What happens if you respond to a trigger and have a drink?

First, you should recognize that alcoholism is a chronic disease. The good news is that you can manage it. Should you slip and have a drink, you still can make a choice for wellness. It is possible to prevent a slip from becoming a major relapse. Your counselors and support groups can help you to get back on track.

Second, don't get caught in the "all or none" belief trap. A slip—or relapse—in your abstinence does not mean there is no hope for recovery. Feelings of failure can lead quickly to a downward spiral. So, if you do take a drink, don't let it become your reason for taking the next drink, and the next. Turn your slip into a learning experience—what was the situation, what would have been a better coping strategy?

Third, stick with your treatment plan. It is a crucial time to involve your doctors, counselors, self-help group, and support network of friends and family. And, if you are taking a medication like Campral, stay with it. It may help you regain your abstinence.

If you do have a full-blown relapse and revert to your earlier behavior patterns, remember that recovery is a journey towards wellness. Do not let shame or despair prevent you from getting help. You've had some success, whether it was measured in weeks, or months, or years. Use that knowledge to build on your determination to begin again. If medication had not been part of your initial treatment plan, you might do well to consider it.