There is a very extensive list of the symptoms that can come just before a relapse in a recovering alcoholic. These symptoms are not always easy to recognize, and are warnings that you are in jeopardy of picking up again. Having many or just a few of the symptoms can indicate that you are very close to a relapse, and a relapse can mean a one day outing, or it can mean never going back to sobriety at all, depending on the individual.
Signs of Impending Relapse - The Initial Phase
1. You can't manage your feelings and emotions. Overreaction emotionally to situations that don't warrant that kind of reaction, or becoming emotionally numb. The result of not being able to manage these feelings are mood swings, depression, fear and anxiety.
2. You Can't Sleep - Either you can't sleep, or you wake up many times during the night. Lack of sleep agitates your emotions and may cause you too feel less competent.
3. You Can't Manage Stress - This results in constant tension. You feel like you are on sensory overload and you just can't handle it.
4. You have Difficulty Remembering Things - The big drawback to memory loss is it can affect your decision making, resulting in decisions you would not have made if parts of your memory had not been blocked.
5. Your Physical Coordination is Off - Clumsiness is a very common symptom after you stop drinking, especially in the beginning of sobriety. Some people also suffer from dizziness or slow reflexes, and have trouble with their balance too.
6. Feeling Guilt or Shame - Being an alcoholic and all the unwanted situations and behavior that arises with this particular disease can cause the alcoholic to feel less than, or to feel that they are defective in some way. That ties into the feelings of shame and guilt, possibly because of some past upsetting situation(s) that came about as a result of drinking.
Shame and guilt can spiral into that feeling of hopelessness. And hopelessness is a major trigger, because feeling that everything is hopeless will lead the recovering alcoholic into the mental reverie of "What's the Use? Things are never going to work out." And those thoughts of defeat and hopelessness are the thoughts that will lead the alcoholic to throw in the towel and pick up another drink.
