What is Relapse?

Relapse - One drop in not a flood

Relapse is defined as returning to drinking or drugging 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.

Lack of personal confidence to remain clean/sober or abstinent.
Denial
Convincing yourself that you will never ever drink or use again.
You start imposing recovery on other people.
You become defensive when talking about your problem is recovery.
Compulsive behavior appears, you adopt a non-structured lifestyle.
You start over-reacting, impulsive behavior begins to appear.
You experience periods of loneliness.
You begin to focus on one certain area in your life and you become unwilling to defocus, (tunnel vision)
Periods of minor depressions.
Loss of constructive planning, attention to details lessens, wishful thinking begins.
Plans begin to fail.
Daydreaming and the “if only” syndrome enter your daily routine.
Feeling that nothing can be solved.
Immature wish to be happy, while not knowing what happiness is.
Periods of confusion.
Irritation with friends and family
Easily angered
Irregular eating habits.
Inability to concentrate, full of anxiety, feeling of being trapped.
Progressive loss of daily structure.
Periods of deep depression.
Irregular attendance at recovery meetings.
Developing an “I don’t care” attitude.
Open rejection of help.
Becoming dissatisfied with life.
Feelings of powerlessness and helplessness.
Self pity.
Thoughts of social drinking/ using.
Conscious lying.
Complete loss of self-confidence.
Unreasonable resentments.
Discontinuing attendance at Recovery Meetings, (“I don’t need them.”)
Overwhelming loneliness, frustration, anger and tension.
Start controlled drinking and using.
Loss of Control