Alcohol Addiction & Recovery

Dear Let’s Talk About It,                                                                                                                         

I have been in recovery for alcohol addiction for eight years and I recently relapsed. My younger sister passed away suddenly and one week later I was laid off from my job of twenty-two years. I’m so mad at myself and I don’t think I’ll ever get better. How do other people manage to stay sober? M.B.

Maintaining sobriety after addiction is a challenging and life-long process. So I’ll start by commending you for your five years sober. Relapse is the return to using and the using lifestyle after a period of abstinence. However, relapse does not mean that your efforts toward recovery are over or starting from scratch. Relapse can be seen as a transitional phase of recovery, a blip on the road map. Relapse is not a failure but a learning opportunity to strengthen your coping mechanisms and figure out what needs to be changed. Losing your sister as well as your job are two major life stressors that call on all your best skills to cope. When these coping skills are not sufficient or you don’t have the proper supports, relapse can happen. The best way people manage to stay sober is by; having a strong social support network using friends, family, support groups (ie: AA/NA), a sponsor and/or a therapist; learning a variety of coping techniques such as meditation/deep breathing, emotion regulation, identifying triggers, etc.; living a positive lifestyle by exercise, good nutrition, positive thinking, regular sleep and generally taking care of your mind, body and spirit. Once again, this is not an easy process but it is a rewarding one. For a local recovery program contact Bridgeback in Kingston NY at (845) 943-6091.