Situtions That Tiger a Relapse
By Dr.Fourkan Ali
No
matter how hard you are working to maintain your sobriety, you will always have
the risk of addiction relapse hanging over your head. The
reality is that life can throw a curveball your way at any time and can leave
you open to a relapse. Certain situations will weaken your resolve, so the only
way to stay on track is to remain vigilant for the rest of your life. Below are
a few examples of situations that could arise and put you in danger.
Bad Times
It
should come as no surprise to hear that bad times are a danger to your
sobriety. When life takes a turn for the worse, it is natural to seek out the
substance in which you once found comfort – at least, initially. Many things
could cause you to slip, including the death of a loved one, the loss of a job,
a marriage breakdown, a diagnosis of an illness, or a catastrophe.
Good Times
While
you may already be alert to the danger posed by bad times, it is also important
to be on your guard when things are going well. Most people get complacent and
let their guard down when life is going right. They may think that it is easy
to stay sober and that because life is going so well, they are in control. It
is at these times when they are in danger of relapsing, especially if they
start missing their meetings or avoiding contact with their sponsor because
they feel they do not need it.
Holidays
A
holiday abroad is a time to relax and unwind with friends or family members,
and it is traditionally a time when people eat and drink more than they
normally would at home. For recovering addicts, it is a time where they are
away from their network of support and where they can easily find opportunities
for a relapse. While it is important that you can enjoy your holiday, you need
to remember that one slip up here could put you on a downward spiral.
Change
Many
people do not like change and they feel anxious at the thoughts of new things.
This could be anything from a new relationship to a new job to moving home.
Feelings of anxiety can trigger cravings, which can be dangerous, so you need
to be alert to these emotions and remember your techniques for dealing with
them.
Boredom
Once
you have completed your programme of rehabilitation and have been in recovery
for some time, you may begin to wind down the number of meetings you attend. As
your life starts to get back on track, you may find that it is not as full as
it was before. You may miss the intense and full days of early recovery or you
may start to think wistfully of the days when your life was full of drama and
excitement, however bad this was at the time. At this time in your life, you
are in danger of relapse without even realising it. You will need to find other
things to do to occupy your time and prevent you from slipping up.
Illness or Ailments
During
recovery from addiction, it is quite common to experience various physical
ailments that can leave you feeling unwell. Struggling to deal with various
aches and pains can be distressing and can leave you feeling disappointed and
disillusioned with your recovery. It is not uncommon for people to begin to
romanticise the days when they were using or drinking. They will convince
themselves that they felt better when they were addicted, and so could be in
danger of reverting to their old behaviour.
As
long as you are always on your guard and vigilant to the risk of relapse, you
should be able to handle any situation effectively and keep your recovery on
the right track.
The writer Teacher & Columnist
8801611579267
dr.fourkanali@gmail.com
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