In this situation, it’s a good idea to have a plan to follow.
Make a commitment
Right away, make a commitment to yourself that no matter how you feel, you will stay clean and sober for the next 24 hours. After drinking, using other drugs or gambling, you might feel like giving up completely, so this step is important.
Be honest
Tell people you trust that you have had a slip. You could tell your AA or NA group, your sponsor, your counsellor or your parents. You’ll need the support these people can offer, and if you don’t tell them about your slip, they can’t help you. If you’re honest at this point, that one slip could stop there, and not turn into many more!
Learn from your mistakes
A slip could mean you need to strengthen your recovery plan. Find a quiet place and review this plan to help you figure out what needs to be changed. Do some self-reflection; you probably have the answer inside yourself. Ask your counsellor, family, friends and sponsor what they think. Ask them what they notice that is different about you since you haven’t been drinking, using other drugs or gambling.
Focus on what works
You are the expert on your life. Once you understand the solution, put it into action. Maybe it’s to go to more support meetings, talk about your feelings more often, review your goals, or hang around with supportive friends. Whatever works for you, DO IT. It’s easy to feel discouraged after a setback, but many people who have experienced setbacks were able to pick themselves up and carry on. You can too.
People who have a setback and keep moving forward are more likely to succeed than those who make no plans at all.
There’s nothing wrong with a mistake as long as you learn from it.
