Everyday’s a struggle. I’m a chronic relapser. I make it a week or a month or maybe if I’m lucky, 4 months. Then boom, right back to the struggle of daily drinking and feeling terrible. It’s like feeling horrible and being miserable is easier for me than trying to manage life sober and I hate it. Just looking for some helpful advise on what’s worked for everyone else and some sober friends to talk to because I don’t have any of those. I just really want to make it through this horrible disease and not have another relapse.
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Same same. I'm up to about 6 or 7 relapses or "slips". To distinguish the two : A relapse is when you use, give up, and go full bore into using or drinking. A slip is using or drinking , realizing you screwed up, and seek help...could be after one drink or a weekend bender. Regardless, a "slip" is when you must catch it I've found. Your best chance is after that slip before you become physically addicted again and require detox. Also, I can't recommend medical detox more if you do reach that point. As far as what has helped me maintain these past 6 months. I have a daily checklist of things I need to do. It has mundane things like brushing teeth, face wash, showering, etc. It also has diet related things like drinking green tea and using a calorie counting app. Also, specific daily exercise or yoga....whatever you fancy. I've gotten the list up to 27 items to check off. This has done wonders to distract me in down time and keep me from thinking about drinking. You'd be surprised how much time just doing all the things we should have been doing takes ; which, personally, I neglected while in the throws of alcoholism. This might just be effective for someone with a bit of OCD lol. Regardless, give it a try. I hope this helps.
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Thank you so much, everything helps! I’m a huge list maker but sticking to the list is always a struggle but I’ll start small and try to add to it!
Hey! You can do this! Please go to AA meetings. Check out womens meetings if thats more comfortable. Ya know, people say "AA isnt for me". I totally get it. But, there are sober friends there, who know what youre going through.
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Thank you, it’s definitely hard for me with meetings because I’m so uncomfortable in my own skin and I feel like I don’t even know how to talk to people because my anxiety is so bad but I know I have to push myself. And I’ll definitely look for women’s meetings in my area. That seem a little less intimidating to me.
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We ALL felt/feel uncomfortable. Don't trip on it. If discussion meetings scare you right now, just hit lead meetings, listen to other people's story and you'll realize in a short time that everyone feels just like you! Don't worry about the steps or the bi book ot anything like that yet. Just go to meetings, at least you won't be in a bar. And you'll make connections if you're open to it.
Please don't do this alone and don't rely on the internet. We are out here for ya, in meetings.
Get to the chopper if you want to live...
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Uncomfortable in my own skin is what kept me from sticking with meetings for over 40 yrs. I finally decided to put a little more effort in this time around. 27 months in with meetings now has dramatically changed my life socially, mentally and the whole 9 yards...Found out that pushing myself thru that Uncomfortableness has made me comfortable...You can do this too Meagan!
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Meagan
This app is great for moral support, but it is by no means a solution.
Your answers are all in the Big Book of AA.
This comes from the Doctor's Opinion in that book.
Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol. The sensation is so elusive that, while they admit it is injurious, they cannot after a time differentiate the true from the false. To them, their alcoholic life seems the only normal one. They are
restless, irritable, and discontented
unless they can again experience the sense of ease and comfort, which comes at once by taking a few drinks—drinks which they see others taking with impunity. After they have succumbed to the desire again, as so many do, and the
phenomenon of craving develops,
they pass through the well-known stages of a spree, emerging remorseful, with a firm resolution not to drink again. This is repeated over and over, and unless this person can experience an
entire psychic change
there is very little hope of his or her recovery.
The 12 Steps of AA were written by alcoholics for alcoholics.
They were meant to be taken in 4 one hour sessions.
It worked for me.
I just got 9 yrs of sobriety.
I, too, was a chronic relapser.
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I have 2.5 months. My bottom this time was feeling completely and utterly worthless. It was a turning point. I had relapsed out of 13 years sobriety. Prior to that I relapsed in 95 which led to DUI after 9 years sober. I relapsed in 04 after 6 years 9 months sober. This led to 2 DUI’s. I went to rehab in 09 and stayed sober 13 years. I relapsed in August 2022. I was headed for a 9 mo. binge.. binge. I went back to AA in December. It took 5 months of attending to get 30 days. But at least I got it. I feel like I was saved this time for the craving to cease) and have no desire to drink. I’ve had 3 chances. I feel like that’s all I get. So whatever it takes is my truth. You’re not alone..it’s meetings, steps, connecting with sober alcoholics, prayer, gratitude, or however you wish to do it, oh, Came to Believe is a 2nd step book and there’s other good stuff to read.
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I was a Cronin relapser…. What I have been trying to do this go around is change the way I speak. I no longer identify w. It and I really focus on my positive affirmations. Hope this helps. Blessings love and light sober sister
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Go to AA meetings. It’s the best deal in town for the Alcoholic.
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Hello. I would like to make a suggestion. I know for me I was so physically addicted that I only got 1 month sober once. But then at the beginning of the pandemic, I went to a restaurant with hubby and I was sober BUT he ordered a large cold beer and when he went to the men’s room, I took a Hugh sip (big mistake) within days I was sitting at a restaurant drinking again. This time totally in secret. This was awful because I had to sneak my wine into my house everyday and hide it in the closet. This went on March 2020 thru October 3, 2020. I was told to stop because of my liver but continued.
Finally I was found out and I ended up in a wonderful rehab hospital for approximately 9 days. They put me on medication so no seizures and a drinking med for cravings. When I left they I had an entire recovery team set up. I did IOP, then Early Recovery Meetings (that I still attend). I have amazing recovery coach, counselor and friends that I can count on. Now just celebrated 33 months sober.
My main point is maybe if your physically addicted this maybe a good route to take. Plus meetings and building a support group. Sobriety is so hard to do, especially when drinking is so glamorized everywhere but unfortunately they don’t show what can happen. What keeps me strong now is I lost my brother the color of a lemon and my dear friend was found dead in his car. He bled out from every part of his body from alcoholism. It’s so much work but believe you don’t want to die from that cr@p terrible death. Just take it one minute, hour or day at a time. Whatever works. 
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I am NOT a chronic relapser because it took me 45 yrs of drinking to realize I needed to stop or I would die.
I look at people who are called or call themselves chronic relapsers as people that are constantly trying. I do not necessarily see it as a negative.
Since I have come to AA (approx. 4 months ago) the people that have continued sobriety attend many meetings, believe in God and are involved in helping other alcoholics. Just my observations and personal thoughts. Kiki.
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