Relapse Prevention/FYI

[Pernell Johnson]

How could it have happened to me...again? Things seemed to be going so well for me. I had gotten my old job back. I had a place to stay, nothing fancy but it was clean and warm.

My mind had quit racing and I was feeling pretty good.

That's when I quit going to meetings. I lost contact with my sponsor and I quit praying for God's help.

Now here I am back at the Adult Rehabilitation Center asking for help again. I'm afraid and ashamed.

What happened to me?

((((Personal Growth is work!!!! ((((((Relapse))))) You---Social & Spiritual Growth
1. Prayer
2. Working the Steps
3. Work Therapy
4. Meetings

Under Relapse you find;
1. Fear
2. Secrets
3. Shame
4. Dishonesty

WHAT IS RELAPSE ----Bible Readings--James 1:23-24

One of the dangerous characterisitcs of alcohol and drug abuse is the tendency for people to relapse. The first few months are particularly difficult for many people.

Relapse does not begin with the first drink, drug or pill. The time to prevent relapse is long before you return to using Healthy living requires dramatic changes in the way a person thinks and acts. The Twelve Steps of Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotic Anonymous do not teach a person how to drink or use, but rather how to live in a responsible and personally rewarding manner. As a person continues to grow along this spiritual path, he/she moves further away from a possible relapse. The reverse is also true.

When a person stops growing, he/she begins to slip into a pattern which will eventually lead to more chemical abuse. Relapse is a process not an event. It can be changed or interrupted at any time. There are warning signs and symptoms which a person can detect to forewarn him or her of the potential danger.

Bible Readings; I Peter 1:4-8
You cannot stand still and grow spiritually at the same time. The absence of effort will result in a slide back to alcohol, marijuana, cocaine or other drugs.

Can you hear me!!------------This will be continued on your mark.


Just for Today-----------I am Clean and Sober.

[Pernell Johnson]

Bible Readngs: James 1:6-8

Read these "I" statements out loud. Such thoughts are often expressed by people about to relapse. Put a check mak by the ones you might be most apt to say in the weeks and months ahead.

"I do not go to AA or NA or Bible study meetings on a regular basis. When I do go, I don't listen to what others say. I often pass or say something of a general nature."

"I Allow myself to become overly tired, sometimes to point of exhaustion."

I begin to tell little lies or fail to tell the whole truth. I make up little stories often for no apparent reason."

"I become impatient with myself and other people."

"I quit going to Church."

"I eat on an irregular basis, often missing several meals in a row. I pay little attention to the nutritional value of what I eat."

"I get angry and argumentative frequently, over small matters of little or no significance."

"I spend much time thinking about the terrible things that have happened to me. I get really down on myself and I don't think anyone really cares about what happens to me."

"I don't feel like anything is going my way. I am very frustrated at the actions of other people, particularly those closest to me."

"I have very high expectations. Even if they do sound unrealistic. I expect to do great things."

"I think I overreacted to the dangers of cocaine. It's just not that big of a thing."

"I proclaim I will never take a drink for as long as I live. It would be a case of suicide. I don't think I need to pay daily attention to something so obvious."

"I am getting sick and tire of people questioning me about my sobriety. And I know what they're thinking even when they don't ask."

"I don't need the help of other people. I am responsible for my own actions and would appreciate everyone recognizing that fact."

"I think about drinking and using quite often. After all, I had some fantastic times before the chemicals really got to me."

"I feel like I've lost control of my life, almost as if I've been smoking again. I have a hard time concentrating on anything for more than a few seconds."

"I think things are so bad in my life they can't get much worse. I don't even think drinking or using could mix me up more than what I already am."

"I get tired of hearing about all that God stuff. I can stand on my own two feet."

"I know so many people who drink and use too much. They need to wake up and stop being so stupid. Their lives are really becoming a mess."

"I fail to concentrate on my own personal inventory, and I am spending too much energy taking inventories of others."



Just for Today-----I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.

I am Clean and Sober

[Pernell Johnson]

Bible Readings: Proverb 15:24

You want to stay free of alcohol and other drugs. You want to experience the promises of a serene life (pages 83 and 84 of the Big Book). Many people who leave an Adult Rehabilitation Center have good intentions but the cunning, baffling and powerful nature of alcohol and drugs causes them to relapse.

