Relapses

[gizzy32]

Most of  us here have relapsed before, I did dozens and dozens of times before and with each one I let myself sink further into addiction and hated myself for it.  What advice would you guys give someone that has relapsed and using again? How did you snap out of it? How do we get back up? I am asking this for other members and would like to hear what you did to stop it and how you overcame it? Our secrets keep us sick.

[avisg]

Its not necessary to do meetings they don't work for everyone they would not so me any good .I needed a therapist because my abuse had to with things in my past .I tried the first time doing with the support and family and med help but it was not enough the 2nd time I got into a therapist with addiction experience that could help meet to the bottom of my issues .
I would have not made it this far without it .Everyone needs something it just finding the right fit for you

[10356]

Good morning Giz :) I have read all the post concerning aftercare/relapse I speak only for myself but I have to concede when it comes to aftercare.. like some I can not do the aa na meetings. my experiences have been they set of my addict thinking.. I had left My drugs of choice behind in the town I was raised in. I have never sought drugs from a stranger nor do I intend too.. Meetings bring contact. peps that live where I have for 30 years that have access, wakes up a whole new ball game in my addictive thinking.. hubby has rigs for projects he does and off I go.. there are other reasons but this is the most significant..
but I have begun to realize I have depended on my family as "watch dogs" sorta speaking on me and my addiction.. things are changing here at home and they are moving on to explore their lives :) now I'm left to explore mine.. I have been clean off alcohol Would have been 3 years this July 4th.. I spent a lil over a month drinking.. I have since stopped although ' not sure how long. Off pills drugs for a lil over a year and a half.. I want to keep my clean time. I think I will be making a app. with my Dr. and check on a addiction specialist.. To be Honest I'm not thrilled and it pisses my off a lil that we must always fight this way.. I concede..  going to my phyc has helped me with my past.. I Have gained back what I had lost. and lost what did not belong to me.. He Helped me to recognize and accept my worth.. to really live with all my senses.. but I do not want to revisit him.. so in conclusion to this long post. I would like to say that the first step to getting clean is a Truth to Yourself.. a Decision for only we can make.. on our journeys we learn many things if we stay true to our decision.. ourselves.. Thanks everyone for posting. new and old for you are helping me through my own journey. much love much respect.. lesa/letakos

[mikchez]

After nineteen years clean and sober, this might sound ridicules, I think I forgot I was an addict.  I relapsed on vacation, started with one energy drink with alcohol in it and boy it took awhile but I was back to my drug of choice and getting worse every day I know now I am a real addict not a social user. What made me get clean and sober was experiencing a mind set that I wanted to die and knew it wasn’t far off and that the pleasure of getting high changed to an emotional and physical hell. There is a line in the basic text of NA’s first chapter that says drugs ceased to make us feel good when I read that it clicked, I had hope. I didn’t do some of the things suggested in AA/NA/CA/HA I did everything and the one thing I think is the most important that I did, that I didn’t do before was service to others. Its never to late to quit and there is recovery for those that want it, but you have to want it more than anything else or we have nothing but our own lies. Some people are not addicts but if our using causes us and the people that love us problems we might have a problem. Thank you for allowing me to share something I don’t ever want to forget I am an addict.
Peace/Love

[Htownnofrown]

For me, I had gone to meetings before but never really accepted the fact that I was an addict or got a sponsor and hadn't tried working the steps. As soon as I jumped head first into the steps with my sponsor, my cravings and triggers went away. It's amazing to go through life knowing that no matter what happens, I am not going to use today. I honestly don't have to worry about relapse now that I've worked the steps and work with others, as long as I am putting recovery first in my life. It's a sense of security I never thought possible. Above all, I would tell them, keep trying. It's not how many times we fall down that matters, its how many times we get up.

[narla]

I'm at 249 days,I have stopped using previously but only when I was pregnant and when I had a brain haemorrage,as soon as I could I started drinking and using codeine again.this time I have had to quit because of liver damage,but I was honest with family and friends from the day I quit.And I know I'm an alcoholic and can't be trusted with pain killers.No more secrets and of course aftercare in the form of a therapist.

