what would you consider a relapse ?
p***enger
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 19,042
Seems like a lot of people on this thread would consider that I have relapsed twice in the last 8 months:
Once I lifted a bottle of scotch to my lips twice before I poured the bottle out. The liquor didn't touch my tongue. (This was not to drink, but to remember my dead parents. Long story.)
Once I put a sip of vodka in my mouth and spat it out.
I don't consider these relapses because they haven't led me back into any further behavior or physical/mental symptoms like I had when I was actively abusing.
I also sometimes use mouthwash with alcohol in it, and I've enjoyed the smell of other people's wine or beer, once or twice.
Maybe I'm playing with fire. But I think I'll know a relapse if I ever experience it. I'm going to tell my sponsor about it though, because I'm curious as to what she'll say.
Once I lifted a bottle of scotch to my lips twice before I poured the bottle out. The liquor didn't touch my tongue. (This was not to drink, but to remember my dead parents. Long story.)
Once I put a sip of vodka in my mouth and spat it out.
I don't consider these relapses because they haven't led me back into any further behavior or physical/mental symptoms like I had when I was actively abusing.
I also sometimes use mouthwash with alcohol in it, and I've enjoyed the smell of other people's wine or beer, once or twice.
Maybe I'm playing with fire. But I think I'll know a relapse if I ever experience it. I'm going to tell my sponsor about it though, because I'm curious as to what she'll say.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Uk
Posts: 1,190
Originally Posted by crackerboy 
You can make your own rules all you want, but you can't change the science. All mood-altering substances work on the same parts of the brain, and it doesn't really care what you stimulate it with. If you are addicted, you will not begin to recover until you are abstinent.
The brain makes changes to accommodate the presence of high levels of stimulation. When we're abstinent, we "jones" for our drugs until the brain begins to repair itself. The repairs take months. Using during that period will stop the recovery process. Using afterward is likely to cause a return of the addiction.
This isn't opinion. It is the opinion of the vast majority of addiction professionals and addiction scientists.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: minnesota
Posts: 66
I am day 16 and doing well today. I have taken alcohic communion wine the last 2 sundays and did not return to my pew with alcohol cravings--to me it has been a ritual not drinking in my life. I do not play to intentionally drink any other alcohol, but am not paranoid about alcohol in food etc--am I asking for trouble???
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Gulf Coast, Florida USA
Posts: 5,731
I abused non alcoholic cough medicine 8 months ago, no alcohol in it. I changed my date.
I was trying to catch a buzz, old behaviors that I can't let slide by. I have to give them some consequences and draw the line somewhere.
I was trying to catch a buzz, old behaviors that I can't let slide by. I have to give them some consequences and draw the line somewhere.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Scandinavia
Posts: 1,344
I am sure that I could drink one beer and stop at that. But it would make my life a lot more difficult afterwards, I would be saying to myself – you could control it last time – two will not hurt you.
It is in reality not the substance that is the problem in this – not for me at least.
If you have an addictive mind ( as mine at least) it is much easier if it is a clear cut – I am not playing with this at all.
I do not use wine in cooking – I do not think the food will give me problems, playing at the boarder would.
It is in reality not the substance that is the problem in this – not for me at least.
If you have an addictive mind ( as mine at least) it is much easier if it is a clear cut – I am not playing with this at all.
I do not use wine in cooking – I do not think the food will give me problems, playing at the boarder would.
p***enger
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 19,042
I talked to my sponsor about this. She compared what I did (with the sip I didn't swallow, not the thing with my mother's liquor) to "playing chicken." We agree that it's not a smart idea, and not safe, and I have no intention of doing it again. But we agreed I haven't relapsed.
I respect anyone who would look at it differently. But as far as I'm concerned, my thinking isn't always sober, but my body is.
I respect anyone who would look at it differently. But as far as I'm concerned, my thinking isn't always sober, but my body is.
Its_me_jen
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Salina, Ks
Posts: 8,547
Originally Posted by courage2
I talked to my sponsor about this. She compared what I did (with the sip I didn't swallow, not the thing with my mother's liquor) to "playing chicken." We agree that it's not a smart idea, and not safe, and I have no intention of doing it again. But we agreed I haven't relapsed.
I respect anyone who would look at it differently. But as far as I'm concerned, my thinking isn't always sober, but my body is.
I respect anyone who would look at it differently. But as far as I'm concerned, my thinking isn't always sober, but my body is.
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