“The ten year member was frustrated as the returning members kept sharing that they had “relapsed, again.” He shared that his initial attempts to get sober in AA failed. He was Clear that he did not relapse, “I had not done anything in AA that changed my mind or spiritual condition. If I do not move forward, it is impossible to fall backwards.”
.. there is a saying used in twelve-step programs and in most treatment centers that “Relapse is part of recovery.” It’s another dangerous slogan that is based on a myth, and it only gives people permission to relapse because that think that when they do, they are on the road to recovery.”
— Chris Prentiss
They had said that though I did raise a defense, it would one day give way before some trivial reason for having a drink. […] what I had learned of alcoholism did not occur to me at all.
— Page 42 Big Book
