Relapse prevention?!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 58
Relapse prevention?!
Hi all, I love that this forum is still here.
I've been abstinent from alcohol for five years and five months. Gladly so, or so I thought. In recent weeks the urge to drink has come back with a vengeance. I'm terrified that I am not terrified enough to stay off the grog that so nearly killed me. Anyone have any tips/words of wisdom regarding relapse prevention? I'm open to anything that can be said and considered when it comes to protecting my sobriety!
Thank you so much for reading,
Amelia 😀
I've been abstinent from alcohol for five years and five months. Gladly so, or so I thought. In recent weeks the urge to drink has come back with a vengeance. I'm terrified that I am not terrified enough to stay off the grog that so nearly killed me. Anyone have any tips/words of wisdom regarding relapse prevention? I'm open to anything that can be said and considered when it comes to protecting my sobriety!
Thank you so much for reading,
Amelia 😀
Last edited by Dee74; 12-01-2016 at 03:17 PM. Reason: title typo
Do you work any kind of a program, Amelia? Do you have a plan?
There is a fabulous thread; I'll post the link in a minute.
Glad that you are here. What a great first step in relapse prevention!
There is a fabulous thread; I'll post the link in a minute.
Glad that you are here. What a great first step in relapse prevention!
Here is the link:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...highlight=psst
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...highlight=psst
Welcome back to SR amelia, glad you have decided to seek help. I would echo SoberLeigh's comments - do you follow any type of formal sobriety plan or program? You must be doing something right if you've been sober for over 5 years- congratulations on that!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 58
Thank you so much for your quick replies, appreciated so much, more or as much as you know
I really like the plan thread, honestly I've not had a plan other than stay sober which has worked but I seem to have forgotten how bad it was...no more (at least for tonight!) I've taken on board one of the tips and am re-reading one of the gazillion journals I hung onto, written when drinking and desperate, which basically describes me for 15 years of my life. I hope that, for tonight, that is enough.
Thank you again and P.S obviously the darn thing was supppsed to read relapse not replaces prevention
I really like the plan thread, honestly I've not had a plan other than stay sober which has worked but I seem to have forgotten how bad it was...no more (at least for tonight!) I've taken on board one of the tips and am re-reading one of the gazillion journals I hung onto, written when drinking and desperate, which basically describes me for 15 years of my life. I hope that, for tonight, that is enough.
Thank you again and P.S obviously the darn thing was supppsed to read relapse not replaces prevention
As promised:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...art-183-a.html
Stop by each day and commit to another 24 hours of sobriety and some great support!!!!!
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...art-183-a.html
Stop by each day and commit to another 24 hours of sobriety and some great support!!!!!
Guest
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Northwest
Posts: 4,215
Here is you, 5 years ago after a relapse...
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...t-relapse.html
You know you don't want to go back there again...
You've got 5 years, sweetie. That's fantastic. It also means that you can do anything, including facing this down again.
The holiday season is always tough because everywhere you look there are images of how wonderful and festive drinking is and how everyone does it because December. Funny how they never show anyone vomiting or fighting or crying hysterically with mascara running down their chins.
You got this.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...t-relapse.html
You know you don't want to go back there again...
You've got 5 years, sweetie. That's fantastic. It also means that you can do anything, including facing this down again.
The holiday season is always tough because everywhere you look there are images of how wonderful and festive drinking is and how everyone does it because December. Funny how they never show anyone vomiting or fighting or crying hysterically with mascara running down their chins.
You got this.
Thank you so much for your quick replies, appreciated so much, more or as much as you know ��
I really like the plan thread, honestly I've not had a plan other than stay sober which has worked but I seem to have forgotten how bad it was...no more (at least for tonight!) I've taken on board one of the tips and am re-reading one of the gazillion journals I hung onto, written when drinking and desperate, which basically describes me for 15 years of my life. I hope that, for tonight, that is enough.
Thank you again and P.S obviously the darn thing was supppsed to read relapse not replaces prevention ��
I really like the plan thread, honestly I've not had a plan other than stay sober which has worked but I seem to have forgotten how bad it was...no more (at least for tonight!) I've taken on board one of the tips and am re-reading one of the gazillion journals I hung onto, written when drinking and desperate, which basically describes me for 15 years of my life. I hope that, for tonight, that is enough.
