RELAPSE WARNINGS SIGNS
Many people new in recovery and some that have been around for awhile may believe that relapse is an event. In other words, they believe that JUST all of a sudden they gambled after having some period of abstinence. The fact is that relapse is a process. This means that before a person returns to gambling there are warning signs. These warning signs show up in one's behavior, attitude, thinking, or feelings and can show up in all four at once. Therefore, it is important to incorporate in your recovery a way of monitoring your relapse warning signs so that you can prevent yourself from progressing through the phases and ultimately returning to your addiction. Most useful is to take a daily inventory or doing a nightly check-off of the relapse warning signs and then incorporate a strategy to work your way out of the phase that you may be in. It is important to know that it is possible to go from one phase to the last phase, where gambling has begun, in a short period of time.
"A day in which a compulsive gambler does not gamble is a good day. A day in which a compulsive gambler does not gamble when their head tell them to, is a GREAT day." Tony J. (modified for compulsive gambling)
PHASE 1(Internal Change) during this phase you look good on the outside.
1. Increased stress
2. Change in thinking: you begin to feel that your recovery program is not as important as it used to be. Begin to feel that you don't need to put forth as much effort now that things seem ok, or the program doesn't seem to help so you say "why bother."
3. Change in feeling: start having unpleasant feelings that you don't like, like things are going your way when you know they aren't. Feeling depressed, like nothing is working out.
4. Change in Behavior
PHASE 2 (Denial) you stop telling others what you honestly are feeling or thinking.
5. Worrying about yourself: you feel uneasy about the changes in your thinking, feelings and behavior. You feel afraid that you won't be able to remain bet-free but don't want to think or talk about it.
6. Denying that you're worried
PHASE 3 (Avoidance and Defensiveness) you avoid anyone/anything that will force you to be honest about you.
7. Believing I'll never gamble again: over confidence
8. Worrying about others instead of yourself
9. Defensiveness
10. Compulsive Behavior
11. Impulsive Behavior
12. Tendencies toward loneliness: start feeling uncomfortable around
others and start spending more time alone.
PHASE 4 (Crisis Building) you start having problem in ‘sobriety’.
12. Tunnel Vision
13. Minor Depression
14. Loss of Constructive Planning
15. Plans begin to fail: tend to overreact and mismanage each problem in a way that creates a bigger problem.
PHASE 5 (Immobilization) you begin to feel trapped or can't get started doing what you know you need to do.
16. Daydreaming and wishful thinking
17. Feeling that nothing can be solved
18. Immature wish to be happy: have a vague desire to be happy or have things work out but don't set up any plans to make those things happen. Wishing magically that something will happen to rescue you from your problems.
PHASE 6 (Confusion and Overreaction) you have trouble thinking clearly, irritable and tend to overreact.
19. Difficulty in thinking clearly
20. Difficulty in managing feelings and emotions
21. Difficulty in remembering things
22. Periods of confusion
23. Difficulty in managing stress
24. Irritation with friends
25. Easily angered
PHASE 7 (Depression) you stop doing the things you usually do. You think life is not worth living.
26. Irregular Eating habits
27. Lack of desire to take action
28. Difficulty sleeping restfully
29. Loss of daily structure
30. Periods of deep depression
PHASE 8 (Behavior - Loss of Control) you are out of control but not willing to admit it.
31. Irregular attendance at GA or treatment meetings
32. An “I don't care” attitude
33. Open rejection of help
34. Dissatisfaction with life
35. Feeling of powerlessness and helplessness
PHASE 9 (Recognition of Loss of Control) you realize how severe your problems are, but have become so isolated that you feel there is no one to turn to.
36. Difficulty with physical coordination and accidents
37. Self-pity
39. Thoughts of “social” gambling
40. Conscious lying
41. Complete loss of self-confidence
PHASE 10 (Option Reduction) you feel no one can help you and that there are only three options; insanity, suicide or “self-medication” with gambling.
42. Unreasonable resentments
43. Discontinue all treatment or GA
44. Overwhelming loneliness, frustration, anger, and tension.
45. Loss of behavioral control
PHASE 11 (Compulsive Gambling) you return to gambling, try to control it but once again you realize your addiction is destroying your life.
46. Attempting control use
47. Disappointment, shame, guilt
48. Loss of control: problem use begins
49. Life and health problem
The Simple Approach to the 12 Steps!
Step 1: There's a power that will kill me.
Step 2: There's a power that wants me to live.
Step 3: Which do I want? (If you want to die, stop here. If you want to live, go on.)
Step 4: Using examples from your own life, understand that selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear control your actions.
Step 5: Tell all your private, embarrassing secrets to another person.
Step 6: Decide whether or not you want to live that way any more.
Step 7: If you want your life to change, ask a power greater than yourself to change it for you. (If you could have changed it yourself, you would have long ago.)
Step 8: Figure out how to make right all the things you did wrong.
Step 9: Fix what you can without causing more trouble in the process.
Step 10: Understand that making mistakes is part of being human (When you make a mistake, fix it, immediately if you can.)
Step 11: Ask for help to treat yourself and others the way you want your higher power to treat you.
Step 12: Don't stop doing 1 through 11, and PASS IT ON!!
-Author Unknown
Other Helpful 'Relapse' Links
1. Relapse Prevention - Dual Recovery Anon
2. Eating Disorder signs
3. AA Relapse Warning Signs
4. Alcohol/Drugs Relapse Symptoms List
5. Relapse Questions
6. Identifying Relapse Warning Signs
7. Addiction and Relapse
8. Mistaken Beliefs About Relapse
9. Create Recovery Plan
10. Warning sign Identification
srcp99 links
SE MI AA calendar
Warren's Handouts - Origins 031502 8pgs.doc
Treatment & Typology Model.doc
Jacobs Abuse & Neglect Protocol 031502 6pgs.doc
20 Survival Questions for GA Members (mi4/20sqs)
Step 1 pdf
Step 4 pdf (CDs vs CAs)
workbookIntro.pdf
workbookchapterone.pdf
My Relapse Prevention Plan pdf
workbookchapterfourteen.pdf
AADAC'S Relapse Prevention website
AA steps vs Couselors version
