Gray Mater Does Matter When It Comes to Relapse

 I read an interesting book, simply titled Addiction (https://www.amazon.com/Addiction-Cant-They-Just-Stop/dp/B00196WFDY). I wish I had read it back when I kept relapsing and couldn't understand why.

"Unseen is the actual biochemical alteration of the parts of the brain that are necessary for us to make decisions and control our behavior. That's why even when an addict has a strong desire to change their life, what happens next is not as simple as walking into the first AA meeting they find. 'They can't stop because their brain has been changed....'

"'Most people typically have three or four false starts before they're able to successfully maintain a year of sobriety.... That can often take eight or nine years.'"

For me, those eight or nine years might be pretty close. But three or four false starts? I wish!

How far down Recovery Road are you? If you're still driving into the ditch, don't be too hard on yourself. Keep trying to keep your hands on the steering wheel so your alcohol-altered brain stops that craving.