Thread: Understanding the Relapse Process

Relapse refers to the process of returning to your drug use after a period of abstinence. Relapse is a possibility for you regardless of how much time you have been clean & sober.
Part of your recovery plan should include learning about the relapse process and devising a plan to help prevent you from relapsing should warning signs occur.

You can be in a relapse before you actually use the drug. It is possible to build up to a relapse over a period of hours, days, weeks, or even months. Many addicts have reviewed their relapse experiences and identified clues which indicated they were headed back to using.

It’s important to remember that changes in your behaviors, attitudes, feelings, thoughts, or a combination of these could be relapse clues or warning sign that indicate that your relapse process is set in motion.

It’s also important to know that changes in your behaviors, attitudes, feelings, thoughts does not necessarily mean that you are in relapse mode. It simply means that you should be on alert when changes occur, be honest with yourself and examine whether or not these changes indicate whether you may be headed for a relapse or not.

Here are some examples of “relapse clues” preceeding a relapse:

Behavior Changes:
· Increased episodes of arguing with others for no apparent reasons.
· Decreasing group sessions, support groups, etc. in early recovery,
· “Just stopping in” to socialize with old friends who still use.
· Increased stress symptoms such as eating or smoking more cigarettes than usual.
Attitude Changes:
· Not caring about your sobriety.
· Not caring or “forgetting” the bad things that happened during your addiction.
· Becoming too negative about how things in your life are going.
Changes In Feelings or Moods:
· Increased moodiness or depression.
· Strong feelings of anger at yourself or another.
· Increased feelings of boredom or sudden feelings of euphoria.
Changes in Thoughts:
· Thinking you are “cured” or that you deserve to use because you stayed clean for a few months.
· Thinking it won’t be harmful to substitute another drug; such as thinking cocaine would be okay because you were addicted to opiates not coke…even though you know better.

Thanks Spring-
I'm a chronic relapser, and have been fighting addiction for over ten years. This time around (4 months)I'm doing everything possible to avoid relapse. Thanks for the helpful "check list".
Best, MIC

Story of my life too Mic.

I got the checklist from another source, it's not mine but may as well be.

~~~Do the right thing and risk the consequences~~~Spring~~~

hi i'm new to this forum. i kicked a 10-yr heroin habit a few yrs ago. i relapsed last summer after my partner killed himself. this is not the first time i relapsed. last time i relapsed i didn't stop using for 10 yrs. now trying to stay clean but it's very hard. thanks for posting this.

mars, hi, and you aren't alone, as you can see by all the stories here. Hang in there, we are all pulling for you. Have you tried NA/AA? It's really tough to do it by willpower alone, as you know.

I just replasped today, and i had all those things Spring posted in her post.. It was like a creeping up period over a few days..Those things fit me to a T.

Willpower alone is not enough, I just learned that the HARD WAY. I am now going to seek a na/aa meeting to help me, NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVEN THINK TO DO THAT.. I am powerless of my addiction and just realized how much of a extent that is true for me. I think i had a ahpiny.

If at first you do not seceed, try and try again.

Greeneyez-
I wish you well at your meeting. If you don't like the one you go to, try a different meeting. And you've heard me say it before, but it bears repeating: Look for the similarities, not the differences. And if NA doesn't float your boat, try AA. In my area there's a ton of sobriety in AA, and very little in NA. At least in this area. I simply substitute the word "opiates" when I hear the word "alcohol".
Let us know how it goes. BTW, how do feel now? And lastly, have you established your Sub dosing/taper schedule? Perhaps by sharing it here it'll be easier to adhere to. Plus, I want to know, cuz I love ya and want to involved in your recovery. Best, MIC

hey greeneyez, sorry to hear that, best of luck to you.

ashley, yeah i've been to NA mtgs thanks. maybe i'll go back sometime soon. greeneyez good luck at your mtg. i rarely talk but i do like to listen to others. it helps.

Hey Mic, No i really have NOT developed a solid taper process, as this was all done over the phone and my doc was nice enough to call me in a small amount of bup to get threw till i have the money to go in on Monday..We will get it all together on Monday..
I have taken one amp today and that was too much, so until monday i am going to take it just when i need it and no more.I feel great, like a new person , all of the w/d effects were gone in 5 minutes.
I love ya too Mic, god knows we have had our difference but i had to see the light on my own about na, and support and willpower alone is not enough.
I look at the 12 days i went without now as a HUGE step in realizing that i am POWERLESS over this addiction, and that i can not suceed on will power and want to be clean. It just does not work that way.. I need your support and I do take everything you say to heart. I want you involved in my recovery. Your support means EVERYTHING TO ME, and so does everyone else's.

I am going to give this na/aa thing a shot, i have all to gain and nothing to loose. I am going with a open mind and heart. So, this 12 days was not a waste at all, it was very eye opening for me..Love ya Mic, Sheri

If at first you do not seceed, try and try again.