The following is a checklist of symptoms leading to relapse
(taken from a Hazeldon Foundation pamphlet called, "A Look at Relapse")
1. EXHAUSTION - Allowing yourself to become overly tired
or in poor health. Some Alcoholics are also prone to work
addictions - perhaps in a hurry to make up for lost time.
Good health and enough rest are important. If you feel well you
are more apt to think well. Feel poorly and your thinking
is apt to deteriorate. Feel bad enough and you might begin
thinking a drink couldn't make it any worse.
2. DISHONESTY - This begins with a pattern of unnecessary
little lies and deceits with fellow workers, friends, and
family. Then come important lies to yourself. This is
called "rationalizing" - making excuses for not doing what you
don't want to do, or for doing what you know you should not do.
3. IMPATIENCE - Things are not happening fast enough. Or,
others are not doing what they should or what you want them to
do.
4. ARGUMENTATIVENESS - Arguing small and ridiculous
points of view indicates a need to always be right. "Why
don't you be reasonable and agree with me?" Looking for an
excuse to drink?
5. DEPRESSION - Unreasonable and unaccountable despair may
occur in cycles and should be dealt with - talked about.
6. FRUSTRATION - At people and also because things may not be
going your way. Remember -- everything is not going to be just the
way you want it to be.
7. SELF-PITY - "Why do these things happen to me?" "Why
must I be an alcoholic?" Nobody appreciates all I am
doing - for them?
8. COCKINESS - Got it made - no longer fear alcoholism -
going into drinking situations to prove to others you have no
problem. Do this often enough and it will wear down your
defenses.
9. COMPLACENCY - "Drinking was the furthest thing from my
mind." Not drinking was no longer a conscious thought,
either. It is dangerous to let up on disciplines just because
everything is going well. Always to have a little fear is a good thing.
More relapses occur when things are going well than otherwise.
10. EXPECTING TOO MUCH FROM OTHERS - "I've changed; why
hasn't everyone else?" It's a plus if they do, but it is still
your problem if they do not. They may not trust you yet, may
still be looking for further proof. You cannot expect others
to change their style of life just because you have.
11. LETTING UP ON DISCIPLINES - Prayer, meditation, daily
inventory, AA attendance. This can stem either from complacency or
boredom. You cannot afford to be bored with your program. The cost of
relapse is always too great.
12. USE OF MOOD-ALTERING CHEMICALS - You may feel the
need to ease things with a pill, and your doctor may go
along with you. You may never have had a problem with chemicals
other than alcohol, but you can easily lose sobriety starting
this way - about the most subtle way of having a relapse.
Remember you will be cheating! The reverse of his is true for
drug-dependent persons who start to drink.
13. WANTING TOO MUCH - Do not set goals you cannot reach with
normal effort. Do not expect too much. It's always great when good
things you were not expecting happen. You will get what you are entitled
to as long as you do your best, but maybe not as soon as you think you
should. "Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you
have."
14. FORGETTING GRATITUDE - You may be looking negatively on your
life, concentrating on problems that still are not totally corrected. Nobody
wants to be a Pollyanna - but it is good to remember where you started
from, and how much better life is now.
15. "IT CAN'T HAPPEN TO ME" - This is dangerous thinking.
Almost anything can happen to you if you get careless.
Remember you have a progressive disease, and you will be in
worse shape if you relapse.
16. OMNIPOTENCE - This is a feeling that results from a
combination of many of the above. You now have all the
answers for yourself and others. No one can tell you anything.
You ignore suggestions or advice from others. Relapse is
probably imminent unless drastic change takes place.