Understanding Lapses and Relapses: A Perspective on Sobriety

When it comes to the journey of sobriety, most people often confuse a lapse with a relapse. The two are distinctly different, and understanding this difference can be crucial in the journey towards recovery. In fact, it’s key to maintaining a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle and achieving success on the path towards sobriety.

A lapse, simply put, is a momentary slip or mistake. It’s that one off-day where after achieving 60 days of sobriety, you have a drink. This is not to be confused with a relapse which is more severe and involves returning to the old pattern of drinking, essentially reversing your progress.

A lapse does not necessarily lead to a relapse unless the individual allows the lapse to turn into one.

The problem arises when individuals start to berate themselves after experiencing a lapse. They create guilt and shame, often resorting to negative self-talk, and this leads to a perception that they have relapsed.

This belief is often so strong that the individual convinces themselves that they have indeed reversed their progress. This self-inflicted guilt and anxiety sometimes become so overwhelming that it pushes the person to seek solace in the very thing they are trying to avoid — alcohol.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Understanding that a lapse is merely a single day out of 60 or more sober days can help to shift the perspective. It’s crucial to treat lapses as minor setbacks, not major failures, and simply move on.

At Beyond Sober, we emphasize the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and teaching strategies to effectively handle lapses in the journey towards recovery.

Moreover, it’s essential to remember that everyone’s journey through sobriety is unique, and setbacks are a normal part of the process. It’s about realizing that you haven’t lost anything, but rather gained a lot during your days of being sober.

It’s about understanding that you’re not stepping backwards but rather moving forward, and this minor hiccup does not define your journey. At Sober Not Sober, we provide a supportive community where people can share their experiences and learn from each other, fostering a constructive environment for overcoming setbacks.

In conclusion, the journey to sobriety is often a challenging one, filled with ups and downs. Understanding lapses and relapses can make this journey a bit easier.

Above all, maintaining a positive self-image and focusing on the progress made, instead of the setbacks, can significantly impact the overall recovery experience.

-Kohdi