nomis

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I get really bummed out when I read about people in long term recovery relapsing. It brings home that this is indeed a chronic condition for which there is no cure.

But alas, I bring good news. It looks like studies are starting to show that there is a strong correlation between the length of recovery time and relapse rates. According to the article, the longer we manage recovery the greater the odds we have of maintaining it and not relapsing.

Research like this make me happy!

How Often Do Long-Term Sober Alcoholics and Addicts Relapse? | Psychology Today

LadyinBC

Yes it is scary. The thought that 1 second of a bad choice could put me back where I ended scares me to death.

It has really been on my mind lately and it just makes me realize that I have to be careful about not becoming complacent, not to worry about tomorrow and just focus on today. And to remember why I picked sobriety.

This journey seems very daunting to me at times, it is basically a lifetime commitment, that is why I use one day at a time.

Dee74

The only statistic I really get behind is my own.

I've stayed 100% sober when I've given it 100% effort

D

LadyinBC

This is a very positive way to look at it thanks for that!

Low

I relapsed after 10 years of sobriety and my sobriety was awesome, I loved it. I relapsed behind complacency and a doctor prescribed Valium after a major traumatic event in my life. ( I don't know why he just didn't say exercise a little more and be sure to hang close to your spirituality) but doctors don't do that, they prescribe pills...Valium is just booze in a different form to us...Anyway, it took me many years to get back. I also worked in the recovery field and counseled alcoholics....it is a VERY patient disease, and it wants you back, stay vigilant, never forget where you came from, and always be grateful, many, many people don't get the chance that we have right now, today.

CAPTAINZING2000

I don't like it when people with short term sobriety go back out either.
The first meeting I went to many years back, I was given hope.

The pain had to be immense for me to consider getting sober. I've been sober for so long and watched to many people try and fail to continue to drink like normal people.
You have to accept for what ever reason, you're an alcoholic.
You also have to accept living life on life's terms.

I do believe there are people with mental and emotional problems that need to seek professional treatment from a Dr.

Lilll

I was reading this book about recovery. It says that a lot of our 'slips' are due to love relationships that evoke pain-a codependent cycle-and if we heal that cycle-we are more likely to stay sober. It's called 'The Addict's Loop" It says that the addict rotates between the controller and dependent-I am working through the workbook part of it now....it reall seems to fit for my life. Like that jigsaw piece I could never find.

leviathan

thankyou, nomis. good one.

Gottalife

Thanks Nomis,

That's a great relief. Although I have seen few if any relapse after long term sobriety, none with more than 10 years, I have heard about it often enough to watch my step. Though the article says its rare, it also states that those who relapse seem to stop doing whatever it was that kept them sober.

My line of sponsorship all found permanent recovery. That is to say they all died sober of natural causes after many years of happy sobriety. The thing they all had in common was Trust God, clean house, help others. They walked the walk. So that's what I try to do, although in selflessness and humility my sponsor set a very high standard which I struggle to come near.

nogard

Yeah I hate stats too.

Focus on recover and living my lie every day the best that I can and trust that everything will be ok

Boleo

Is it any mystery why so many of those in recovery relapse? Many people are forced into recovery by authority figures long before they a willing to make a 100% effort.

;

ex D-Boy

Amen. People throw all kinds of crazy stats around , I just wonder how they are actually compiling this data?!?! I mean i've heard the one about how only 1% of heroin addicts get and stay clean their entire life. Well where did they poll and include me in that research!!! Damnit I could have raised that to 1.01%

Soberpotamus

I think the relapse rates are so high because addiction is one of the hardest things in life to overcome (right along with mental illness). I don't think it has anything to do really with a particular program.

Sent from my iPhone using SoberRecovery

DisplacedGRITS

"Never tell me the odds." ~Han Solo

pdoc

I think they are high because we over focus on them! and don't really celebrate all those in recovery.

Mountainmanbob

According to the article I have a 15 % chance of relapse. I guess that would be in a one year period. Actually that sounds about correct from what I have seen over many years spent in and out of AA.

I will fight those odds everyday with a strong Program.

Mountainman

tomsteve

yup, and only one day I have to do that,too.

Nonsensical

I am at war with probabilities. I want 3+ standard deviations. Following the herd invites regression to the mean.

tomsteve

now that there just made me about fall outta my chair laughin!!

thank you!!!

TiredEnough

I never really believed those stats. I know plenty of people that quit and never relapsed. They were never polled or studied.