Relapse is part of the illness
Nov 19, 07- (by staff)
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Getting clean is work, but staying clean is much harder. Relapse is common, especially during the first two years. Even after two years, relapse still occurs. Brain Dead Genius relates a tragic event that occurred to a friend who had been clean for 5 years:
This week someone OD’d after 5 years clean. A friend. The lesson was that [he] wasn’t really working a program, just being abstinent - I know that there aren’t any guarantees in life but just for today I choose to hedge my bets and work a program - because I know that I’m not immune.
Everyone in recovery knows friends who have relapsed. The same post relates the powerlessness any of us might feel when we know a friend of ours is using:
Somebody that I know and love is getting high again - they won’t admit it and I could be wrong, but when four of your closest friends have all independently reached the same conclusion in the same one week period then maybe that’s just a little bit too much “coincidence” for me. He is doing things that he ‘normally’ wouldn’t do and basically his ass is using again. This will make his 4th time, each time almost reaching the 6 month mark and then falling off. The pattern is the same - Start off “Gung-Ho”, start slacking, stop working his program, meet a girl and then BOOM, here comes the drugs. I want to lock him in a closet and make him recover. I want to be able to do something more than what I have been doing, I don’t want to be powerless. The lesson here is: I am powerless, it is what it is and it will be what it will be, all I can do is work on me and be available to help when asked. Staying clean isn’t easy, I am grateful that I am holding on to the gift.
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