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If you relapse while participating in AA, that doesn’t mean that your recovery has failed. Relapse is common.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, relapse rates for people with alcohol and substance use disorder are between 40-60%. These numbers are similar to other chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension and asthma.
It doesn’t mean you have failed or that AA has failed you; It means you should reevaluate your treatment plan, make changes and continue with your recovery journey.
How Should I Handle My Relapse?
Many people feel ashamed, guilty or disappointed in themselves because they relapsed. The best thing to do after a relapse is to reach out to others for support.
- If you have a sponsor, tell them what happened. When the issue is immediate, they can sit with you until you sober up and help you work through the problem.
- You should not be alone right after you relapse, especially if you are having increased feelings of anxiety, depression or suicidal ideation. Reach out for help immediately, either from your sponsor, another AA member, a family member or a friend.
- You can begin to attend meetings again, where you will start over with your chips( you won’t have to give back the chips you have already earned).
- If you feel comfortable talking about your experience, it may be helpful. However, you do not have to discuss it with the group if you don’t want to. Just make sure you reach out to someone so they know what you’re feeling.
- Consider another type of treatment to supplement your AA meetings. You may want to restart individual or group therapy or an aftercare program to work on your stress and trigger management and relapse prevention skills.
Have I Failed in My Alcohol Recovery?
Relapse is common.
According to NIDA, “Successful addiction treatment typically requires continual evaluation and modification as appropriate, similar to the approach taken for other chronic diseases”. Relapse is a signal that your individual treatment plan needs to be modified.
It does not mean you are a failure or that you will never live a life in recovery; it means you need to change some things.
AA should be a judgment free space where you are surrounded by people who understand what the struggle is like.
No individual should be made to feel bad about what they have done or what has happened to them because of their alcohol or substance use disorder. If you relapse, make sure to take care of yourself and continue with your recovery.
You do not have to start over. Acknowledge that it is a part of your journey, reach out for support and make the changes you need to get back on track.
If you have more questions about AA, or are at risk of relapse, call
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