disorders are part of the picture, how much structure you need, and what you’ve already tried. For most people in addiction recovery, the most effective plan combines several approaches, rather than relying on just one.

At Freeman Recovery Center, your treatment plan starts with a free assessment and grows with you as you progress. Our clinical team in Tennessee treats addiction alongside co-occurring mental health disorders, so the therapies you receive address both the substance use and what’s driving it. This guide walks you through the main types of therapy, how each one helps, and how your level of care shapes the plan.

How Do You Know Which Therapy Is Right for You?

Understanding the therapy options available to you can help you make an informed decision with your treatment team. Clinicians look at whether a mental health disorder is involved, whether trauma lies underneath your addiction, how your relationships have been affected, and whether you can stay safe and stable with weekly sessions or need daily structure.

Your history matters, too. If a past program focused only on stopping use and never addressed the root, that tells your treatment team what to change this time. During admissions at Freeman Recovery Center, our team asks about the substance, how recently you used, any prior withdrawal, current diagnoses and medications, your history, symptoms, and your insurance. Those answers help us choose the right mix of therapies before your first session.

What Are the Main Types of Addiction Therapy?

Most addiction treatment draws on a handful of proven approaches. Each one targets a different part of the problem, from the thoughts that lead to use to the relationships and trauma that keep it going. Freeman Recovery Center offers each of these therapy modalities and formats, and most treatment plans use more than one.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you identify the thought patterns and situations that lead to use, then replace them with more helpful thoughts. It works well for most people in recovery and is especially useful when cravings follow predictable triggers like stress, certain people, or particular times of day. CBT is structured and goal-focused, so you can easily track progress from session to session.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy builds on CBT with skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress without using, and improving relationships. It fits people whose substance use is closely tied to overwhelming feelings, impulsive decisions, or ongoing conflict with others. Many people find DBT skills such as mindfulness and emotional regulation useful long after formal treatment ends.

Individual Therapy and Addiction Counseling

Individual therapy gives you one-on-one time with a licensed clinician to work through what’s specific to you, including personal history, shame, grief, and goals you may not want to raise in a group. Your treatment plan gets adjusted as you go, and this format is often where the most personal recovery progress happens.

Group Therapy

Group therapy puts you alongside others working through similar challenges, guided by a clinician. Hearing how peers handle cravings, setbacks, and difficult conversations builds accountability and makes recovery feel less isolating. The group format also lets you practice new skills, like setting boundaries or asking for help, in a safe setting before using them in daily life.

Family Therapy

Family therapy brings spouses, parents, or other loved ones into the process. Addiction strains trust and communication at home, and family sessions help everyone understand the disease, rebuild honest communication, and set healthy boundaries. This format fits anyone whose loved ones have been impacted by addiction.

Trauma Therapy and EMDR

If past trauma is part of your story, trauma therapy addresses it directly rather than treating substance use in isolation. Freeman Recovery Center has EMDR-trained clinicians; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps the brain process traumatic memories so they carry less emotional weight. Trauma-informed care also shapes how every other therapy in your plan is delivered.

How Does Your Level of Care Change Your Therapy?

The same therapy modalities can be delivered at very different intensities. Someone in residential treatment may have therapy throughout the day, while someone in standard outpatient care may attend a couple of sessions per week. Your level of care sets how much structure and support surrounds your therapy, and it changes as you progress.

Freeman Recovery Center offers a full continuum of care across two campuses. Medical detox and residential treatment take place at our Burns campus, while our Dickson facility offers Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), standard outpatient care, and telehealth. This continuum of care allows you to maintain consistent care with us, rather than having to arrange separate admissions.

Weekly Therapy vs. Intensive Outpatient Care

Weekly therapy works well for maintaining progress once you’re stable. If cravings, relapse, or mental health symptoms keep disrupting daily life, an IOP adds several therapy sessions each week, combining group and individual work so you quickly build skills. Evening IOPs let you keep working while getting far more support than a single weekly appointment can provide.