There are many steps taken before relapse actually happens. If you regularly note the signs that point the way for you, your chances of avoiding a relapse are much stronger.

The path is different for everyone, although the basic reason for relapse is the failure to keep Christ in the center of our lives. If you see these signs, beware!! You could be in danger of relapse.

Relapse does not occur when you first begin to use. Relapse is a process that starts long before you actually return to using.

Just as alcohol and drugs affected the physical, social, and psychological aspects of your life, the path to relapse may have signs that appear in all areas of your life as well.

The first sign of relapse may be the feeling of stress. Ina healthy life, the reasons for the stress would be explored, and appropriate action would be taken. However, in gthe relapse process, there may be a denial of the stress and a denial of the source of the stress. Once a pattern of denial begins to grow, other old behaviors may be reactivated.

You may limit your use of recovery tools such as twelve-step meetings, prayers, phone call to a sponsor or healthy sleeping, eating or exercise patterns.

Soon, you have left the pathway to recovery and slide down the path of relapse.

It is important that you recognize the early signs that may warn you of a possible relapse. Here is a list. To which warning signs should you special attention!!

1. Putting Self in Charge
2. Neglect personal program
3. Denial Returns
4. Quit Communicating
5.. Exhaustion and Unmanageability
6. Stress Grows
7. Anger or Self-Pity

Can you think of any more?


Just for Today---------------I am Sober and Clean

[Pernell Johnson]

Bible Readings: James 1:13-14


Denial plays a big role in keeping people from accepting their needs to stop using all mood-altering chemicals. People may feel their problems stem from the use of only one chemical and they hold on to the possibility of using another drug to get high.

A few examples of typical rationalizations which will lead to relapse are:

"My doctor prescribed that medicine for me. It must be for my best health.'

"I'm just an alcoholic. A little pot has never created a problem for me."

"Alcohol made me a drunk, a little crack is different."

"I've proven I don't need to drink, so now I can control a little bottle from time to time."

"It's the cocaine that gets me in trouble; a beer or two can't hurt me."


TIPS AND TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE!!!


Just for Today------------------I am Sober and Clean

[Pernell Johnson]

TIPS AND TOOLS----hERE IS A PERSONAL EXERCISE


Explain in your own words what each of these tips means to you;

Stay in Today--------------------"I do not have to make a decision to never drink or use again. All I need to do is not take a mood-altering chemical today. Forever seems so unrealistic, so distant, but I am living in today. Today, I can stay at the Adult Rehabilitation Center and stay away from alcohol and drugs

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Concentrate on Youiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii I recognize I have enough of a challenge in taking care of my own life. I don't need to meddle into the personal affairs of others. Sometimes it is easier to be critical of other people's actions than it is to honestly evaluate my own.

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Stay Active in Programiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii I choose to make good use of my time. I want to do a good job on my work assignment. I read the Bible and other helpful material. I continue to participate in meetings. I can take good care of my body by exercising and eating right. I can help others

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Use Your Counseloriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii "My counselor listens to me and offers alternatives from a number of perspectives. My counselor also clarifies what is expected of me in the Adult Rehabilitation Center program


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First Things Firstiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii "I can share my intimate feelings with my sponsor. My sponsor gives me direction about the 12 Step program and advises me about how to structure my free time whennot involved in the required Adult Rehabilitation Center program. My sponsor helps me work my program after I graduate.


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Beware of Anger and Resentmentiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii "I recognize much of my past behavior centered around my anger and resentment toward other people. When I stopped using these negative feelings stuck around. I must be careful not to let them affect my rehabilitation. Sharing my feelings with my sponsor and at meetings helps. Staying busy and productive helps. Praying and reading the Bible helps.

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Let Go of Old Ideas and Habitsiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii "I recognize social and spiritual rehabilitation is more than just not using any alcohol or other drugs. I must let go of my old ideas and habits. As long as I cling to my thoughts about getting high or drunk. I will not be ready to embrace a new and healthier set of ideas and habits.

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Live an Honest Lifeiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii "I know if I can be rigorously honest, my life will become more manageable and fulfilling. Let me pray for the courage to be honest in all my affairs.

