Confidential
Substance Abuse
Chemical Dependence
Mental Health
Workplace Issues
American Society
for the
Prevention of Suicide:
800-
Jack's Top Ten Relapse Dangers.
1. Being in the presence of drugs or alcohol, drug or alcohol users, or places where you used or bought chemicals...ESPECIALLY in the first 12 -
2. Feelings we perceive as negative, particularly anger; also shame, sadness, loneliness, guilt, fear, and anxiety. Share these with recovering friends. It helps dissipate the negative component of the emotion.
3. Positive feelings that make you want to celebrate. (We can't effectively handle too much of a good OR bad thing.)
4. Boredom.
5. Using ANY mood altering drug recreationally.
6. Physical pain.
7. Listening to war stories from when we were using (most dangerous in the first 12 -
8.Winning the lottery (any sudden, unexpected financial "windfall")
9. Using prescription drugs that can get you high without appropriate controls (like having your sponsor or significant other keep them between doses).
10. Believing that you no longer have to worry (complacent). That is, you are no longer stimulated to crave drugs/alcohol by any of the above situations, or by anything else – and therefore maybe it’s safe for you to use occasionally.
Relapse Attitudes and Behaviors.
SOBRIETY IS BORING
I’LL NEVER DRINK/USE AGAIN
I CAN DO IT MYSELF
MY PROBLEMS AREN'T BECAUSE I DRINK/USE...THEY ARE WHY I DRINK/USE
I WISH I WAS HAPPY
I DON’T CARE
IF NOBODY ELSE CARES, WHY SHOULD I?
THINGS HAVE CHANGED
THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT
I CAN’T CHANGE THE WAY I THINK
IF I MOVE, EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE (The "geographical" cure)
I LIKE MY OLD FRIENDS (who still drink and use drugs)
I CAN DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY
NOBODY NEEDS TO KNOW (or cares) HOW I FEEL
I’M DEPRESSED
I SEE THINGS MY WAY ONLY
I FEEL HOPELESS
I CAN HANDLE IT
IF I HIDE BEHIND EVERYONE ELSE’S PROBLEMS, I WON’T HAVE TO FACE MY OWN
I CAN’T DO IT
WHY TRY?