Do You Need Detox or Residential Care First?

Not always. Some people can begin directly in PHP or IOP, while others need medically monitored detox first to withdraw safely, especially from alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids. At our Burns campus, detox includes 24/7 nursing with a physician on call. Your assessment determines where you start, and you step down as you and your treatment team agree you’re ready.

What Is Therapy Like at Freeman Recovery Center?

Outpatient therapy takes place at our Dickson facility at 250 State St, Dickson, TN 37055, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 9 PM. Sessions combine group work with private individual meetings, so you get peer support and one-on-one attention in the same program, on a schedule built around your treatment plan.

Many people in our PHP and IOP stay in Freeman Recovery Center recovery housing, and our vans provide daily transportation between organized housing and the clinic, so getting to sessions is never a barrier. For co-occurring mental health conditions, psychiatric care and medication management are available through Freeman Health Partners. An optional Christ-centered track called Arise is available for anyone who wants their faith integrated into their recovery. Phones are allowed in PHP and IOP outside of therapy time.

Does Insurance Cover Addiction Therapy?

In most cases, yes. Under the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, most health plans must cover substance use and mental health treatment on terms comparable to medical care. That typically includes therapy at outpatient, IOP, PHP, and residential levels, though deductibles, copays, and prior authorization rules vary by plan.

Freeman Recovery Center works with plans from carriers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. Because benefits differ even within the same carrier, the best next step is to verify your insurance before starting. Verification with us is free and confidential, and our team will explain what your plan covers at each level of care and what costs to expect.

How Do You Get Started?

Getting started takes one phone call. Our admissions team will answer your questions, walk through your options, and help you understand which therapies and level of care fit your situation, with no obligation. In many cases, Freeman Recovery Center can offer same-day admission once we complete your assessment and verify your insurance.

• Step 1: Make a no-obligation call. Speak with our admissions team about your needs, your questions, and what treatment could look like for you.
• Step 2: Complete a clinical assessment. Licensed clinicians review your history, symptoms, and goals to recommend a therapy plan and level of care.
• Step 3: Begin your program. Your group and individual sessions start as soon as your plan is ready.

FAQs About Choosing the Right Therapy

Choosing a therapy raises practical questions about time, cost, work, and privacy. Below are answers to the most common questions people ask before starting treatment, and our team is always available to talk through any other questions you may have.

• Can I choose which type of therapy I get? You have a real say in it. Your treatment team recommends therapies based on your assessment, then builds the plan with you. If an approach isn’t working or you want to add something, such as family sessions, you can raise it at any point in treatment.
• How long does addiction therapy last? It depends on your needs, your level of care, and your progress. Some therapies, like CBT, are designed to be short-term and structured, while outpatient therapy and aftercare can continue for months. Your treatment team reviews your plan regularly and adjusts the length as you go.
• Can I keep working while in treatment? Often, yes. Evening IOP and standard outpatient care are designed for people balancing treatment with work, school, or family. If you need a higher level of care first, our team can discuss options like FMLA leave so your job is protected while you focus on recovery.
• Is intensive outpatient treatment as effective as inpatient care? For many people, yes. Research comparing IOPs with inpatient and residential treatment has found similar outcomes. The right choice depends on your withdrawal risk, mental health, and living situation, which is why your level of care is decided during a clinical assessment.
• Does Freeman Recovery Center accept BCBS of Tennessee? Yes, Freeman Recovery Center accepts BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Coverage still varies by plan, so verify your specific benefits before starting treatment to understand your costs and any prior authorization requirements.
• Is addiction therapy confidential? Yes. Your treatment records are protected by HIPAA and by federal confidentiality rules for substance use disorder treatment (42 CFR Part 2), which add stronger protections than standard medical privacy law. In general, we don’t share information with employers or family without your written consent.

