| most diseases, the road to recovery for addiction | | | | Therefore it should be noted that in order to |
| and alcoholism is not always a straight one. Since I | | | | avoid a relapse in the first place one must adhere |
| first came into recovery sixteen years ago I | | | | to the principle of constant vigilance with a |
| have suffered many relapses all quite devastating | | | | program of healthy action. Regular meeting |
| to me and those who love me. And yet, there | | | | attendance, talking honestly and openly with a |
| have been some very helpful reminders I've | | | | sponsor and other trusted friends, daily contact |
| picked up along the way which have sustained me | | | | with a higher power, reading recovery literature, |
| and helped me pick up the pieces and get back | | | | journaling, all of these help. But once the relapse |
| into the game of life. I'd like to share these with | | | | happens, how then does the addict get back on |
| you in this article. | | | | his/her feet? Usually a stint at detox is the first |
| First of all it should be noted that relapse happens | | | | order of business. The addict needs to dry out |
| long before the addict picks up that first drug. | | | | and be off the drug for a period in order to |
| There are often many signs which are usually and | | | | regain balance and direction and most detox |
| unfortunately not apparent to the addict him or | | | | centers offer daily meetings, healthy food, and |
| herself. The addict may be harboring | | | | counseling support. |
| resentments, be engaging in old addictive | | | | For some, treatment will be necessary but for |
| behaviors or thinking patterns, they may be | | | | those who have already been several times, all |
| obsessed with the idea of using or be hanging on | | | | they may need to do is get back to the basics of |
| to a reservation that one day he/she will be able | | | | a recovery program. A commitment to ninety |
| to handle a couple successfully, they may become | | | | recovery meetings in ninety days, daily contact |
| complacent or ungrateful or a host of other | | | | with a sponsor, a big book study, weekly |
| symptoms. | | | | counseling to deal with unresolved core issues, |
| But for most, and this has certainly been the case | | | | journaling, step work, healthy diet and exercise |
| with me in the past, pain happens. The last | | | | and lots of time spent with friends in the program. |
| relapse I endured I had been involved with | | | | For those who are lucky enough to survive a |
| someone and fallen in love. That relationship ended | | | | relapse they should realize that God has kept |
| and around the same time I had two deaths in | | | | them alive for a reason. Maybe it's to help |
| the family. The pain was unbearable, the loneliness | | | | someone else, maybe it's to achieve some |
| infected me, and rather than getting honest with | | | | childhood dream, but whatever the case may be, |
| others about my pain, I began to isolate, drift into | | | | a relapse can be the jarring experience which |
| self pity and remorse and the next thing I knew I | | | | strengthens and solidifies their future recovery. |
| was back in the throws of a full blown relapse. | | | | |