RELAPSE: What Are the Roots? (Part 2 of Relapse Series) (Post 73)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015

Post 73

RELAPSE: What Are the Roots? (Part 2 of Relapse Series)

In July, I had the privilege of conducting a workshop on the topic of Relapse to members of the recovering community.  The presentation was entitled “Rooting Out Relapse: It’s an Equal Opportunity” … equal opportunity since both recovering dependents and codependents were in the audience.   The invitation was for me to address those recovering from addiction as well as their family members and friends. 

Commonly held is the notion that relapse occurs only to persons who have “fallen off the wagon” of sobriety.  At the same time, there is sound truth undergirding the call for loved ones to work on their own recoveries – that is, recovery from actions and attitudes that encourage and build on their own dependent  responses to the addict’s behaviors.  How then do I speak to both sides?

To be sure, the hour was one filled with fascinating engagement by the attendees.  From the very first participation-question, it was obvious that this group knew the topic well – both sides!  To the invitation to define “relapse”, the audience was off and running … and was I surprised!  Instead of Webster definitions (which I had anticipated), responses came describing personal situations that would encourage or provoke relapse: the classic HALT conditions (hungry, angry, lonely, tired), boredom and not enough constructive leisure activities, dropping out of support meetings and/or therapy sessions, and even holidays and vacations.  Surrounding each “definition” were many, many related individual situations.  The participants were already in the midst of the essential recognition of when relapse begins!   

As one description of the beginning phase of relapse has it: the earliest stage of relapse occurs when those personal weakening circumstances begin to enter back into the life of the individual going through recovery. In other words, relapse can begin when the recovery work starts to bog down … when the strengthening, therapeutic (and healthy) strongholds begin to be ignored, minimized, or neglected.  And here is where it gets interesting: the individual is not even thinking about THE behavior (the addictive or codependent behavior), at this point.  There are no active triggers/urges being recognized or felt ...yet.  Instead, what is significant here is that there is a change in the recovery-lifestyle … and those personal conditions are starting to set up the slippery slope(s) which, in turn, could soon usher the individual back into a life of using/ abuse/ addiction/ codependency.

Once the recovery-lifestyle begins to slip, that’s when the slippery slope starts to form.  Something viewed, heard, or smelled nudges a thought … one that would have been responded to in a recovery-minded manner.  This time, however, the individual circumstances – and subsequently, the lessoning of the recovery reins – present memories of bygone times when the old, dysfunctional behavior was firmly in place.   Old friends associated with the former life may make re-entry … and more memories come.  Or a person opens the door (once again) to fear, fault-finding, and waning self-confidence … and the slope’s ride races toward ever-present suspicion and preoccupation of worries.

Taking a step toward that slope, the thoughts gather – and cluster with more thoughts.  The person becomes increasingly vulnerable, particularly since the recovery-defenses have been loosening, or worse, crumbling.  Though the actions may not have occurred, yet, it is most likely, now, that the mind has relapsed (or is on the verge of relapsing). 

Then the opportunity comes.  The mind is willing and the rest of the body responds.  The recovery-guards are off-duty: relapse!  How could this “suddenly” happen?  And still, as described above, the process of relapse had already developed.  The action was a response to what had been occurring – especially when the recovery-life was not firmly in place.  

The workshop attendees had it right: “relapse” as they defined it, has its beginning when recovery work lags and those personal, individual weaknesses gain in their self-defeating efforts ... so much so that the return to a condition of illness aptly describes the full spectrum of relapse – right from the start!   

Blessings, 

Rev. Janet Jacobs
Founding Director
Gambling Recovery Ministries

For more information on problem gambling and the process of recovery, go to  Gamblers Anonymous at www.gamblersanonymous.org  and Gam-Anon at www.gam-anon.orgVisit: a resource for women gamblers, www.femalegamblers.info

Other helpful resources:
www.indianaproblemgambling.org   
www.kycpg.org  
www.ipgapindiana.edu  
www.calpg.org   
www.christsd.com  
http://myfount.com/stream.aspx?idx=506        
www.ncpgambling.org  
 

Posted by Gambling Recovery Ministries at 12:59 AM