Statistics and Resources

• In fiscal year 2026, Tennessee’s Behavioral Health Safety Net for Adults served 35,738 individuals aged 18 and older, according to the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
• The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury states that 93.9% of the state’s substance use disorder treatment facilities offer Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
• According to the Mayo Clinic, CBT usually involves 5 to 20 sessions, varying based on your condition, symptom severity, and rate of progress.
• According to Psychiatric Services, a study comparing Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) with inpatient and residential treatment found similar outcomes, showing that IOPs provide an effective treatment option.
• Democrat and Chronicle reports that more than 1 in 4 Tennessee adults experienced a mental illness in the last year. It also shares that 3 in 4 adults in the state needed addiction treatment but did not receive it.

New survey data reveals how and why Americans are increasingly retreating to private spaces to cope with stress, overstimulation, and daily pressure.

Americans are more connected than ever, but that constant access comes at a cost: the APA found that 77% of Americans experience enough stress to affect their physical health. With nonstop notifications, noisy environments, and blurred lines between work and home, many are reaching a breaking point. The only way that many Americans know how to recover is by being alone.

To better understand what drives people into solitude, Freeman Recovery Center surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults about their habits, triggers, and coping behaviors. The results show just how common it is to take time alone and how that behavior is affecting daily life, work, and relationships.

Key Takeaways

• 91% of Americans said they have retreated to a private space to decompress in the past year, including 47% who said they do so regularly and 34% who do so occasionally.
• 47% retreat to a private space at least once per day, including 22% who do so multiple times daily, while 63% do so three or more times per week.
• 54% said their need for private decompression increased in the past year, including 24% who said it increased significantly.
• 44% said overstimulation from noise or constant conversation triggers their need to step away, while 32% said realizing they had no uninterrupted personal time that day prompts them to decompress.
• 62% retreat to the bedroom to decompress, while 43% say they head to the bathroom and 35% specifically turn to the shower as a private escape.
• 50% said they have used a health-related excuse that was not entirely accurate to step away during the workday, revealing how often decompression is hidden in professional environments.
• 54% scroll social media while decompressing, and 46% sit quietly in silence, while 15% use nicotine, 11% use cannabis, and 8% drink alcohol during these moments.
• 41% said they retreat to be alone when overwhelmed, while 27% said they need daily space from a partner, and 22% said decompression has created emotional distance in a relationship.

A Nearly Universal Behavior

Humans need time to decompress. A study from the University of Reading showed that having enough time to relax and recover from everyday life lowers stress levels and boosts overall well-being. However, everyone has different privacy needs. While some need a few hours in a dark room before they can socialize, others need little to no time alone at all.

Almost everyone needs privacy at least sometimes: 91% of respondents said they’d sought private spaces to decompress within the past year. Of that majority, 47% have a regular habit of retreating, and 34% do so occasionally. Eleven percent rarely seek out private time, while 9% have not done so at all. Baby boomers and Gen X were the most likely to skip alone time: 21% of Boomers and 13% of Gen X said they hadn’t intentionally gone to a private space even once in the past year. Only 3% of Gen Z said the same, making boomers seven times more likely to forgo their privacy.

For many Americans, privacy is a daily need. Most people (63%) retreat to their spaces three or more times a week, with 25% retreating once a day and 22% doing so multiple times a day. A smaller share (15%) only hides away from the world once or twice a week, and 12% said they do so less than once a week. Gen Z needed the most time to themselves: 27% of Zoomers said they retreat to private spaces multiple times a day, the most of any generation. By contrast, 29% of baby boomers said they rarely seek out private spaces. With nearly a third of Gen Z still living with their parents, many may be carving out space from their boomer parents with much lower privacy needs.

Overstimulated and Overextended

So what exactly is making Americans retreat to their happy places? For many, it’s simple sensory overload; for others, it’s the pressure of unread notifications and always being ready to answer a phone call. From the workplace to the living room, stressors are driving people to spend more time alone.

