So You Fell Off The Wagon, How To Recover For An Alcohol Relapse
Jul 24, 2023So You Fell Off The Wagon
Staying sober and being diligent on the road to recovery can be incredibly challenging for anyone, especially people with a long standing drinking problem. Circumstances may come along to push you in the wrong direction and mistakes are bound to happen. Does that mean you need to shame yourself and wallow in regret if you find yourself having an alcohol relapse?
Nobody should have to face the hardship of recovery alone, nor should they be left not knowing what to do when relapse occurs. Acknowledging that a relapse can happen is the first step, but it’s the first of many on the road to living a sober life and not falling back into old habits.
Want to know what to do if you have an alcohol relapse on your journey to recover? Read our guide breaking down what you should know if you find yourself relapsing from quitting alcohol. Getting help can be tough, but it will help you navigate how to stop drinking.
What Can Cause You to Relapse?
It’s common for an alcohol relapse to happen to anyone after not drinking for a long period of time. This can occur as a result of factors you can notice. Some red flags include not making sobriety a top priority, not having a good support system of family or friends, not being prepared for post-treatment, or having no desire to quit yourself.
Many of these can be addressed in a variety of ways. If you or someone close can spot this early, they can bring it up to you and help with to address it. Close family and friends can be helpful when facing the truth and preventing another relapse from happening.
What to Do After an Alcohol Relapse
After you relapse, the first thing to do is acknowledge it and realize this is a setback from your recovery. Feelings of shame, regret, or failure can occur as you reflect on your actions but that should not deter you from making your next steps towards recovery. You don’t need to beat yourself up about it, rather put more effort into figuring out how to prevent it from happening again.
Don’t wait to seek help from others who can prevent you from going further into relapse (eg. are you a member of our Telegram group)? Talking to people like you can help identify what were the triggers for it or where you can look next for further help to recovery.
There are many groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous, that you can seek out for guidance and open discussion with relapse help.
We even have a weekly live support session on YouTube. Every Wednesday we get together at 9am EST to support each other in our sobriety. Plus I release a new coaching video every day on the Stop Drinking Expert channel. Double check that you are subscribed right now.
Don't Throw The Baby Out
It's so important that you don't over react to a relapse. If you fell off the wagon, just quietly dust yourself down and start again. Don't throw a pity party and don't beat yourself up too much... it happens.
Imagine if your hobby was fishing and one day you went out and didn't catch a single fish. You wouldn't come home and declare yourself to be a terrible fisherman and throw away all your fishing equipment, would you?
The same should apply to sobriety. If you have a slip, don't throw away all the tools you used to achieve sobriety. Put it down to a bad day at the office and tomorrow will be better.
Watch the video and I will explain more about this.
Make A Plan for Recovery
Nothing can be accomplished without first planning ahead. Making a plan on what you should or should not do can not only minimize future relapses but steer you clear from what causes them.
This includes not only moderation and quitting, but also other lifestyle changes to further enhance your path to living a sober life.
Know What to Do Next
It can be a rough road for anyone dealing with an alcohol relapse when you want to make a change. But it’s not an impossible task when you’re aiming towards living a sober life. Nobody is ever truly lost on the path to recovery, even when they make a mistake along the way.
Want to quit drinking alcohol today? Read the posts on Stop Drinking Expert and look into our free quit drinking webinar.
You can learn the best ways to quick drinking and how being sober can lead you to a healthier lifestyle.
About Us
Welcome to The Stop Drinking Expert, your ultimate destination for freedom from alcohol. We are passionate about empowering individuals to lead healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide valuable resources, inspiration, and a supportive community for those who wish to explore a life free from the constraints of alcohol. We want to help you rewrite your narrative, change your habits, and transform your life.
We understand the struggles and we're here to help, every step of the way. Our blog features a multitude of topics covering every aspect of your journey towards sobriety.
Free Webinars
We are proud to offer a free quit drinking webinar every day. No matter where you are on your journey, these webinars are designed to give you the knowledge, tools, and confidence you need to make lasting changes.
Our commitment is to help you build a life that doesn't need alcohol to be wonderful. But don't just take our word for it, read some of our insightful blog posts.
Featured Blog Posts
Author
