Feeling that loneliness and I relapsed

Well…..the title says it all. Loneliness snuck in and took control and I relapsed with hopes of numbing those feelings. But it didn’t. All it did was keep me awake so I can be alone with my thoughts, which is usually not a good thing. Hoping it’s not depression sneaking in or my bi-polar acting up cause I really don’t want to and can’t afford to go backwards. I worked so hard on my
Mental health and with my addiction…..although I do still have a long way to go with both. Any tips on not go backwards and let the guilt eat me alive?

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Hope that’s ok to post

"There is no problem using wont make worse"

Feeling off? Think HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired) before acting. If hungry eat, tired sleep, angry walk it off give it space, lonely call a friend go to a meeting.

Feeling guilt is normal, just get back up and start fresh. Dont dwell on it and turn that guilt into shame.

Mental health issue unfortunately are likely a life long struggle with ups and downs. Get professional help, google help in your area, learn abkut about it

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I've changed my perspective on my sobriety date & added in my percentage. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 90% of people with alcohol use disorder relapse ATLEAST once.

Sobriety date: 12/23/20
*** 1,367 days ***

Sober day count since last relapse
*** 70 days***

Longest sober streak
*** 883 days ***

Percentage of sober days since 12/23/20
*** 98% ***

For me, breaking it down with all these metrics after my last relapse, I was able to see that I am a bad*ss warrior. I won 98% of the time against alochol. I see that as a major accomplishment.

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I can’t tell you how many times I tried but it’s been years of trial and error, like yearssss. People would tell me one day at a time and I’d get so mad, but I think they were right. I don’t really count my days now. I know, based on how I feel, that this is the best I’ve been doing for a while. I have a tracker but it’s really just setting goals and living each day. I don’t know if I’m doing it right but it’s working so I keep doing it. I have my meltdowns but I don’t pick up and that’s really the difference. It’s kinda empowering when I go through some solid emotions and I don’t pick up, it’s pretty cool. Reach out, talk to people set some goals and don’t take things toooo seriously

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I can recommend a couple books, one is The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace and the other is quit drinking without willpower. There are differing opinions on them, but they've helped me at times.

I'm so sorry you slipped, that stinks. Thank goodness there's no reason to slip again; any discomfort you feel is your body healing, I wish you a swift recovery.

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