What is something you consider to be a relapse than most others do not? Or vice versa?

Honestly it’s pretty clear to me, I know what being fucked up feels like. If it’s something that is non-psychoactive, like tiramisu..., I’m not going to consider that a “relapse”. Clearly, I ate desert and went home not “triggered the disease” and hit the crack spot.

It’s about intention and purpose, for example I wouldn’t consider taking flying to South America and taking ayahuasca in the rainforest to be a “relapse”, not that I have done it. Clearly the purpose is not to get “wasted” or “party” and it’s not like you would do it again and again compulsive. Flying to sa to buy $20 8 balls and locking yourself in a hotel room is a little different.

I take CBD that has .3% THC, for pain relief. It has zero psychological effects like weed. I don’t consider it a drug and honestly don’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks about it, they are ignorant if they disagree lol

You can get NyQuil (liquid) without alcohol in it! But, I wouldn't consider that as a relapse. That's crazy that people avoid vodka sauce, ice cream, etc.

If I were to start cutting again. Even once. Before treatment and for about the first six months the urge was strong and I refused to let myself slip. Sometimes I still get the urge, but to me it would be the same as drinking

I think the Nyquil caps don't contain alcohol, so I would opt for that since it's an exact replacement for the liquid. Same with Listerine - there's an alcohol-free substitute, might as well take that instead.

I also don't drink kombucha or kava, though both are super popular with the sober community in my city.

For me my program extends to sexual behavior, but I have two clean dates. I can ruin my life just as much from compulsive sexual habits just like drugs can. I opened up to sponsor and the group about overconsumption of porn and masturbation.

If I have a major slip up in that area, it feels like I should reset because I use it like drugs, but sponsor says to just apply the program to it.

Anyone else?

I'm on round the clock Morphine from injuries passing out on Fentanyl.

Feel like a walking contradiction, really.

My general rule of thumb is intentionally using anything to change the way you feel emotionally. Physical pain is an acceptable reason to use NyQuil or any other flu remedy as recommended.

I am a recovering cutter. My first two years clean I continued to self injure. To stop it I finally told myself I could not continue being clean harming myself that way. 21 years later (23 years clean last Thursday!) and I am 21 years clean from cutting.

Yes, I would take a white keytag from cutting.

I'm prescribed a low dose of vyvanse for ADHD. I take it as prescribed, just on weekdays. It helps me get my work done but there's nothing enjoyable about it. In fact I'm probably going to explore non-stimulant medications because I can't stand the side effects (jaw tension, difficulty sleeping, irritability, anxiety). I definitely still consider myself to be sober. For me it's about whether I'm using as an escape. Being able to treat my ADHD has, if anything, aided my recovery because I'm better able to work on my issues with avoidance and checking out.

I had a bit of a cough in December. I took a swig of NyQuil. The next two days I had another swig. I knew it was risky because I remember I asked myself if I was only taking this for my cough or other reasons. I think we can become more and more self-aware in recovery so that we know, personally, what behaviours are risky.

I avoid anything has the potential to alter my state of mind. While I agree, in theory, that a relapse has a lot to do with motive and intent, I personally don't want to risk triggering the allergy.

I'm allergic to a number of foods that are very, very difficult to avoid in the event that I have to eat out somewhere (which is often, for my job). Kratom helps with the intestinal pain more than anything else I've tried, and, as others have mentioned with other substances pain relief IS the intent, not feeling "high," so I will continue to use it.

I have post traumatic stress disorder from sexual abuse and occasionally have extreme panic attacks or sleeplessness. In extreme cases I take a very small dose of klonopin. I see a regular psychiatrist and therapist. This is not something I would share at a meeting or with AA/NA friends I don't completely trust because as important as AA / recovery is in my life I do have mental health issues that I need to take care of through the help of a doctor. I'm also on daily non narcotic anxiety medication that's been a major improvement.

I avoid anything that contains alcohol. If I took Nyquil because it contained alcohol, that would be a relapse. Consuming anything that contains the poison which almost ruined my life is just too risky.

Very interesting question. I think it depends on the person and the intent. My opinion would be that those OTC meds or taking 3 benadryl instead of the called for 2 wouldn't call for going back to day 1. However I would think of that and similar actions as high risk behavior- a sort of physical way of slipping in my recovery the same as we may feel mentally if we stop calling our sponsor, stop attending groups, not expressing our emotions and bottling them up etc. and need to be evaluated and treated as quickly and thoroughly as if there has already been a relapse.

I won't drink kombucha but some people do.

How much time do you have?