Relapse Signs and Symptoms

Now relapse does not just come out of the blue, it feeds and comes out of our thinking, just as we discussed earlier, that our problem centres in our thinking, in our perceptions. The facts that we have a disease, or shall we say dis ease or ill at ease if you will, that centers in our minds, thinking, and perceptions. So does relapse, it starts and grows in that very same area, manifesting in behaviour until the final behaviour being the actual physical act of drinking and/or drug use.

This the primary reason of being ever vigilant, of constant monitoring our actions and thinking. One of the reasons we have a support system made of those we trust is this, for sometimes they can detect these behaviours and mood shifts before we can. If we are open to honest appraisal from our support systems we can snip these behaviours in the bud before they grow into an actual physical relapse. We all have mental relapses; the key is to catch it before we hurt ourselves and our loved ones. Over the next few days I am going to give you a list of signs and symptoms of thinking and behaviours you need to be alert for in relapse prevention.


EXHAUSTION:
Allowing yourself to become overly tired or in poor health, some of us are prone to transferring our addictive behaviours to becoming workaholics. Perhaps in a hurry to make up for lost time, keeping too busy to feel. Good health (mental and physical) and suitable periods of rest are essential to stable recovery. If you are feeling good physically, you are more apt to make sound decisions. Feeling run down and physically ill you might begin thinking that using couldn’t make it any worse.


DISHONESTY:
This begins with a few little white lies or deceits, usually unnecessary with friends or family, or co workers, perhaps even with your support system. This is followed by either slight conscious or sub conscious guilt for the lies. This then progresses to the important lies you start telling to yourself (rationalizing, justifying- Making excuses for the lies, then making the excuses for not doing what you don’t want to do, or for doing what you know you shouldn’t be doing.


IMPATIENCE:
Things are not happing fast enough. Or, others are not doing what you think they should be doing when you think they should be doing it. Recovery, money, relationships ETC... Are not coming fast enough.


ARGUEMENTATIVENESS:
We all know this one picking and looking for a fight. Arguing small and/or ridiculous points of view indicates the need to always be right. “Why don’t you just be reasonable and agree with me?” Usually this thinking and/or behaviour are used when you are looking for a reason to use.


DEPRESSION:
Now this can come in many forms, most of us experience some form of depression from time to time. Feeling run down, over tired, not caring about much, lack of appetite, flat acceptance, listlessness unreasonable and unaccountable despair. Worsening to more severe despair, becoming disruptive to your life, amplified by fatigue and hunger. Turning to isolation reacting to human contact with irritability and anger while at the same time lamenting that no one cares. This can be remedied by forcing oneself out of bed or couch and becoming more active with your family friends and support system as well as getting outside for fresh air and sunlight as well as large doses of physical activity. If these feelings still persist then seek medical attention A.S.A.P. as this is a very serious condition.


FRUSTRATION:
At people, institutions, life, recovery. Frustrated because things are not going your way or the way that you believe they should be going. Things happen and go the way they go for a reason, usually it is not the way they should be or want them to be. However it is what it is. Life happens.


SELF PITY:
“Why do these things always happen to me?” “Why do I have to be an alcoholic (addict)?” “Nobody appreciates all I do-(for them)?” This is what I call the plom tree (Poor Little Old Me) syndrome. Self pity is often used as an attention getting behaviour in recovery and with family and friends. Want more attention—Get more active.


If you recognize any of these behaviours write about them in your journal. Don’t have a journal? Get one. Write down what you believe is bringing this thinking and behaviour out in you. Write also what you think you need to do to curb them. As well as this you absolutely need to talk with members of your support system about these behaviour and thinking, which is why you have a support system. It will not help you if you don’t use it. Failure to take these actions is a relapse trap all on its own, and usually fatal.


Remember God does not create garbage