| The sad truth is that most people who try to | | | | attitudes. They learn that they have a tendency |
| recover from addiction to alcohol or drugs do not | | | | to personalize things and overreact. They discover |
| stay in recovery. Relapse is commonplace. Rarely | | | | that they have a low tolerance for frustration, |
| does a relapse occur without warning; there are | | | | and can get rather ornery if they don't get what |
| usually significant warning signs that can signal that | | | | they want, when they want it. They are the |
| the recovering person is at high risk for relapse. It | | | | focus of everything. If someone doesn't smile at |
| is critical for anyone in recovery to understand | | | | them, they take it personally. If someone else |
| these warning signs. | | | | gets a promotion, it says something bad about |
| First it is important to understand triggers. | | | | their work. |
| Triggers are things that tend to lead addicts back | | | | If you have been working on this behavior then |
| to their drug of choice. A trigger can be a person, | | | | start to see it reappear, this is a warning sign. |
| a place, certain types of events, or strong | | | | 4. You Start Thinking that Maybe Just a One |
| feelings such as depression or anxiety. When a | | | | Drink Won't Hurt |
| person undergoes addiction treatment, their | | | | It you find you are talking yourself into "just one," |
| therapist will help them understand those things | | | | this is one of the most obvious signs of an |
| that could trigger them to relapse. The most | | | | impending relapse. Those in recovery know full |
| common triggers are old friends who still abuse | | | | well the consequences of substance use, so the |
| substances and significant stress, such as job or | | | | first step in using again is to somehow convince |
| relationship problems. For alcoholics, a trigger might | | | | themselves that it wasn't that bad, or that they |
| be a bar they used to drink at. Some people in | | | | have "changed" and won't have the same issues |
| recovery will try to revisit their old haunts without | | | | this time around. The rule of thumb is that those |
| the conscious intention of drinking or using drugs; | | | | who relapse pick up right where they left off. It |
| they will claim they just miss their old friends. This | | | | might take a few days or weeks, but you will |
| is rarely a good idea in recovery. | | | | rapidly be in the same place you were when you |
| Here are seven warning signs that you might be | | | | last quit drinking or using drugs. |
| heading toward a relapse. | | | | 5. You Seek Out Old Friends from Your |
| 1. You Stop Doing What You Need to Do to Stay | | | | Substance-Abusing Days |
| Abstinent | | | | You might excuse this as just trying to find out |
| The most common thing is for the recovering | | | | how old friends are doing, but if you start seeking |
| addict or alcoholic to stop going to 12-step | | | | out old drinking buddies or people who shared |
| meetings. They will make excuses: they don't like | | | | your interest in using drugs, you are heading into |
| the fact people pray or everyone talks too much | | | | dangerous territory. |
| about their past substance abuse. Most people | | | | 6. You Slowly but Surely Remove all Elements |
| who stay in recovery maintain some sort of | | | | from Your Life that Keep You Anchored and |
| connection to the 12-step programs, even if it's | | | | Balanced |
| only a weekly meeting. This allows them to | | | | Maybe you stop keeping your journal, stop calling |
| continually be reminded of who they are and | | | | healthy friends, and quit that daily walk that |
| what is at stake. | | | | always helped you clear your head. You probably |
| The recovering addict might stop therapy | | | | already stopped doing the things that are |
| because they find it too uncomfortable. They | | | | important for sobriety, but now you are removing |
| might stop exercising or doing any other positive | | | | things that keep you calm and centered. You |
| behavior that has helped them stay comfortable | | | | might say you are getting lazy, and your life is |
| in sobriety. | | | | likely getting more chaotic and stressful. You are |
| 2. You Start Romanticizing the Days When You | | | | not taking care of your emotional, spiritual, and |
| Were Abusing Substances | | | | physical health. |
| This might take the form of remembering only | | | | 7. You Are Extremely Defensive If Anyone |
| the good times when you were drinking or | | | | Mentions Your Changes in Behavior |
| experimenting with drugs. Most addicts had a time | | | | This feeling will be familiar: it's the same feeling |
| during which they had few consequences for | | | | you had when you first were encouraged to get |
| substance abuse. They may even have had fun. | | | | sober and wanted everyone to mind their own |
| However, those times were long gone by the | | | | business. It is denial crossed with an unhealthy |
| time you got clean. At some point they became | | | | self-righteous attitude. It's very uncomfortable |
| dependent on the drug and consequences piled up. | | | | when others begin to notice our movement back |
| If you find yourself smiling about the "good | | | | toward a way of living that made us and most |
| times," and conveniently forgetting the misery of | | | | people around us miserable. Why? Because you |
| your later drug or alcohol use, this is a strong | | | | are now in the place of moving with purpose back |
| warning sign. | | | | toward drinking and using, and the addict in you is |
| 3. You Start Acting the Way You Did When Using: | | | | determined to get that drink or drug. For some, |
| Selfish and Moody | | | | this can be the ultimate point of no return: you |
| Sometimes this is called a "dry drunk." You act like | | | | either wake up and change direction, or end up |
| you did when drinking, even without the drink. In | | | | taking that inevitable first drink or drug. |
| recovery, addicts attempt to change their | | | | |