:l I found this with some excellent basics for everyone to use...Here is an excerpt... The full link to the site is http://www.sossobriety.org/relapse.htm.
General Relapse Factors
Emotions and Feelings: below are some the more common emotions which can cause relapse.
Good Emotional States !
It is often forgotten that excessive emotional highs can be a threat to ones sobriety. It is possible that when one is very happy or exuberant over an event or celebrating a success, that our association of alcohol/drugs with such a feelings and situations can overwhelm us and lead us back to taking that first drink or drug in the relapse process. We have associated drinking/using with reward and pleasure and we must make sure we are not taken by surprise in positive situations also. Be warned that holidays are especially dangerous times, like Xmas, birthdays and summer vacations.
Sudden Urges and Cravings- these can seem to arise like a thunderbolt from a clear blue sky. When everything appears to be going well in sobriety, you are suddenly confronted by a sudden urge or craving for alcohol/drugs. Then you have to « close the gap » and make the emotional/feeling connection that alcohol/drugs = pain. Practice this as part of your relapse prevention programme. Simulate an imaginary relapse situation and then rekindle a really painful physical and psychological consequence of drinking/using in your past. Remember also, that the more you put yourself in behaviours, situations and thought patterns linked to your past addictive behaviour, the more likely are these thunderbolts to become a storm !
General Relapse Factors
Emotions and Feelings: below are some the more common emotions which can cause relapse.
Good Emotional States !
It is often forgotten that excessive emotional highs can be a threat to ones sobriety. It is possible that when one is very happy or exuberant over an event or celebrating a success, that our association of alcohol/drugs with such a feelings and situations can overwhelm us and lead us back to taking that first drink or drug in the relapse process. We have associated drinking/using with reward and pleasure and we must make sure we are not taken by surprise in positive situations also. Be warned that holidays are especially dangerous times, like Xmas, birthdays and summer vacations.
Sudden Urges and Cravings- these can seem to arise like a thunderbolt from a clear blue sky. When everything appears to be going well in sobriety, you are suddenly confronted by a sudden urge or craving for alcohol/drugs. Then you have to « close the gap » and make the emotional/feeling connection that alcohol/drugs = pain. Practice this as part of your relapse prevention programme. Simulate an imaginary relapse situation and then rekindle a really painful physical and psychological consequence of drinking/using in your past. Remember also, that the more you put yourself in behaviours, situations and thought patterns linked to your past addictive behaviour, the more likely are these thunderbolts to become a storm !