Most people isolated themselves to get a little peace and quiet. Nearly half (44%) cited overstimulation from constant noise as the main reason they retreat to private spaces. This was more common among women than men, with 47% of women and 36% of men citing overstimulation. This may be partly due to the share of women caring for children after a long day at a noisy workplace.

Across all respondents, about a third (32%) said they seek alone time when they realize they’ve gone the whole day without any uninterrupted personal time. Another 29% said they retreat when faced with negative feedback, and a similar share (28%) seek solitude when they feel talked “at” rather than spoken to at work. One in five (21%) need time to themselves when they think about their pay relative to their workload, reflecting a significant portion of workers who are not compensated fairly for their time.

These stressors follow many Americans home: 29% said they go to a private space when they feel unappreciated at home, and 13% said their parenting responsibilities cause them to need more time alone. Another 17% retreat to private spaces after being contacted about work outside normal hours, suggesting that blurred boundaries between work and home increase the need to decompress.

This kind of constant contact is another significant stressor for Americans: 63% said the pressure to be constantly available contributed to their desire to be alone. Nearly half of these respondents (28%) said that the pressure was a significant factor in their need for solitude. Constant push notifications and work-related emails are taking their toll on Americans’ well-being.

Where Americans Go to Be Alone

When Americans need a moment to decompress, most turn to the private spaces closest to them. The most common places to relax were also some of the most effective: private, cozy spaces that help people feel safe and secure. Here’s where people are grabbing their moments for themselves.

The bedroom is by far the most common retreat, with 62% saying they go there for alone time. Other home spaces also serve as quick escapes: 43% retreat to a bathroom, and 35% use the shower as a place to reset. Women were more likely to tuck themselves into bed: 64% of women said they go to the bedroom to rest, compared to 59% of men.

Not everyone has easy access to personal space at home, though. Overall, only 34% said they have enough personal space at home, while 43% said they somewhat do, leaving a quarter who don’t really have the room they need to be alone.

When Americans lack private space, they improvise. About a third (31%) head outside for a walk or time in the yard, while 26% retreat to a parked car to decompress. A third (32%) said they don’t even need a physical space to decompress in: they scroll through their phones to build a private world wherever they are.

People are grabbing alone time at the office as well, with 11% using a workplace bathroom and 8% slipping away to a breakroom to decompress. In the absence of dedicated private space, Americans create moments of solitude wherever they can.

Escaping Work Without Leaving Work

Many employees step away during the workday when stress or mental fatigue starts to build. For most, taking a few minutes to scroll in the privacy of a workplace bathroom is enough. But others have to go to more extreme measures to get some time to themselves.

Four in ten workers (40%) said they’ve retreated during the workday because they felt emotionally overwhelmed, while 37% said they did so because they felt mentally drained or overstimulated. Others stepped away to manage specific situations, such as avoiding a confrontation or difficult conversation (24%) or simply resting for a moment and closing their eyes (20%). These findings suggest that short, private breaks are helping employees regulate stress throughout the workday.

However, their bosses may not feel the same way. As a result, it’s become a common response for the study participants to lie to their employers about their reasoning to step away from work. Half of the respondents (51%) said they have used a health-related excuse that wasn’t entirely accurate to step away from work. Of those, 17% said they have done this several times, while 34% said they have done so once or twice. Gen Z fibbed about their time off the most often: 59% of Zoomers have used a health-related excuse to step away from work, compared to 53% of millennials, 45% of Gen X, and only 27% of baby boomers. Younger generations could be more willing to take breaks by any means necessary, or they may know that health-related excuses are the only way they’ll get time off work.

The need to decompress during work hours is also connected to pressures outside the office, with 17% saying being contacted about work off the clock contributes to their need to retreat. These patterns highlight how employees often navigate workplace expectations not by sacrificing rest, but by finding ways to do it discreetly.

Healthy Pause or Risky Habit?

What are Americans doing behind closed doors? Most are looking at their phones, but some are finding other, new ways to decompress. However, not every popular coping mechanism is necessarily a healthy one. For better or worse, here’s what people are turning to when they need to relax.

