What is relapse?

What is relapse?

            Many times when an addict agrees to go to treatment for his addiction, he is not sober and probably hasn't been sober for a long time.( We will talk about "intervention" in the future) His agreement to go however is very encouraging. The pain of his addiction is beginning to make an impression on him. He agrees to go.…He will most likely spend 30 days in the facility…He comes home sober and everyone is hopeful.

            Then, BAM!, the addict returns to the “trough”. He might disappear for three or four days. He might get drunk or stoned at a party. He might end up in jail. He may pass out on a busy city street.  

            One popular term for this “return” to the addiction is “RELAPSE”

            We non -professionals might call it a relapse, but this is not a “RELAPSE”.

            The word needs a re-definition.

             A “RELAPSE” is a return to the addiction substance AFTER recovery. A professional addiction counselor would define this in a much more detailed way, but I will try.

            When the “hole” in the soul of the addict is still not filled…

            When the addiction is still not earned…(The user has to “earn” the recovery through teaching, counsel, sobriety, taking responsibility, etc)

            Then, recovery has not yet been reached. The user is not IN recovery.

            Therefore, if the user is not in recovery, truly, then the return to his drug of choice is not a “RELAPSE”.

            A “RELAPSE” happens when the user is IN RECOVERY.

            And it does not just instantly happen. It begins in the mind of the user way before he returns to the drug of his choice.

           

            Let me simplify this little truth by using myself as an example.

            Let’s say I am on a diet. I go to meetings. ( my Treatment) Maybe I am a diabetic, or 100 pounds overweight, or even a binger. I might be bulimic. It’s a serious situation.

            I get “off” of sugar. I avoid harmful foods. I learn to eat right. I am hopeful.

            I have not really addressed the “why” of why I eat how I do.

            But I am controlled and self-motivated through my meetings to stay pretty much on the program.

            But then Christmas Season arrives. Sweets are all around me.

            I resist.

            But after putting myself in “temptation” situations, I begin to think about “when” I will enjoy some of the sweets. I waltz around the refreshment buffets when I am in a festive atmosphere.

            I begin to tell myself that it won’t hurt to eat some of the sweets. (HERE IS THE RELAPSE)

            Finally, I take a piece of cake and end up eating the entire cake! RELAPSE.

            Yes, that’s simplified, I know.

            But I hope now you understand what a relapse is.

            It is experienced after sobriety and sober living is well established.

            Sometimes it takes three or four times in treatment for a user to enter RECOVERY.This is not an exaggeration.  The user is not deliberately violating. He is NOT beyond hope.It's then that we go back to the characteristics of being an ENABLER and go through the "check list'. In no way do we wish to enable ...even though we all do at times.  But, we want the user to WANT to RECOVER. Totally.