Prevent a lapse becoming a relapse
You’re trying to stop drinking, and maybe you’ve been successful for a while. You’ve managed to control your alcohol intake to reasonable levels, or you’ve managed to stay completely sober for some time.
So then what do you do if you have a lapse? You drink again, far more than you intended to, waking the next morning feeling terrible, that you’ve let yourself down maybe?
How you view this lapse will determine how you react to it. If you see it as a sign of failure, then your self esteem will suffer, you’ll lose hope and end up believing that the changes you’re trying to make are not possible, that you’re simply an alcoholic, you just can’t help it. This sort of belief can then lead you to drink even more - so a single mistake turns into a full relapse.
Or you could look at your mistake as just another occasion where you slipped back into old routines for a while. But that needn’t be a reason for you to give up hope, just a flag to remind you that, for the moment at least, you need to be very vigilant about your behaviour.
Observe your own feelings and thoughts, be aware of when you’re in the sort of mood where you usually want a drink - and do something about it, something different. (See - Dealing with Cravings). Acknowledge that you’re feeling weak or emotional - talk to someone about how you’re feeling generally. Don’t try to struggle through it alone.
Don’t forget, the best way to handle your feelings is to express them - talk about it. That way a lapse can remain just that, something you can learn from rather than an excuse to relapse completely.
How do I stop drinking.
Someone please help me to deal with my cravings. How do you deal when you slip and how do you stop drinking. Please give me ideas. I go to AA but still drink
Thanks
Hi im 10 months clean but yesterday I had a lapse where I drank but today I have made 1 of the most important decisions in my life I have made the decision to quit drinking alcohol I am not proud that I found myself triggered and unable to maintain my recovery and I had to drink but I am proud that I was able to make this decision to quit so in a way I quit drugs 10 months ago but today is the 1st day I really quit drinking alcohol in my recovery so I had to lapse to see that I do not want to drink and I have to thank my higher power for how I feel and think today in my life
Leave him.
Dear dealing with an addiction is no easy feast. helping him doesn’t work if he doesn’t want to help himself. Careful what you’re getting into. I tried to get to help my husband getting rid of his addiction and I got into it….
Hi, I have a question. I’m in a relationship with a person who is trying to stop drinking. He is a wonderful person and has tried to stop drinking in the past and has just achieved a week by himself while staying in my appartment. We went to his place two nights ago and yesterday he relapsed. He told me he consumed two beers, but judging by his behaviour I can imagine it was more.
I don’t know how to react to him. I’m really dissapointed because he was doing so well and was just coming out of the really bad physical effects of detoxing and I’m really worried he’s going to regress to how he was before.
What’s more worrying is that he was so aggressive after the relapse. I can imagine how guilty he must feel, I just wish there was a way I could help him. Any feedback and comments are welcome.
Yas
thank u.. for the informations..
hi
Im in recovery from drugs for 2 years. and I am in recovery from cigaret for 2 days.
mh heart is in pain. and i have craving for cigaret. please pray for me.
i found it easier to call one of my mates who gave up alcohol about 7 years ago…he says the right things and i put the idea of another beer right out of my head…
Since giving up 6 months ago, i’ve not relapsed once, so i’m happy about that…!
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