Here we are on the last day of Module 5. This perhaps is a great turning point for you. After over 30 days of sobriety you are beginning to learn to habits, patterns, and are getting more comfortable in your skin. Let’s review the main points in each of the 6 lessons this week on relapse and recurrence.
Day 1 – What is Relapse or Recurrence?
- This is making a choice to go back into using behavior of alcohol or other drugs. It may be a slip back into using our drug of choice. Recurrence is the body adjusting to the physical and mental symptoms of newly found sobriety. Many physicians are encouraging people to see addiction as a medical condition, one that needs treatment. As a society we are working to get past the negative stigmas of people wrestling with addiction and give love and support. That is what we all need.
- Johann Hari’s Ted Talk gave us some new insight into what addiction is and is not. He says the opposite of addiction is not sobriety but connection. It could also be said that the opposite of addiction is not physical sobriety alone. Emotional sobriety and a support system are a real part of abstinence and healing.
- Managing on Life’s terms talked about being humble and making the next right decision.
- The suggested action for day 1 was to make a To Do Checklist. This can be very effective in helping you stay on track as your life gets organized.
Day 2 – Identifying Personal Triggers
- Triggers can be the people, places, things, emotions, or conditions that set us off onto a path to use.
- Riding the wave of negative emotions instead of being driven by them gives strength and perspective to see these emotions as part of learning. Staying calm through the storm!
- The acronym H. A. L. T. This is where you can be most vulnerable to relapse. When you are getting to the end of your rope and feeling fed up, ask yourself these important questions.
Hungry – Are you hungry?
Angry – Are you angry?
Lonely – Are you lonely?
Tired – Are you tired?
- There are various ways to prevent yourself from falling into relapse including
Reducing stress
Staying away from old hangouts and neighborhoods (changing the people, places, and things in your life).
Not being overconfident in your sobriety!! You can be sober for 30 days, great. Can you be sober for 365 days?
Be humble and redirect when being pulled sideways!!
- The tendency to transfer addictions. People put a stop to using one addictive substance or behavior and then transfer it to another substance or behavior. You want to get to the root of addiction and allow it to be taken out of your life completely!!
- Step 10 A.A. – Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Day 3 – The Truth About STI’s (Sexually Transmitted Infections).
- No one wants an STI!!
- There is an emotional and personal responsibility that goes with human sexuality.
- Common STI’s are
Syphilis
Herpes
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
HPU (Human Papilloma Virus)
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
- Majority of infections are people between the ages of 15-25.
- Best prevention is abstinence and barrier protection.
- Symptoms of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
Burning sensation during urination or discharge from the penis or vagina.
- Symptoms of Syphilis.
Ulcer at cite of infection. More advanced is a rash. For women, ulcers can be unseen inside the vagina.
- Testing involves urine tests for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea and blood test for Syphilis.
- Important to know that symptoms may be asymptomatic, not showing symptoms, but you can still be a carrier of the disease.
Day 4 – Being Strong and Vulnerable
- This lesson is about strength of character and having a tender heart beating beneath the armor of our defenses or exterior.
- Lessons from Stu Weber, author of Tender Warrior.
- Vulnerability and Leadership – invest in putting your best foot forward and gaining tools to communicate effectively.
- Brenee Brown Video on Vulnerability
Being worthy of love
Living whole-hearted lives
She herself needed therapy to come into the wisdom of vulnerability
- Numbing the Good and the Bad – this topic explored the proven principle from her research that you cannot selectively numb emotions. What does this mean? It means you may want to numb the “negative emotions” like anger, resentment, fear, and betrayal, by medicating or running away. But you will also numb the joy, happiness, trust, and gratitude in the process.
Day 5 – Prayer and Meditation
- Step 11 A.A. – Sought through prayer and mediation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
- This conscious contact with God helps us realize our limitation and enables us to
Reach out for help
Let go of bad fruit and behavior
Be willing to receive good fruit
- Prayer – is talking to God
- Meditation – is us listening to God.
- Utilizing spiritual disciplines as tools for general well-being as well as for specific purposes in specific situations.
Day 6 – Hobbies That Heal
This lesson went through some of the benefits of various hobbies and activities that enhance well-being and connectivity with others. Some people let go of hobbies or activities they are passionate about because of work or family needs. Yet, these activities bring joy and balance into a person’s life. Picking these activities back up, or exploring new ones can be uplifting and healing to mind, body, and soul.
- Included suggestions to engage in and explore included:
Cooking
Journaling
Hiking
Drawing/Coloring and
Music
- Try one of these hobbies or another one that comes to mind. Some may be just for you in moments of quiet reflection like journaling. Others, like music or hiking may connect you with others. Ask a friend or look for a community club that has a similar interest as you do and reach out!!
Conclusion Module 5
This module has gone through various aspects of engaging in and strengthening a healthy and stable lifestyle. By developing vital life tools one can avoid and bounce back from relapsing into patterns that bring bad fruit. We have all at times found ourselves having gone down the wrong path. Gratefully, there is renewal in recovery! Your mind and body can truly be renewed and revitalized. Your commitment to abstinence from using drugs and alcohol and the good work you are doing in becoming emotionally sober I’m sure is already paying off! Remember the illustration of changing your direction by 1 degree and walking that out over time? Look how far you have already come. Can you see yourself back there when you started this Educational Series and journey in sobriety? Can you imagine how far you could go continuing in this direction? Congratulations on total success in your sobriety and recovery from addiction and may grace and blessings fill your whole life.
***Each of these daily lessons are designed to be complete lessons within themselves. They are also connected to the lessons and modules as a whole throughout this Educational Series. ***
Study Tip – All of the lessons you have unlocked each day are available to go back and review. Go back into any lesson in any of the previous modules and read through the materials, watch the videos, or access the links in the Helpful Links section at the end of each day’s lesson.
Question for Reflection: Are you sharing your experiences through these lessons with others—a facilitator, mentor, sponsor, friend, spouse? Are you getting positive feedback? What is one positive message you are receiving from someone else about this work?
Helpful Links
STD Check
https://www.stdcheck.com/anonymous-notification.php
Brenee Brown (book), Daring Greatly, on understanding shame, and becoming whole-hearted.
Stu Weber (book), Tender Warrior
Psalm 23 – Guided Meditation