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How many of you have...RELAPSESED...Please comment
RELAPSED before?
I read posts on here and sometimes comment...i have been clean of opiates for a pretty long time, but remember the early struggle...
I relapsed a few times before i really got clean...it was frustrating...so many of us do...and it scares us...
I am writing this because so many of the newbies to recover relapse and beat the wholly heck out of themselves for it...
so I ask YOU ALL to please chime in...let them know that a relapse, although not ideal, seems to be the norm for most, if not all of us...so what's the key? For me it was to not self loath and pick thyself up, dust thyself off and try try try again until success (one day at a time)
I read posts on here and sometimes comment...i have been clean of opiates for a pretty long time, but remember the early struggle...
I relapsed a few times before i really got clean...it was frustrating...so many of us do...and it scares us...
I am writing this because so many of the newbies to recover relapse and beat the wholly heck out of themselves for it...
so I ask YOU ALL to please chime in...let them know that a relapse, although not ideal, seems to be the norm for most, if not all of us...so what's the key? For me it was to not self loath and pick thyself up, dust thyself off and try try try again until success (one day at a time)
Best Answer
I think the common denominator we all can agree on in here is that those who have successfully managed to stay clean for a long period of time HAVE HAD to endure a relapse or two or three or four and so on... it's a learning process. If you've never relapsed after quitting, you were never an addict in the first place. That being said, it's a learning process and a unique one for each of us. We learn from mistakes, we don't learn from the whole 'this is right and this is wrong and don't question any of it' logic. If we relapse we question why. If we continuously relapse we still question why. Relapse is not a failure period. It's a way of learning how not to quit. We're really not that irrational. Excuses only last for so long until you realize it's getting old and it's better to just solve the problem entirely and with trial and error. NA and AA is not a silver bullet but that's just my opinion. There is no silver bullet, just YOUR bullet. And there are studies out there that show beating yourself up over a relapse does more harm than good in your recovery which I think was the original intention of this post.
I just saw a few (very few) posts that insinuated that discussing relapse and it's place in recovery is also condoning it or suggesting that it is just part of recovery and may give an addict an excuse to relapse. I just think that is a close minded view on the topic and could be dangerous to people who relapse and hesitant to come clean. With that said I also want to point out that when someone does relapse and comes clean on this forum I have never seen it met with any negative responses only support, comfort and great advise... If I'm wrong or mis-interpreted something I read then I apologize...
COMMUNITY LEADER
What was shocking to you in how it is viewed and discussed?
Relapse breaks my heart as i know the thought process when it happens. You are left with more guilt and more shame. I lived that world for so many years. Just for today i lived the life of recovery. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, all i can do is hope i do the same thing i did today. Coming here and being honest is a huge thing to do and very hard. We find out we arent alone in this battle and that is very important.
Relapse breaks my heart as i know the thought process when it happens. You are left with more guilt and more shame. I lived that world for so many years. Just for today i lived the life of recovery. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, all i can do is hope i do the same thing i did today. Coming here and being honest is a huge thing to do and very hard. We find out we arent alone in this battle and that is very important.
Relapse is a scary thought for anyone in recovery no matter how much time one has. I know it occurs for many different reasons but IMO if someone goes into recovery expecting to relapse than they are just not ready -- a matter of fact that is just making a reservation to use again... With that said there are people who are blindsided by a relapse based on a given unforeseen circumstance... It's the latter that we work in our recovery to avoid or prevent but unfortunately even the most disciplined recovering addict can fall victim to it, IMO. We all fight each day to protect our sobriety which means protecting our selfs from a relapse for some of us that next relapse has some very, very high stakes as it could mean literally life or death... My whole point is that we as addicts have to accept that relapsing is part of the road of recovery for some and a plan of action must be implemented immediately if one occurs... I think there are people who feel a relapse is the end of recovery and just give up because they just feel they do not have what it takes then run and hide until the disease takes everything from them.. It's these people that I believe this thread is for because there are many people on here (including myself) who have relapsed but were able to fight their way back and that's what a person who relapses needs to see. They need to know that if your honest about your relapse and call yourself out that you did not throw away your recovery efforts -- you shouldn't give up... Anyone who is serious about their recovery knows relapse is a possibility not a given fact and anybody serious about their recovery doesn't think they have a mulligan. Pointing out the possibility of a relapse and how to handle it so it doesn't lead to further damage is by no means suggesting that it HAS to be part of an addicts road to recovery. Since relapses are just a fact for MANY (not all) addicts it is important for veterns to share there experiences so a person who relapses can see that it is not the end of their recovery... I know I pointed out the obvious and the opinion of most in this thread but I also saw some responses that shocked me in how relapses are viewed and should be discussed... Thanks for a great thread...
My friend... thank you for sharing your daily read... it's like you're reading my life. "That's exactly my story except for the details..."
AMEN!!!! Everyone!
We can not do it alone..Surrendering to God is what I had to do over & over for many different reason as most of my MH friends know..lol
Still have to!
Nice Post! We are all coming out of the woods with this one..
We can not do it alone..Surrendering to God is what I had to do over & over for many different reason as most of my MH friends know..lol
Still have to!
Nice Post! We are all coming out of the woods with this one..
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