Like so many other diseases, addiction is an illness that carries a risk for relapse. Backsliding is all part of the process, but relapse isn’t a necessary occurrence. You can avoid relapse and keep moving forward if you understand the difference between a slip and a relapse and know how to keep one from leading to the other.
What A Slip Looks Like
We all make mistakes every day, so some of our mistakes are bound to affect our recovery. A slip in recovery is the behavioral equivalent to a physical stumble. You can regain your footing with some balance and effort, or you can take a tumble clear to the ground. A slip might be a single instance of using when withdrawals get to be too much. It could also be allowing a negative thing influence your life when you’re feeling lonely. What keeps a slip from becoming a full blown relapse is recognizing the mistake and putting a stop to it before it goes too far.
Warning Signs for Relapse
Often times a slip is an event that you didn’t really see coming and that you wish you could take back as soon as it happens. Relapse is different, because it usually represents a shift in your attitude and commitment level. A relapse is the culmination of many slips and bad decision making that has distanced you from your recovery goals. Your attitude about recovery will take a hit during a relapse, as you begin to tell yourself that you don’t need help or healing for your addiction. You will probably see yourself returning to your old way of life during a relapse. You might begin to spend time with the people and places where your addiction grew in the first place.
It’s All in Your Reaction
The difference between a slip and a relapse lies almost entirely in your reaction to setbacks. If you view a setback as a sign that you’re destined for failure, and use it as an excuse to give in to your addiction once more, you’re going to continue taking steps backwards. These backwards steps culminate in a relapse. If you view a setback as a sign that you are weak in some area, and that you need to strengthen that area, then you’re setting yourself up to keep moving forward. Slips, when viewed with the right attitude, can actually provide valuable insight for you and your individual therapist about which areas you need to focus your goals on. While slips are definitely something you should try and avoid, they certainly don’t signify the ruin of your recovery.
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