What is a Relapse?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Atlanta,Ga
Posts: 16
What is a Relapse?
I was doing some reading yesterday and found some confusing information regarding relapse. Is 1 or 2 drinks a relapse or is a relapse "drinking to your previous levels on one or more occasions"? Thanks!
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Hicktown, PA
Posts: 1,479
My opinion is that drinking is drinking is drinking. I had a slip, relapse, whatever you want to call it after six weeks of sobriety (I had two glasses of champagne at my anniversary dinner - and believe me, that was NOT drinking to previous levels!) and I chose to reset my sobriety date.
I don't know who can give you a definitive answer on this question except YOU. If you have defined your goals in terms of your relationship with alcohol, you know what violates them.
Best wishes!
Jomey
I don't know who can give you a definitive answer on this question except YOU. If you have defined your goals in terms of your relationship with alcohol, you know what violates them.
Best wishes!
Jomey
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bethlehem, PA.
Posts: 1,781
To an alcoholic any amount of drinking would be considered a relapse. Most alcoholics would never be satisfied with 1 or 2 drinks so it wouldn't be a very common issue. It does raise an interesting question though, say for example a Catholic takes a sip of wine with communion, is that a relapse?
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 469
I know when I was in rehab, the therapist who conducted the groups considered one drink a relapse, and sobriety date would have to reset. I guess maybe he figured that as it is said for an alcoholic, One drink is too many, we will be back to the level we were in no time. I consider the date of my last drink my sobriety date. I have to be honest with myself and for me sobriety is alcohol free.
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Originally Posted by maltipoobear 
I was doing some reading yesterday and found some confusing information regarding relapse. Is 1 or 2 drinks a relapse or is a relapse "drinking to your previous levels on one or more occasions"? Thanks!
Nice try, lol.
(No offense but that reminds me of something I might have tried to convince myself and possibly others of a few years ago.
) Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Welcome to SR....
Any time I returned to drinking ..I considered
myself to be an active alcoholic again.
For me...that means I did change my sobriety date.
Hope you find a way to abstain ..recovery rocks!
Any time I returned to drinking ..I considered
myself to be an active alcoholic again.
For me...that means I did change my sobriety date.
Hope you find a way to abstain ..recovery rocks!
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by BackToSquareOne
To an alcoholic any amount of drinking would be considered a relapse. Most alcoholics would never be satisfied with 1 or 2 drinks so it wouldn't be a very common issue. It does raise an interesting question though, say for example a Catholic takes a sip of wine with communion, is that a relapse?
My name is alcoholic&Im a Walt
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 48
Originally Posted by hrhxtc
I think the answer is no. I know several priests & Catholics/Protestants in AA who take communion. It is part of their spirituality. Typically Priests/Ministers finish off any blessed wine the congregation hasn't taken. The Priests/Ministers I know never do, they only take enough for their personal communion and they let the lay staff finish off any excess.
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Hicktown, PA
Posts: 1,479
It does raise an interesting question though, say for example a Catholic takes a sip of wine with communion, is that a relapse?
Motiviation in receiving, esp. in a faith that considers the wine a SYMBOL of Christ's Blood, and not the actual Blood, would be a matter of conscience I assume.
Interesting question.
*Grateful*
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,619
1 drink would be a relapse for me as well. However, communion for me would not fit in this catagory. We have very small cups and I do this in rememberence of HIM. They even offer grape juice now!
Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Highlands, TX
Posts: 1,192
To ME it is about motivation. Say for instance that you grab a glass that you believe to be yours and you BELIEVE it just has coke in it. You gulp a swig only to realize to your horror that it has alcohol in it. Have you relapsed at that point? I personally would say no, HOWEVER, if you then said to heck with it and drank the rest of the drink fully knowing it has alcohol then, to me, you have then relapsed.
For communion I think it is a very personal decision. People do not take communion to get a buzz, it is a demonstration of their faith so to them their motivation is not to relapse. Personally when I have taken communion I just take the bread but that's just me.
Interesting discussion,
Kellye
For communion I think it is a very personal decision. People do not take communion to get a buzz, it is a demonstration of their faith so to them their motivation is not to relapse. Personally when I have taken communion I just take the bread but that's just me.
Interesting discussion,
Kellye
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What is a Relapse?
A relapse is not about whether you took one drink or two drinks or a hundred, it is about the fact that something in your thinking has caused you to start thinking that having a drink is a good idea.
We relapse when our thinking changes from those things which have kept us sober ..
It all starts in our head.
Accidentally drinking from a glass that has alcohol in it is not a relapse....it is an accident...
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I like the topic and the responses, we discuss this very topic alot at meetings.
Alcoholism is a cunning disease. It is the responsibility of each person to determine exactly what constitutes a relapse.
For the person who has vowed to abstain from any alcohol, unconditionally, the intentional intake of alcohol (one drink) would constitute a relapse.
For the person who has vowed to abstain from alcohol, with conditions attached, then some alcohol (one drink) may not constitute a relapse.
It is truly up to each individual to determine their meaning of 'relapse'.
Alcoholism is a cunning disease. It is the responsibility of each person to determine exactly what constitutes a relapse.
For the person who has vowed to abstain from any alcohol, unconditionally, the intentional intake of alcohol (one drink) would constitute a relapse.
For the person who has vowed to abstain from alcohol, with conditions attached, then some alcohol (one drink) may not constitute a relapse.
It is truly up to each individual to determine their meaning of 'relapse'.
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