Relapse is defined as returning to drinking after a period of not drinking - abstinence.
Relapse to drinking does not come on suddenly and without warning, it is a process over time.
Staying clean/sober is not recovery, working a program and finding some serenity and peace is sobriety.
Relapse cannot be avoided by shear willpower of self-discipline.
SELF-TEST FOR RELAPSE WARNING SIGNALS
Here is a simple list of relapse symptoms.
o Lack of personal confidence to remain clean/sober or abstinent.
o Denial
o Convincing yourself that you will never ever drink or use again.
o You start imposing recovery on other people.
o You become defensive when talking about your problem is recovery.
o Compulsive behavior appears, you adopt a non-structured lifestyle.
o You start over-reacting, impulsive behavior begins to appear.
o You experience periods of loneliness.
o You begin to focus on one certain area in your life and you become unwilling to defocus, (tunnel vision)
o Periods of minor depressions.
o Loss of constructive planning, attention to details lessens, wishful thinking begins.
o Plans begin to fail.
o Daydreaming and the "if only" syndrome enter your daily routine.
o Feeling that nothing can be solved.
o Immature wish to be happy, while not knowing what happiness is.
o Periods of confusion.
o Irritation with friends and family
o Easily angered
o Irregular eating habits.
o Inability to concentrate, full of anxiety, feeling of being trapped.
o Progressive loss of daily structure.
o Periods of deep depression.
o Irregular attendance at recovery meetings.
o Developing an "I don’t care" attitude.
o Open rejection of help.
o Becoming dissatisfied with life.
o Feelings of powerlessness and helplessness.
o Self pity.
o Thoughts of social drinking/ using.
o Conscious lying.
o Complete loss of self-confidence.
o Unreasonable resentments.
o Discontinuing attendance at Recovery Meetings, ("I don’t need them.")
o Overwhelming loneliness, frustration, anger and tension.
o Start controlled drinking and using.
o Loss of Control
Recovery Solution; go to a meeting, talk to your sponsor, get a new sponsor, call someone, get counseling or go to rehab.
A Hole in the Sidewalk: The Recovering Person's Guide to Relapse Prevention
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