How to Avoid Another Alcohol Relapse

How to Avoid Another Alcohol Relapse Addiction Alcohol Use Withdrawal and Relapse Print How to Avoid Another Alcohol Relapse By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on November 20, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD on November 20, 2019 PhotoXpress.com More in Addiction Alcohol Use Withdrawal and Relapse Binge Drinking Children of Alcoholics Drunk Driving Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery If you have tried to quit drinking or using drugs but had a relapse, you are not alone. Statistics suggest that up to 80% of people who try to quit have at least one relapse before achieving long-term sobriety.?? In some cases, it may only be a momentary lapse which we, in recovery circles, refer to as a slip. It differs from a full-blown relapse in that the person immediately regrets the action. It may be the result of something that happened on the spur of the moment or when the persons focus was somehow shaken. But, it is ultimately characterized by the fact that the individual wants to correct the mistake immediately. By contrast, a relapse suggests that a person has fallen back into old behaviors. It is most often used to describe when a person who has been sober for some time returns to alcohol or drugs and is less able to stop. Reasons for Slips and Relapses In some cases, people will slip because they dont have the tools to overcome certain emotional situations. They may have had a horrible day and use that as a justification to start drinking again. Alternately, they may be overwhelmed by cravings that frequently occur during early recovery.?? In other cases, people will use alcohol or drugs to punish those around them for pushing them back into old behaviors. It allows the individual to put the blame on someone else rather than acknowledging the addiction is an issue of its own. The main point about a slip is that the sense of regret is almost immediate. The problem arises when the slip turns into a full-blown relapse and the total abandonment of ones sobriety. When this happens, the ability to turn things around becomes increasingly difficult for several reasons: Once a person starts to drink or use drugs again, his or her ability to make rational decision decreases.The persons motivation for sobriety was probably low in the first place, making it even more difficult to reapproach recovery a second time.The relapse will often confirm to the individual that he or she cant overcome the addiction.Those who supported the recovery in the first place may be less willing to do so the second time around.Some people will fool themselves into thinking that they can achieve sobriety again when things are better, and they are in a stronger place.Others will convince themselves that they need to hit rock bottom in order to fully commit to sobriety, failing to understand that it is simply a ploy to buy time and perpetuate the same behaviors. How to Deal With a Slip or Relapse The best way to prevent a slip from becoming a relapse is to act immediately. It is something you cannot do alone, and the seriousness of the slip should never be downplayed by you or those around you. However serious or minor the slip may have been, it is a clear sign that something is wrong and that there are issues that need to be addressed so that the slip doesnt happen again. It is not enough to commit to quit; you need to explore the reasons behind the slip and to understand what triggered it in the first place. Without some serious soul-searching, you will be less able to avoid another slip should the same issue return.?? In the end, there is no benefit to feeling guilty about the slip. What matters is that you take it seriously and acknowledge that it is a mistake from which you have something to learn. On the other hand, if you have experienced a relapse and have now recommitted to recovery, there are several things to remember:?? Instead of feeling guilty, redouble your effort to achieve and maintain sobriety.The fact that you are recommitting means that you understand the depth of your addiction.Instead of feeling shame about your mistakes, look at them squarely and identify what you need to do to avoid making them again.Do not feel like youve lost everything and gone back to day one. Everything we do in life informs our recovery is moving forward. A person who has been sober for several days often experiences sobriety in a more profound way than someone who has been sober for years. Use that feeling to move your recovery forward. And, most importantly, remind yourself that the only true failure is giving up on yourself. Do not give up.