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Cry for Help Before You Take the First Drink, or the First Hit or the First Pill--iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii "All I need to do is communicate before I take that first drink. If I can succeed in that. I don't have to worry about all the other drinks, hits, or pills which would inevitably follow. I know the smallest amount of drug in my body will trigger my physical and emotional desire to use or drink.


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Can You Hear Me--------------------Can You Hear Me Now!!!



Just for Today------------------I am Clean and Sober


Pernell

[Blake]

Thanks PJ,

There is alot of good info here, I just want to make a note to anyone like me that might read this, religion is not a requirement to stay clean. You can be spiritual without church, the bible, etc... All you need is the 12 steps and some honesty, openmindedness and willingness.

Sorry about that PJ. I don't want you to think that I'm talking **** about your recovery, it's just that for the longest time I was under the impression that NA was based on christianity and I'd use that as an excuse to stay out of the rooms. So for anyone out there that isn't too fond of religion, I repeat, Narcotica Anonymous is a simple, spiritual, not religious program.

Peace,
Blake

[Pernell Johnson]

Blake, I whole heartedly agree with and that is a very good point that you brought up, so others do not get confused. What I wrote is about the God of my understanding and not at all religious, just a spiritual book. The Relapse Prevention Plan as well recovery as I have experienced it calls for reading to understand and learn new behaviors and attitudes and it also requires that the addict write and relate his/her experiences to himself/herself as well as clarify themselves for others who are trying to get into the recovery process. On that note, I bring a exercise that may or may not help you understand.

Relapse is Preventable. By answering these questions, you can become aware of possible relapse producing events or causes. This plan can work against your usual excuses. Please be specific. Remember, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it!!!

Bible Reading: Proverb 16:16

Which Twelve Step meetings will you attend each week?
List the location, the day and time.


What times are you most likely to use alcohol or drugs?
If you get a desire or craving to use, what will you do instead?

What actions will you take
when you get angry or
frustrated.


What church service (s) will you attend each week?
List the location, day and time.

What life events or losses could
cause you to use drugs or drink?

Make a list of those people who can give you support in times of need.
Put down their phone numbers

Will you be able to ask these people for help? (yes) or (no).
Describe how you will do so.

List those people, places and things that are risky
for you to be around.

What ways will you have fun?
List the things you will do for
Enjoyment.

How will you keep a conscious
contact with the God of your
understanding each day? Be specific.
Note; places, people or special
prayers that will help you.

[godsonmyside]

Personally, just my opinion thats all, this should be put into the spiritual forum, not the Narcotics Anonymous Forum. We carry the message that NA literature can guide us through our recover, And has for millions seeking recovery. I AM NOT PUTTING YOUR PASSION DOWN! DON"T GET ME WRONG!!
But we do follow guidelines that keep our Fellowship alive and free.

With Peace and Love,
Todd J.

[Blake]

THanks for clarifying that PJ,

I am not judgeing the god of your understanding, so don't get me wrong, but the bible and church sevices deffinately have religious connotations. Like Todd said, this may be better suited for a different forum since the bible isn't Narcotics Anonymous fellowship approved literature and this is a Narcotics Anonymous forum. Please don't take this as me being a pissy little *******. I just think it important to keep the message clear.

Personally I like to read the Tao for spiritual enlightenment, but I keep it seperate from Narcotics Anonymous.

Why not this instead?


Which Twelve Step meetings will you attend each week?
List the location, the day and time.


What times are you most likely to use alcohol or drugs?
If you get a desire or craving to use, what will you do instead?

What actions will you take
when you get angry or
frustrated.


What life events or losses could
cause you to use drugs or drink?

Make a list of those people who can give you support in times of need.
Put down their phone numbers

Will you be able to ask these people for help? (yes) or (no).
Describe how you will do so.

List those people, places and things that are risky
for you to be around.

What ways will you have fun?
List the things you will do for
Enjoyment.

How will you keep a conscious
contact with the God of your
understanding each day? Be specific.
Note; places, people or special
prayers that will help you.<!-- / message -->

[Time2Surrender]

I have to agree with Todd and Blake.This really doesnt belong in the NA forum.You have some good stuff here PJ,but it could confuse someone who is checking out NA for the first time in their life and see this,get the wrong idea about the program and never try NA.Personally,I choose to call my Higher power Jesus Christ or God.But,not everyone in NA feels that way.This stuff is not NA.Narcotics Anonymous is not a religious program.It is a spiritual program.

