Dallas Bragg says after a relapse, look for any reduction in use—less often, fewer days, fewer people involved—and call it a win. Repeat this to yourself to build momentum toward recovery instead of drowning in shame.
Guys, to get out of the relapse cycle, sometimes you have to muscle your way into appreciation and gratitude. The way out of feeling shame and guilt is to feel the opposite, which is empowerment. To feel empowerment, you have to zero in on your wins, no matter how small. Look at your last relapse and ask a question. What can I say is a win? Did I use less? Did I use for less days? Did I fuck less men? What? What is it that I can dial into and say, this is what I am grateful for, this is what I appreciate about this last relapse experience? Anchor into that, stand on that, repeat it over and over and over until you feel appreciation and gratitude for the direction you're headed, which is out of addiction. Get ready to succeed, I'm telling you.