Thank you again and P.S obviously the darn thing was supppsed to read relapse not replaces prevention ��
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 58
Wow. Just WOW. That thread from five years ago...pretty much all my journal entries are that sad, lonely and desperate. Tomorrow I'm hitting a meeting, so far I have phoned a alcohol misuse service to try and get some counselling for relapse prevention. Again, thank you so much for your replies, we got this !
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2,950
Amelia,
Every single morning, for five years and five months, I throw my leftover toast out on my window ledge, and every single morning for five years and five months, birds show up and eat it. Should I wake up this morning and be uncertain of whether or not I will make toast and share the leftovers with the birds, and be uncertain of whether or not the birds will show up? Why or why doesn't this make sense?
Every single morning, for five years and five months, I throw my leftover toast out on my window ledge, and every single morning for five years and five months, birds show up and eat it. Should I wake up this morning and be uncertain of whether or not I will make toast and share the leftovers with the birds, and be uncertain of whether or not the birds will show up? Why or why doesn't this make sense?
I am thinking of you. Its gets hard when we get better. What if, maybe this time it will be OK, etc etc.
For me, I tell myself that even thinking this shows I have a real problem as no one in their right mind would ever ever even take a tiny risk of going back there. And we know there is such a risk, and it aint tiny. In fact its not a risk, its a fact.
Hour by hour, day by day, forward we go.
XXX
For me, I tell myself that even thinking this shows I have a real problem as no one in their right mind would ever ever even take a tiny risk of going back there. And we know there is such a risk, and it aint tiny. In fact its not a risk, its a fact.
Hour by hour, day by day, forward we go.
XXX
I like a mindful approach. We can most of us do well with more mindfulness in our lives, so this might be a perfect fit for you.
Extinguish Addiction With Mindfulness - Mindful Muscle
Extinguish Addiction With Mindfulness - Mindful Muscle
Speaking as a particular type of hopeless alcoholic, relapse prevention was something of an oxymoron. I couldn't keep myself sober.
The only effective relapse prevention plan for me has been a life/personality changing spiritual experience achieved and maintained through working and living the program of AA. That doesn't mean I am at a meeting every day, I am lucky to get one every one or two months. It means practicing "these" principles in all my affairs. As a result of this the idea of drinking has not occurred to me for many years. It just doesnt come up as an option.
I don't spend time in fear of what will happen if I drink. Life is so good it is more of a pleasure than an effort/discipline, to live this way.
Going to lots of meetings works for some, but they often get tired of it after a while. It doesn;t always provide a permanent solution.
The only effective relapse prevention plan for me has been a life/personality changing spiritual experience achieved and maintained through working and living the program of AA. That doesn't mean I am at a meeting every day, I am lucky to get one every one or two months. It means practicing "these" principles in all my affairs. As a result of this the idea of drinking has not occurred to me for many years. It just doesnt come up as an option.
I don't spend time in fear of what will happen if I drink. Life is so good it is more of a pleasure than an effort/discipline, to live this way.
Going to lots of meetings works for some, but they often get tired of it after a while. It doesn;t always provide a permanent solution.
lillyknitting
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Loughton, Essex, England
Posts: 638
Hi all, I love that this forum is still here.
I've been abstinent from alcohol for five years and five months. Gladly so, or so I thought. In recent weeks the urge to drink has come back with a vengeance. I'm terrified that I am not terrified enough to stay off the grog that so nearly killed me. Anyone have any tips/words of wisdom regarding relapse prevention? I'm open to anything that can be said and considered when it comes to protecting my sobriety!
Thank you so much for reading,
Amelia 😀
I've been abstinent from alcohol for five years and five months. Gladly so, or so I thought. In recent weeks the urge to drink has come back with a vengeance. I'm terrified that I am not terrified enough to stay off the grog that so nearly killed me. Anyone have any tips/words of wisdom regarding relapse prevention? I'm open to anything that can be said and considered when it comes to protecting my sobriety!
Thank you so much for reading,
Amelia 😀
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