I thought that Demi Lovato was really brave to release that
song last month about her relapse.
In my world, relapses are usually first revealed privately to one trusted person, then afterward, to a group, in the confidential confines of a 12-step meeting.
I read Demi's lyrics out loud to Scottie and his daughter, Nora the
night the song was released:
“Momma, I am so sorry, I’m not sober anymore/And daddy
please forgive me for the drinks spilled on the floor. To the ones who never left me we've been down this road before. I'm so sorry I'm not sober anymore…”
Wow.
When I first got sober, a relapse packed all of the horror
and mystery of the boogey man.
“Did you hear about so and so?” We would whisper to one
another. “She (or he) seemed like they were doing so 'well.' Do you know what happened….?"
We “newcomers” (those with less than thirty days sober) would
huddle closer together in our meetings, scared of getting picked off in the
night by this insidious disease (I picture the hooded grim reaper, complete
with sickle) and losing the one thing we had been told that no one could ever take
away from us — our sobriety date.
But over and over again, people that I knew -- people who’d
taken chips for 30, 60, 90 days sober were back in meetings (usually in tears)
standing up to collect a newcomer chip again — some more than once.
Why?
Before I knew anything about recovery, before I’d ever heard
of AA, I remember being fascinated with celebrity relapses. In fact, I kept a file of People Magazine
articles about celebrities who re-entered treatment programs for “exhaustion" or — my favorite explanation to be suspicious of — “maintenance," months or years after
getting sober.
Maintenance, eh?
Right.
It smacked of dishonesty and cover up to me.
I tried to read between the lines of those articles and get
the real story. I think even then, I was
trying to get the secret to preventing my own relapse. Even then, I was so scared of this disease that already had me in its grips, but had not yet consumed me. If I had this thing (and I did and do), then I
wanted to know precisely how, when the time came, to beat it.
But (not surprisingly) the answers to why people relapse weren’t in those People
Magazine articles. In truth, (and in my opinion) there may not be an answer at
all.
I’ll take a 10-year cake in two weeks, if all goes according
to plan. But before I ever got sober, I
had many, many, many failed attempts at quitting (for good). I know all too well the pain of swearing off (publicly and privately) and hating my image in the mirror because one more time, I'd found myself with a bottle in my hand. And although I haven’t had to change my
sobriety date, I know that the feeling of "picking up" again — for me it was one of desperate defeat, followed immediately by an overwhelming sense of incomprehensible demoralization. My instinct now, is to do whatever I can to "help" anyone who may be headed for a relapse. I'm afraid to give them the dignity of their own experience. I'm afraid, that like so many others, they may not make it back.
But a surprising truth that I've learned over the past few years, is that some of the people I admire the most in recovery have had to change their sobriety dates due to
relapse. Some more than once. Some several times. I love these people. I am extremely grateful for them on a daily basis and know for sure that my life and recovery would not be the same without them.
And isn't it also true that I am "playing God" when I try to "protect" someone I love from the pain and shame of relapse? And if I'm honest, I'm also trying to protect myself from the pain of potential loss, right?
And isn't it also true that I am "playing God" when I try to "protect" someone I love from the pain and shame of relapse? And if I'm honest, I'm also trying to protect myself from the pain of potential loss, right?
So now, as I’m leading new women, (wide-eyed and usually shame-filled) through the beginning steps of our program, I try to also remember these admirable men and women who have relapsed and then come "back," willing to go to any lengths for their sobriety.
These new women are (like I was) terrified of relapse. Each time someone "goes out" (or relapses) they ask, (frantically) "How could this happen?!" But I think what they're really asking is:
"How can I keep this from happening to me?"
And I usually tell them something along the lines of, "Try not to take it too personally. Sometimes people just aren't ready. And there's nothing to be done until they are."
These new women are (like I was) terrified of relapse. Each time someone "goes out" (or relapses) they ask, (frantically) "How could this happen?!" But I think what they're really asking is:
"How can I keep this from happening to me?"
And I usually tell them something along the lines of, "Try not to take it too personally. Sometimes people just aren't ready. And there's nothing to be done until they are."
Demi Lovato announced her relapse to the world in June and
then this past Tuesday was taken by ambulance (after an apparent heroin overdose) to
get medical help. But ironically (and,
again, in my opinion), it is possible that this whole, horrible ordeal may the very
thing that helps her the most (and much more sustainably, by the way, than the double
dose of Narcan, she no doubt received at the hospital).
I have had to learn this incredibly painful lesson in recovery -- that there
is sometimes no better teacher then the humiliation of utter defeat. Sometimes priorities can shift after one of
these lessons, and it can become very clear to the defeated (me) what is truly
important (my life, my family, the people I love) and what, albeit painfully, must be left behind (drugs, booze and an extremely self-centered way of living).
So when someone relapses, you don't have to be so quick to assume the absolute worst. It doesn’t mean that
they’re doomed to failure. It doesn’t
mean that they’re not “strong enough”.
And it certainly doesn’t mean that 12-step programs don’t work. Sometimes a relapse can provide the measure of
desperation that is required (for those of us afflicted with this disease) to really look at ourselves and at the impact that we have had on other people. And then possibly, to live a happy, peaceful, useful life — one day at a time, of course.
“There is sometimes no better teacher then the humiliation of utter defeat.“ So, so true, Laura. Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom (or find out that it was a trampoline this whole time we spent fearing that place) to bounce back. Love your writing as always and an early congrats on 10 years! Keep on being awesome!
ReplyDeleteIf you're not in recovery or living with or loving someone who is, it's difficult to truly see addiction as a disease. Those without addiction in their lives often see relapse as a failure instead of an act of depression or desperation or gripping fear. We've all made choices in times like that; they just don't always carry the weight of the choices of someone in recovery. It's not possible to walk a mile in the shoes of someone in recovery if you're not, you can listen, and be a shoulder, and be as empathetic as possible but you can't know what it's like. All you can do is love without judgement, and that's not always easy. Thank you for sharing in a way that helps everyone understand a piece of a world not everyone is part of! As you approach your 10 year date, I wish for you the continued fierce persistence, resolution, strength, grace, and love that drives you each day.
ReplyDeleteThank you--it is so true and it took me years as someone who is the mother of a recovering addict to deeply understand this. It is still a painful realization, but I also know I'm not helping someone when trying to rescue them. Thanks again for this powerful piece of writing!
ReplyDeleteSuch a meaningful piece to me. I have people in recovery who I love so much that I am always standing in a place of fear that something might trigger them back. It's all about losing them for me. I suppose you can lose them to the addiction or just lose them if the overdose. It's frightening to know so little about the road an addict must navigate so I appreciate this incite very deeply. Living in a place of fear is not living. I am so thrilled that you are almost at your 10 year mark Laura. You are an inspiration to all of us. Stellar piece. <3
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