When you’re in a position of handling an alcoholic relapse, whether for yourself or a loved one, remember that seeking treatment in the first place was a huge success. Even though you have hit this roadblock, the fact that you sought assistance in the past already puts you at an advantage. Taking certain steps can make your situation even more beneficial:
- Share what happened.
- Speak with a sponsor.
- Consider whether to re-enroll in rehab.
Upon relapsing, you may feel as though you have failed. However, consider other goals you’ve set for yourself in your life; while your ultimate desire was perfection, you probably had minor setbacks along the way. Other human beings operate in the same way. Sharing your story with a nonjudgmental person can help you to remember that you did not fail; you are human.
If you can talk to a sponsor, this situation is ideal. You may have a sponsor from your time in rehab, or you can reach out to the facility to request to speak with someone. While expressing your feelings is important, talking with someone who can guide you toward the next best step is most useful. During these conversations, you can discuss plans for preventing another relapse.
One of the solutions is to enroll in rehab again. You might think that the program didn’t work for you because you relapsed. However, consider all of the positive changes you have also made. Speaking with a representative from the program can allow you to weigh your options. For example, you may want to try an inpatient program this time if you sought outpatient guidance previously.
Identifying Your Triggers
During your initial rehab program, you likely learned about the importance of identifying your triggers. Working to determine what caused you to relapse is useful here, and you can do so with the help of a sponsor or representative from the facility. You can learn strategies for better handling this trigger, or you may discover that this trigger is a new one that you didn’t know that you had before.
An alcoholic relapse does not mean that you have failed yourself or the program. It means that you can pick yourself up and seek assistance to even further better your life. To get the help that you need, call 833-610-1174 to speak with a counselor; they are available 24 hours per day and seven days per week.