UNDERSTANDING RELAPSES

Well Christmas Day and Boxing Day have come and gone and those of you who are not on vacation are most likely back on the job while others are beginning to enjoy the many pre-carnival activities that are most likely starting by this weekend if they have not yet already begun. As for me , I am enjoying a well deserved break from the responsibility of being the head of an extended family where I'm often called upon to baby-sit while the parent/s go to University  and/or place of employment.

And while we go about our important chores there will be many who were unable to wake themselves and get on the job because of hangovers and then again a few who will have abandoned their jobs by the time the New Year comes around. As usual I anticipate quite a number of new clients will be referred to rehabilitation facilities by their Trade Union Representatives as a result of their over-exuberance this past Christmas.

Unfortunately many of the latter ought not to have had any alcoholic beverage to drink as they had made a resolution to remain drug free, especially around this period, which they did not do. The simplest definition of a relapse is “the breaking of a resolution” to remain drug free. A relapse therefore is the breaking of an individual's resolve not to return to any of the shortcomings at which he or she has been working.

A common error many persons make is to think that willpower is all that is needed to maintain recovery. I always ask persons who make this assertion to ask themselves how many times in the past they have tried willpower and with what result.The World Health Organization (WHO) has ruled that addiction is a treatable disease so obviously willpower is not sufficient.

Relapses in early recovery are quite common among persons who do not appreciate the magnitude of their illness and are therefore not totally committed to their recovery.Those who do decide that they have finally had enough are most likely to be more committed to a program of recovery and so tend to avoid the pitfalls that are common in early recovery.

There are several reasons why persons have relapses while attempting to control their addiction. Very often though the trivializing of addiction is the main one while absence of proper communication skills are others.

The individual in recovery would be wise to avoid the usual friends he or she has made and has become accustomed hanging around with, at least until some considerable time has passed, as even well-meaning friends can destroy your resolve with poorly thought out advice.

As I recently posted to my facebook group: "Hi guys , remember in this period if alcohol makes you do stupid things it's best you avoid anything with the slightest alcohol content." Those who heeded my call are back out to work. Those who did not, well..........

May 2013 meet all of us in good health. Stay blessed.