I relapsed, now what?

Your story sounds like so many others. Because addiction is a progressive disease, after a protracted abstinence one does not pick up where they left off drinking, but pick up drinking the quantity they would have had they never stopped.

After a DUI, rehabs and AA meetings and you still ignored all the relapse signs and didn't call anyone to help you get through, what could have been a rough patch but now is a full-blown relapse and you will likely need to be medically detoxed. This decision was your choice, and it sounds like "your to good to be true fiancé " will learn that addiction has no cure, not even ultimatums. You my friend, on the other hand may have made an impulsive decision that could cause long term consequences, now that you've reintroduced alcohol to your system. Your relationship, your job and your life is at stake.

I hope you have a chance to learn the recovery skills of sobriety as the "demons" are waiting for another opportunity to destroy your life. Best to meet this head-on with the ugly truth that you can't control your use and your fiancé can't be your baby-sitter. Now she has the concerns of her mother on her mind and will come home to the nightmare invading her relationship. I'm sure she is already concerned that something is wrong, but the lies have already began.

People find it very difficult to stay clean for something or someone else. Sobriety, like happiness, is an inside job; you have to want it for yourself.

Do the next right thing!

Jeannie Cameron, LMHC, CAP

Naples, FL