| Vacations are meant to reduce your stress and give | | | | time". And some of the negative consequences of |
| you a change to recharge your emotional batteries. | | | | drinking or using may not be so obvious. An example is |
| Getting ready for a vacation and getting caught up | | | | that a "slip" can trigger a return to cravings, which of |
| after a vacation can be very stressful, however. Yet, | | | | course increases the probability of continued drinking |
| we generally know and understand that. Sometimes | | | | and sustained relapse. One of the consequences of |
| people in recovery are not aware of, or prepared for | | | | taking the first drink is that it may not be "this one time". |
| the impact of vacation on the vulnerability to relapse. | | | | Some people who relapse are not able to make it |
| When facing the loss of most of one's structure in | | | | back to recovery. |
| situations like vacation or business trips, relapsive | | | | 3. The idea that "no one will know" is part of the |
| thinking can return, even in established, stable recovery. | | | | addictive thinking that kept the disease active all those |
| Relapse thoughts are sneaky and "seemingly | | | | years. Remember when you made promises that you |
| insignificant decisions" can derail recovery easily. | | | | wouldn't drink, found yourself unable to keep those |
| Relapse thoughts that are easy to recognize include | | | | promises, and believed that you could hide it from your |
| some of the below. When planning a vacation or | | | | loved one(s). Even if you could keep it a secret, you |
| business trip that takes you out of your established | | | | would know. You would be carrying around a secret |
| routine and structure, listen to your own "self-talk". Pay | | | | about your addiction. You would return deception back |
| close attention to those ideas that may place you in | | | | to your recovery, after all the work you have done to |
| slippery places, around slippery people, or in slippery | | | | dump those secrets, get honest, find your "true self" |
| activities. | | | | and to stay real in your new life. |
| "No one will know if I drink." | | | | 4. The idea that your recovery is nobody's business |
| "It's nobody's business but my own." | | | | but your own is completely wrong. Think about the |
| "This is a one-time only event." | | | | people who love you and their investment in your |
| "It won't hurt anybody." | | | | recovery. Recall how many hours they waited up for |
| "I work hard; I deserve it." | | | | you, prayed for you, consulted with experts for you, |
| "No one can blame me if I "mistakenly" take an | | | | and worried about you when your recovery was not |
| alcoholic beverage someone gives me." | | | | going so smoothly. Recall the anguish, the tears, and |
| Thoughts that can lead to relapse that are not as | | | | the look of fear on their faces. Think about the people |
| easy to spot include these: | | | | who have invested in you and believed in you-your |
| "I'm on vacation. All-inclusive resorts also serve diet | | | | friends, the people you work with, people in recovery, |
| coke for the same amount as alcoholic beverages. I | | | | your extended family. Your recovery is everyone's |
| don't have to drink alcohol just because it is included in | | | | business who love you and who count on you. |
| the cost." | | | | 5. The notion that drinking or use of drugs is a reward |
| "My friends don't need to know that I am in recovery; | | | | for good behavior is completely backward. Sobriety |
| it's none of their business." | | | | and recovery is the reward for hard work at resisting |
| "I can go to all the same places I used to go to when I | | | | the urge to use, at replacing the chemical with healthy |
| was drinking and using, now that I am sober and it | | | | living skills, at managing your emotions, problems, and |
| won't bother me." | | | | even celebrations in a new life-enhancing way. What |
| These are cognitive distortions that can set up or | | | | you deserve for all your hard work is firmness in the |
| accelerate the relapse process. Relapse justifications | | | | ability to maintain your recovery, regardless of where |
| assume things about addiction and recovery that are | | | | you may go, even in the face of reduced external |
| incorrect. They make the following assumptions:l. Once | | | | structure and less obvious accountability. Drinking or |
| you take that first drink or drug, you can stop. You | | | | using "for reward" is actually a negative consequence |
| may believe that it has been a long enough time since | | | | of not appropriately managing your recovery. |
| you have used, that you can practice control this one | | | | 6. Blame or excuses for relapse are stop-gap |
| time. This idea rests on a couple of notions that are | | | | justifications. You are responsible for your own |
| inconsistent with the nature of addiction. | | | | recovery. You have responsibility for the choices you |
| A) One notion is that control can be re-established or | | | | make. Excuses for bad choices may temporarily get |
| return through abstinence over time. One of the | | | | you off the hook with someone who is basing their |
| hallmarks of alcoholism or other drug addiction is loss | | | | decisions on your behavior, but ultimately those |
| of control. Once you are addicted you cannot regain | | | | excuses will be revealed for what they are-excuses. |
| control. You cannot go back to not being alcoholic or | | | | Family members in recovery have been taught to |
| otherwise addicted. Alcoholics and addicts often | | | | ignore the words and observe the behavior in such |
| believe they still have control long after they have lost | | | | circumstances. They should be able to tell the |
| it. This distorted thinking enables people to continue to | | | | difference by now, between what you say and what |
| drink or use despite the obvious negative | | | | you do and to base their choices on behavior. |
| consequences. Alcoholics and addicts typically "chase | | | | One of the best ways to combat relapsive thinking is |
| an illusion of control" for a very long time before the | | | | to tell yourself the truth each time one of the |
| truth smacks them in the face. If your use was out of | | | | justifications for relapse occurs. The list above is only |
| control in the past, it will be in the future. You cannot go | | | | an example of the kinds of things you can use to |
| back to controlled use (if you ever had it) and not | | | | remind yourself of truths about addiction and recovery. |
| being alcoholic/addicted. | | | | When going on vacation or a business trip, have a |
| B) Another mistaken notion is that the addiction cycle | | | | great time, and remember that you have learned how |
| will not be re-established by a short term relapse. You | | | | to have fun sober. You deserve to come home with |
| may be out of control in this slip or you might not have | | | | your recovery intact. You might even make it a point |
| obvious negative consequences from drinking "this one | | | | to go to some meetings while on your trip. |