More than half (54%) said they scroll social media during moments of rest, making it the most common way people unwind. Traditional forms of entertainment are still popular, too: 39% listen to music or podcasts, 33% play mobile or video games, and 32% watch TV or movies. A small percentage (8%) talk to an AI chatbot to unwind, rising to 13% among Gen Z. Tech and media are allowing people to mentally escape from their everyday lives, even if their physical privacy is limited.

At the same time, many relaxing behaviors are quieter and more restorative. Nearly half of respondents (46%) said they simply sit in silence when they retreat, while 29% lie down or nap to recover their energy. Another 23% use their private time to cry, allowing themselves the emotional release they need. Crying was most popular among Gen Z, with 33% of Zoomers tearing up behind closed doors.

Over a quarter (26%) reach for snacks or comfort food, reflecting the way that the right food can help boost your mood. A smaller but notable share of respondents report turning to substances, including nicotine or vaping (15%), cannabis (11%), and alcohol (8%). Conversely, 10% said cravings for alcohol or drugs can trigger their desire to retreat in the first place, suggesting that the desire for solitude can sometimes overlap with more complex coping behaviors.

Retreating From Each Other

Even if you love your partner, sometimes you just need a little time to yourself. While every relationship is different, we found that more couples spend intentional time apart than you may think. For some, this is a healthy way to maintain their individuality while in a relationship. For others, it’s a death knell to the whole relationship.

More than a quarter of respondents (27%) said they need space from their partner every day, including 13% who need time alone multiple times per day and 14% who need it about once a day. Another 17% said they step away a few times per week, showing that time apart has become a routine part of many relationships. Two in five (41%) said they retreat to be alone when they feel overwhelmed, showing that many people need solitude to process and recover.

Gen Z needed the most space from their partners, with 36% of the generation needing space from their partners every day. Only 27% of millennials, 22% of Gen X, and 15% of boomers had the same need for solitude. In recent years, Gen Z has become known as the most isolated generation, largely due to social media, but they may be isolating themselves.

That need for space doesn’t always land smoothly with partners. About 22% said their alone time has created emotional distance in a relationship, while 16% said a partner has felt hurt or rejected by their need to step away. Another 15% said it has led to arguments, and the same share (15%) reported ongoing tension. In more serious cases, 7% said their need for alone time contributed to a breakup, rising to 10% among millennials. While alone time itself may not be an indicator of a failed relationship on the horizon, mismatched needs for alone time can indicate fundamental incompatibility and bring the relationship to an end.

Rethinking How We Decompress

Taking time alone has become a normal part of how Americans manage stress, but the frequency and context of that behavior matter. For many, stepping away is a practical way to reset and regain focus in the face of constant noise, workplace demands, and emotional pressure. These small breaks can be productive and even necessary in maintaining overall well-being.

However, when this need for space becomes frequent or reactive, it can lead to unintended consequences. Retreating too often — especially without clear communication — can lead to tension in relationships, misunderstandings at work, and a growing sense of emotional distance from others. In some cases, it may also point to deeper issues like chronic stress or burnout.

The goal isn’t to eliminate alone time, but to approach it more intentionally. Building in regular, healthy ways to decompress, like stepping outside, taking a short break, or unplugging from devices, can reduce the need for more abrupt withdrawal. Being open about the need for space can also help maintain trust and connection, ensuring that time alone supports well-being without coming at the expense of it.

Methodology

This survey was conducted in 2026 and included 1,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. Respondents were asked about their behaviors and attitudes related to taking private time to decompress, also referred to as “silent escape” behavior. The sample was stratified by age and gender to reflect U.S. population distributions, and results were segmented accordingly. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

About Freeman Recovery Center

Freeman Recovery Center provides comprehensive addiction treatment and mental health services, helping individuals build healthier coping strategies and long-term recovery plans. By addressing the root causes of stress and substance use, the center supports people in developing sustainable ways to manage emotional and psychological challenges.

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