Denise

[newmanagment]

after care is great for many i guess. but for me meetings are just another trigger. sittin roun listnenin to horror stories and tellin my stories eventually became another "jones" for me. I really think that for me, my kids are wut keeps me grounded. When I really get the urge to use, I find that sittin down wit my shawties and jus watchin amovie or goin to the park, hell anything really, makes me get past the urge. I also know that when I drink to any extent, I want to use. so for me , staying completely sober is the way to stay off the pipe. I NEVER thought that I would quit smokin weed, but I have and it has made a real dif. too. weed never really triggered me to use coke, but it changes my perspective and makes me stay in the same vicious circle of addiction that I have been trying to break. I have changed alot of things, no more hangin on the block wit the crew, no mo hangin wit ne one that uses , no mo goin to the old hood to kick it. I guess my best advice to any one in a current relapse is, dont give up on yourself and wutcha really wanna be. Clean back up, get back on ya game, and realize that as addicts we will always be prone to *** up.
great post G, nice to see ya still here!
as alwayz......... much luv

[LeaAnn807]

My sponsor (bless her heart!) tells me all the time, "keep doing whatcha did, and you'll keep getting whatcha got!"  I hate hearing it, but it's true.  I never wanted to make any change.  I just wanted to be clean, but I didn't wanna do the work.  I went to the first meeting and literally didn't say a word!  But I was there!!  That was the difference!  I have relapsed so many times, so I never say never, but I don't ever WANT to do this again, and I'll do anything I have to do to keep it from happening.  How's that?!   : )

[dominosarah]

I finally quit blaming everyone else for my troubles and realized i just couldnt do this alone.  Aftercare has been a godsend for me.........sara

[stilltrying1965]

I would relapse every time i had any amount of clean time I think that was the addict i was. I loved my doc. But now i have changed a few things i have a councilor who is a great help to me and i agree AFTERCARE is paramount in our recovery. What would i say to some one else seek help do it now . Dont beat yourself up relapsing is all part of addiction thats what i would say to them. And like Avis said nothing changes if nothing changes I snaped out of relapsing by doing things different i read alot took what i needed and applied it to my recovery ppl here on the forum gave me advise i used some of it not all but what was good for me and what would help me. realising my triggers was my biggest advantage. Also our brains are very powerful tools when we use them right Hope this helps ,,,,,,James

[gizzy32]

TY great comments. I can't do this alone either, I would fail without help:( It works if you work it:)

[vicki595]

Relapse is tough...one near collapse was enough for me to change a few things I was doing wrong.  But that's me.   I'd tell someone else to stop and reach out for help. This can be so difficult to do alone.  And I'm not talking about reaching out to recovery...I'm talking about reaching out, period!!   Call a doctor,a trusted friend or family member,any-
one who can support you and help you flush the pills/drugs.  That's step one: Reaching
out to another human who will help us stand up again...relapse is a weak and vulnerable time.
Then comes step two: aftercare. Any kind! Just something!  It's teriffic that NA/AA is
free...makes it very easy.  In my city,folks carpool!    Also,it's important to tell the
people close to us. I think it keeps us accountable.    
All the best to everyone~

Vicki

[IBKleen]

You know what I am going to say, and I feel like a broken record. I have stopped before and I have remained in a "dry" stage. The ONLY time I started to get better, and actually started my recovery, is when I sought aftercare.

There is no way I can do this alone. I have a disease that talks to me, make that "screams at me". It tells me to do stupid things and it tells me to go to places I don't want to go and to hang with people I don't want to be with. It tells me steal, lie and hurt the people I love.

When I am around my support system they catch me before I fall (if I am honest). They have gone before me and know more than I ever will. I trust them and lean on them.

I have tried it my way way too many times and my way does not work. I will not be writing a best seller any time too soon!

So, at the risk of repeating myself "aftercare". How ever you choose it.

[avisg]

Recovery care that what made the diffrance for me .I did not what to be doin this over and over so I did it after the first relapse .Nothing changes if nothing changes