Relapse versus remission blog post converted into a PDF file. Please share if you find it interesting.

1. Relapse Versus Remission
Written by Andrey Rossin
It’s pretty common to hear thatsomeone fell off the
wagon. Usually it’s called relapse, and the relapse rate
among those in recovery is, according to some sources
—very high. This may, however, be misleading, similar
to the way weight-loss statistics among the obese are
misleading. The central question is this: how many of the obese—or those attempting to recover from
alcohol/drug abuse—are really participating in their recovery? Or are they simply looking for a magic
bullet: a pill or an idea that will remove their problem?
Statistics on recovery that are skewed toward the negative seem to imply that the recovery model is
flawed, but that’s akin to saying a bicycle is flawed because it doesn’t pedal for you on steep hills. You
have to work to get results, and work doesn’t mean simply going to recovery meetings—that’s just
socializing. Meetings are great, but they won’t solve the problem. It’s like going to the gym: You can
get a membership, buy new sneakers and a nice outfit, and chat with the ripped guy at the weight rack,
but after hours of conversing about different muscle groups you still won’t have accomplished any real
work.
So, it’s critical to get informed and then follow up with the real work in order to get real results. This
holds true for recovery just as it does for physical training. Recovery is a process, and it requires
commitment, effort, and persistence. Once you get clear-cut directions (and they’re readily available)
and commit to a course of action and then follow through with your commitment, the desire to drink or
use will be removed. In its absence there opens up a new freedom and a new happiness that previously
seemed unattainable but which are in fact the inevitable product of a life based on spiritual principles.