[Alera]

Hope you don't mind a newbie posting here, but I agree. I am religious but keep it out of my NA mind. Spirituality and religion to me are a little bit of different concepts. I don't mind reading the Christian forum but I do think that is where this belongs.

[Pernell Johnson]

IDENTIFYING RELAPSE TRIGGERS AND CUES: SITUATIONS AND FEELINGS:

Relapse is common, but it is preventable. Preventing relapse requires awareness of triggers and cues and willingness to do something about it. You have the information that will help you become more aware of situations and feelings that can set you up for relapse. The purpose of this exercise is for you to ask yourself questions so you can become aware of possible relapse triggers and make a plan to cope with them so as to prevent relapse.

Assessing Risky Situations;

1. Relapse is often triggered by relapse cues---sights, sounds, and situations that have often been connected with drinking or using in the past. Many recovering people find that unless they are on guard, their thoughts automatically turn back to old behavior patterns when they are around the people with whom they drank or used. Who are the people, or the kind of people, with whom you usually drank or used in the past?

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2. Because drinking and drug use is often a social activity, you may know people who will expect you to continue to use chemicals with them. They may not understand or care about your need and desire to stay clean and sober, and may use persuasion, teasing, or argument to try to get you to relapse. In your life, who are the people most likely to exert socual pressure on you to drink or use? (This list may include all or some of the people you listed in question 1.)

3. Many recovering people find that family members, friends, or coworkers had been enabling their drinking and/or drug use----in other words, these people had helped them avoid the consequences or made it easier in other ways for them to drink and use. Please list here any people who have enabled your drinking or drug use.

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4. For each of the people you listed---drinking/using companions, people pressuring you to use, and enablers---please describe how you will avoid relapse triggered by these people's actions.

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5. Looking at situations, what are the social situations that you think will place you at greatest risk for relapse?

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6.. Many people also drank or used drugs to cope with stress, and sometimes relationship issues can be extremely stressful. When you think about your future, how do you think relationship difficulties might put you at risk for returning to drinking or using?

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7. For many people, drinking or using had become part of their daily routine, something they did automatically at certain times such as just after work. Reviewing your former daily routines, at what times of the day are you most likely to drink or use?


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8. Many people feel the desire to test their ability to maintain recovery in challenging situations, such as being with drinking friends, going to old hangouts, and so on. This often leads to relapse and is an unnecessary risk. In what ways have you tested your ability to stay clean and sober?


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9. As another way to guard against stress-induced relapse, please think about both current situations and future life events you need to be prepared to handle without alcohol or other drugs. What are they?

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10. What's your plan---what changes are you willing and able to make---to handle the pressures and temptations to drink or use that are associated with the situations you listed?


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[Pernell Johnson]

1. When you experience urges or cravings to drink or use, how does your body feel?

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2. When you experience urges or cravings to drink or use, what emotions do you usually fell?

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3. As mentioned earlier, drinking or drug use is often a tool for coping with stress---in other words, a way to change feelings we dislike to ones we are more comfortable with. What unpleasant feelings will place you at greatest risk of using?

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4. Below are some common feelings that people have used chemicals to cope with. It's important not to be determined not to drink or use in order to cope, but also to know what you will do---not having an alternative to replace substance abuse increases your risk of relapse. Next to each feeling, describe what you will do instead of using to cope with that feeling.

a. Anger---------------------------------------------------------

b. Anxiety--------------------------------------------------------

c. Boredom--------------------------------------------------------

d. Sadness--------------------------------------------------------

e. Fatigue----------------------------------------------------------

f. Fear--------------------------------------------------------------

g. Frustration-------------------------------------------------------

h. Loneliness-------------------------------------------------------

i. indifference--------------------------------------------------------

j. Self-pity-----------------------------------------------------------

k. Shame--------------------------------------------------------------

l. Depression-----------------------------------------------------------

m. Other feelings-------------------------------------------------------

[Pernell Johnson]

Does anyone here, have a relapse problem? Do you have drug dreams? Are you afraid to admit that your drug of choice is calling you? Have you caved in to this temptation? If you can say, yes, then you need a plan. Please go to the top and try to do the exercise.