Is Relapse part of Recovery? Confused!
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Farmington Hills, MI
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Thanks CarolD -- I like this!
Originally Posted by grateful4me 
I like that!!!!
Originally Posted by CarolD
Absolutely not a fact....drinking again is not
either sobriety or recovery....
If I were to return to drinking
I would not be sober or recovered.
I'd be a drinker again.
either sobriety or recovery....
If I were to return to drinking
I would not be sober or recovered.
I'd be a drinker again.
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Originally Posted by ex D-Boy
seems a lot of people on here have different views on what a relapse actually is. Just take this scenario for example
A person who only stops the drinking and drugging and then goes about their life the same way as when drinking or drugging (just removing the substance) and then "relapses" after putting together some clean time.
To me, I wouldnt consider that a relapse. That is just a person who decided to be abstinent from drugs for a while and then shortly after began using drugs again. No real recovery took place in this persons life. I look at relapse as something that can only happen when somebody has actually put in work and improved their life on all levels(worked a program), not just somebody who puts the substance down and thinks they are whole again.
When I say put in work, I mean a program of recovery that may or may not be 12 step based. So for me, relapse was a part of my recovery story.... good topic
A person who only stops the drinking and drugging and then goes about their life the same way as when drinking or drugging (just removing the substance) and then "relapses" after putting together some clean time.
To me, I wouldnt consider that a relapse. That is just a person who decided to be abstinent from drugs for a while and then shortly after began using drugs again. No real recovery took place in this persons life. I look at relapse as something that can only happen when somebody has actually put in work and improved their life on all levels(worked a program), not just somebody who puts the substance down and thinks they are whole again.
When I say put in work, I mean a program of recovery that may or may not be 12 step based. So for me, relapse was a part of my recovery story.... good topic
I like all of these comments. . . very wise! Thank you! Like I said Love this site, it rocks. . . wish I could stay on all day!
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Relapse has been a part of my recovery.
It doesn't have to be that way, though. I don't recommend that people incorporate relapsing into their plans.
Relapsing has been an important part of my learning process...it has helped me to realize that I cannot ever drink alcohol again.
It was so hard for me to stop this last time...probably the most difficult ever...and I only drank for about 2.5 weeks. It took only a few short days for my drinking, after being sober for nearly three months, to reach my typical level.
I was stunned. I was scared. And I almost couldn't quit.
This is the longest sober I’ve been…not counting the time before I started drinking, of course.
This coming Wednesday I’ll have three months for sure.
It doesn't have to be that way, though. I don't recommend that people incorporate relapsing into their plans.
Relapsing has been an important part of my learning process...it has helped me to realize that I cannot ever drink alcohol again.
It was so hard for me to stop this last time...probably the most difficult ever...and I only drank for about 2.5 weeks. It took only a few short days for my drinking, after being sober for nearly three months, to reach my typical level.
I was stunned. I was scared. And I almost couldn't quit.
This is the longest sober I’ve been…not counting the time before I started drinking, of course.
This coming Wednesday I’ll have three months for sure.
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Originally Posted by dgillz
This is a good point. I have relapsed twice in a casino. I was just going to play a few hands of blackjack and literally had no plans to drink. Now you cannot drag me into a casino no matter what.
I think you need to put this into the context of the person that said it. If you have a new person and they have already embraced this slogan as opposed to the hundreds of slogans we have in AA, that person is heading for trouble.
So did your BF say this, or hear someone say it? And what was the reaction?
I think you need to put this into the context of the person that said it. If you have a new person and they have already embraced this slogan as opposed to the hundreds of slogans we have in AA, that person is heading for trouble.
So did your BF say this, or hear someone say it? And what was the reaction?
My BF did tell me about it but did not say it himself. . . just repeating!
After clarification, it is my understanding that he does NOT agree with the statement! But, it is a good question, I think! LOL!
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,243
Originally Posted by Tazman53
For some reason I do not understand it seems as though the longer one is sober without a relapse, that if they do relapse thier chances of finding sobriety again are really low.
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In my opinion, relapse does not HAVE to be a part of recovery at all. Unfortunately it often is, and that is fine, as long as it can be seen as a learning experience and a strengthening of commitment to sobriety. However, often the more clean time and change a person can make in their life, the less likely a relapse will occur because relapse prevention is essentially learning coping skills.
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 413
Originally Posted by Dime
Wow I was thinking the same thing. Many old-timers have told me that it is true. On the other side of the coin I have heard people with 30 days who relapse say "well I only had 30 days so I figured what the heck" and do it repeatedly.
Yikes.
I've heard that there is a 2 year rule, if u can stay sober for that long, the chances of relapsing are slim. Thats the denominator tha long term recovering alcoholics come back with (in Ireland). The more I think of folk who quit for this length of time, the more it seems true. Unfortunately, there is a minority that just never learn..
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