Relapse is it part of recovery ?

[avisg]

We see alot of posts where members relapse and other members say hey its ok its part of recovery is it or is it part of addiction . A very wise man said to me " Relapse starts with a thought. We're not responsible for that first thought, but we are for that first action.  "it's a part of recovery". NO IT'S NOT. It's a part of ADDICTION.If you are in your recovery program and you are really working it you don't have to continually relapse .You have to get yourself into a good program and be accountable for yourself and your actions with that can come long term sobriety .So where we can be supportive to all of our members  should we be continually telling them its normal to relapse or should we be giving them the tools to get and stay in recovery?

[dominosarah]

If i didnt have any type of recovery relapse would be inevitable for me.....sara

[dominosarah]

If you are going to talk the talk you have to walk the walk.  I will not come on here and coddle anyone and tell them it is okay.  It isnt okay at all. This is about life and death.  I quit drinking years ago but never had any type of recovery.  I turned to pills and hit them hard. Thought that since i wasnt drinking it was okay.  I went ct 2 yrs ago and got into recovery.  Recovery has saved my life.  I know some people dont like the brutal honesty that is given here but had i not had and still do i would be able to justify my addict thoughts.  My recovery holds me accountable for me and my actions.  It works if you work it.        sara

[narla]

I feel I have a war going on in my head,I have to continually talk to myself,I try to validate that it would be ok to drink socially but deep down I know what would happen if I tried,same with the codeine I tell myself I can still use them if I'm in pain,but then I start to imagine I'm in pain,It's a viscious cycle and I do know I would succumb to using both every day again,so I constantly tell myself the facts about my addiction,now I just have to be on the alert for cross addictions.If only there was a pill to stop all addictive behaviours,LOL another pill,written by a true addict.

Denise

[gnarly_1]

HI  Recovery is a way of life...to many people get clean and neglect Recovery...if you plan on staying clean Recovery care is not an optional thing it is a necessity it doest guarantee you wont relapse but it gives you a fighting chance not to ...it teaches you skills to lean how to deal with things like triggers and cravings ...all the mind games that you go thew
during your recovery process..it teaches you ways to process your thoughts that start the chain reaction to relapse... first its just a thought ...then it becomes an obsession if not stoped it very well may become an action...it dosent have to be that way...there are many good programs out there to help you with recovery N/A A/A and substance abuse conslors are just a few...Its never to soon to start a program...I started with a substance abuse conslor 2yrs ago...I was still a methadone addict at the time Paul gave me the courage and support I need to even make the decision to get clean ..we have worked one on one with my recovery he was there for my entire methadone taper to encourage me when I dident think it would be possible now we work on recovery
and all the things that go along with that...I also attend N/a meetings for support
I use to go only when I craved but a wise man told me you should get some meetings under your belt b/4 you need them so now I go weather I think I need to or not...I have never walked out of one without getting something out of it and have also made some new clean friends by going ...you need to make a conchies effort to reach out for help...this is not a disease that you can treat by yourself .....without aftercare I would have crashed and burned a bunch of times...do I crave sometimes...you betcha but I have learned how to process  my thoughts in a health fashion and now the triggers and cravings have become manageable...the last thing we want to do is sound like a broken record we all believe this because it works if you work it...it saddens me to see people work so hard to get clean only to neglect aftercare and fail..we all want everyone to succeed not to fall at the first ruff spot in the road....so please take note of what has been said in all the posts here it comes from our hearts we only want what is best for you and there is a path that leads out of active addiction ...follow it..good luck and God bless.....Gnarly        

[avisg]

Tram great post too !!!!!

[LeaAnn807]

Relapse was part of "something" for me, but it wasn't recovery.  I didn't realize it, but I was never in recovery.  I was just white knuckling it.  Sometimes for a couple of years at a time!  I thought I was doing good, but I wasn't.  I was just clean.  As in.....I would have passed a drug test.  There IS a difference.  Being clean is NOT recovery.  Repeat....NOT recovery.  Now that I have gone to meetings and actually listened and tried and participated, I am seeing that difference.  It is like night and day.  I went to two meetings yesterday, and both times I left feeling so happy that I went.  I had been DRAGGED to meetings when I was in rehab before, but I despised it!  I thought I didn't have anything in common with the people there for some reason.  My disease was just denying it's existence.  I had EVERYTHING in common.  I just didn't want to admit it!  

My life, for the first time, feels right.  That is the only way I can describe it!  When people ask how long before they will feel normal, I think the answer is "when you change your MIND and get some support and aftercare."  Physical WD goes away on it's own.....the rest won't happen on it's own!  

Ok....that's my two cents!!!

Hugs everyone!

TH