Relapse Relapse is defined as returning to a specific behavior after a period of abstinence (stopping) that particular behavior. Relapse does not come on suddenly and without warning, it is a process over time. Staying clean/sober is not recovery, working a program is. Relapse cannot be avoided by shear willpower or self-discipline. Here is a simple list of relapse symptoms.  Perhaps you might like to print this out and check each one off when your life is not going like you feel it should.

	Lack of personal confidence to remain clean/sober or abstinent
	Denial
	Convincing yourself that you will never ever drink or use again
	You start imposing recovery on other people
	You become defensive when talking about your problem in recovery
	Compulsive behaviors appear, you adopt a non-structured lifestyle
	You start over-reacting, impulsive behavior begin to appear
	You experience periods of loneliness
	You begin to focus on one certain area in your life and you become unwilling to defocus (TUNNEL VISION)
	Periods of minor depressions
	Loss of constructive planning, attention to details lessens, wishful thinking begins
	Plans begin to fail
	Daydreaming and the “if only syndrome” enter your daily routine
	Feeling that nothing can be solved
	Immature wish to be happy, while not knowing what happiness is
	Periods of confusion
	Irritation with friends and family
	Easily angered
	Irregular eating habits
	Inability to concentrate, full of anxiety, feeling of being trapped
	Progressive loss of daily structure
	Periods of deep depression
	Irregular attendance at recovery meetings
	Developing an “I don’t care” attitude
	Open rejection of help
	Becoming dissatisfied with life
	Feelings of powerlessness and helplessness
	Self pity
	Thoughts of social drinking/using
	Conscious lying
	Complete loss of self confidence
	Unreasonable resentments
	Discontinuing attendance at recovery meetings (“I don’t need them”)
	Overwhelming loneliness, frustration, anger and tension
	Start controlled drinking and using
	Loss of control

. . . YOU HAVE NOW RELAPSED                           top        Relapse is a complicated problem.  It is something that has numerous warning signs and many plans of attack, but without help and a serious commitment on your part, it will win and you will lose. Avoiding fun, overanalyzing yourself, blaming other people, too much or too little sleep, making a major life change in the first year, are all signs that you are entering an area that may take you somewhere you don’t want to go.                                            Relapse Weasel Words                                        top
	I forgot		I don’t know		Problem!
	Maybe		More or less		I guess
	Kinda		Sorta		Sometimes
	Someway		I can’t		I don’t see how
	I’ll try		As I can		It’s too hard
	This is BS		Who cares		You’re picking on me
Relapse can be avoided.  You will have to be honest, open and willing to deal directly with each symptom as it appears.  Without help it is too much for us.  Recovery is a process that gives us the choice of life or death.  Addiction leaves us no choice but death. Related Links The Shield, a relapse prevention card   http://www.angelfire.com/nm/qlcoach Issues in our lives can also lead to relapse, this site offers different situations that people have dealt with in their lives and remained in recovery.  12-Step Recovery Stories