# Relapse after 6 years.... I know I'm not alone
**URL:** https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477
**Category:** Relapses
**Tags:** alcohol
**Created:** [September 18, 2026, 7:47am UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477 "2026-09-18T07:47:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Leandra](https://talkingsober.com/u/Leandra)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2026, 7:47am UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/1 "2026-09-18T07:47:19Z")
Hi š Iām new here. This is my first step of action with a a in a while. I was sober for 6 years. Then I drank 5 to 6 bottles of wine in 2 days. I made it 4 days and had two glassesā¦itās day two today. I think ā¦I have to look at the calendar Iām not really being specific. My problem is that the airport lounge for the most part. But just the temptation of doing that is why I started at home and then continued on a trip. Iām not really being hard on myself which is good. But itās hard to start over! I used to have AA meetings all the time where I lived. But now I have to drive an hour to get to an AA meeting. Iām trying to figure something out because the AA meetings are what really help keep me sober. I had a really great sponsor when I started but she died of cancer. I havenāt really been able to find a sponsor since then.
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### Author:  [@Dan531](https://talkingsober.com/u/Dan531)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2026, 8:25am UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/2 "2026-09-18T08:25:49Z")
Welcome to TS Leandra š. Iām sorry about your relapse. Have you tried online meetings?
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### Author:  [@Jaybeeem](https://talkingsober.com/u/Jaybeeem)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2026, 8:38am UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/3 "2026-09-18T08:38:26Z")
Welcome, Leandra.
6 years is inspiring. Sucks to start over. Though one day at a time right? So good to not just give up and jump on here.
Im under a year in myself. But Iāll say this community has been the difference of what I needed and have spent years wanting sobriety and its now sticking. I check in here every single day and read the great magnitude of collective wisdom youāll find in these threads. Its my number 1 tool to maintain sobriety.
If its meetings you are after but cant get to. There are lots of online meetings these days im not sure if your familiar with?
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### Author:  [@Dolse71](https://talkingsober.com/u/Dolse71)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2026, 10:19am UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/4 "2026-09-18T10:19:54Z")
Thank you for your post as Iāll be 6 years sober in a couple of days and this is the warning I need to know we are never out of the woods. Have you considered online meetings as these happen all around the world on a daily basis plus I found my sponsor online due to covid so Iām proof that can work out. The thing is with the amount of sober time you had you know the drill, you know what you gotta do and you know whatās gonna be coming your way, no itās not going to be easy but your here with us now so you are definitely not alone anymore just donāt be a pigeon post ( drop a load of shit on us and disappear) stick around, reach out and just chill and chat on here to distract you from picking up. Help others on here with all your experiences and learn a little thing or to from people with some long term sobrietyā¦ 6 years is and was great for both of us but we donāt know everything about everything and probably never will. I wish you well on this next stage of your journey of discovery š
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### Author:  [@Leandra](https://talkingsober.com/u/Leandra)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2026, 2:34pm UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/5 "2026-09-18T14:34:01Z")
Thank you for reaching out š©µ congratulations on almost 6! I needed to hear what you said. I could feel it comingā¦I should have been working my program! I have tried a few online meetingsā¦I just didnāt feel like I belonged. There is another I am going to try tomorrow night. I live in Portugal and need to make more of an effort in my recovery. Being in a small town far from the bigger places is the biggest hurdle. Online here there are basically only 2 options. I tried US online meetings but the time difference was off. I was in meetings at 3am US timeā¦different people than I was used toā¦.
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### Author:  [@Dazercat](https://talkingsober.com/u/Dazercat)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2026, 3:29pm UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/6 "2026-09-18T15:29:32Z")
Welcome Leandra.
Great share. We all need to read this.
You found a great community for support. I got sober here before I started to go to meetings. I came here often. Too often probably. But it worked and Iāve stopped drinking. Have a good read around. Join in when youāre comfortable. This magical place is like a meeting in your pocket. Someone is always around.
š¤
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### Author:  [@mikedrums1205](https://talkingsober.com/u/mikedrums1205)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2026, 3:33pm UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/7 "2026-09-18T15:33:14Z")
Welcome. Yeah itās always hard to start over after a relapse. You mentioned AA so your know why itās so hard for us after weāve put one in us. I saw other people suggested online meetings since there arenāt many in person ones in your area which I would still suggest. Iām sure thereās some online meeting that will click with you. Try different ones and introduce yourself. Also if you still have any AA phone contacts from the past I would use those too. Wishing the best for you. What do you think led to you drinking again? Having that recognition helps also
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### Author:  [@Ray\_M\_C\_Laren](https://talkingsober.com/u/Ray_M_C_Laren)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/8 "2026-09-18T15:37:00Z")
Sorry you relapsed i used to run to meetings i hadnt a car then some of the meetings were miles away i made the effort and had the desire wish you well
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### Author:  [@Leandra](https://talkingsober.com/u/Leandra)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2026, 6:33am UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/9 "2026-09-19T06:33:30Z")
Hi. Unfortunately I am a true alcoholic. After over 6 years I developed an itch that couldnāt be scratched. I keep thinking about the reason why. I think it was honestly my not working my program. I moved to Portugal almost 3 years ago now and really just gave up looking for an online meetingā¦ nothing fit. Iām going to try again tonight on a meeting at 7:00 p.m. So many parts of the big book come up for me here like the ability for others to drink with immunity. And now after my relapse I can see how that story in the book about the guy who didnāt drink for 25 years then retired and was dead in a few months could be true. Alcohol is insidious. Yesterday I had that stinking thinking againā¦.planning, hidingā¦. I keep praying.
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### Author:  [@JasonFisher](https://talkingsober.com/u/JasonFisher)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2026, 10:19am UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/10 "2026-09-19T10:19:11Z")
Hi @Leandra welcome.
I relapsed with almost ten years sober. It was way harder for me to stay sober again than I imagined it would be.
One of my biggest obstacles was not appreciating my ānewā sobriety because I had been sober for longer.
It kept me drunk.
Glad you found us. 24/7 support. It helped me tremendously. Iām back on track. You can stay sober again too.
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### Author:  [@Donnie\_Spiering](https://talkingsober.com/u/Donnie_Spiering)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2026, 2:09am UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/11 "2026-09-23T02:09:16Z")
Definitely not alone I threw away 5 years when I mentally checked out as emotions at the time felt too hard to handle. Ended up loosing myself over someone that sadly probably never cared as much as I did for them. Then I ended up getting in an addiction that I had no clue I was getting into. A withdrawal so brutal it was probably going to kill me.(Fentanyl/ xylazine) I went to a rehab and ended up going out in ambulance ride to the hospital and ended up on life support. Unfortunately it didnāt stick and even that didnāt scare me to stop using. I ended up loosing my father the beginning of this year and ended up relapsing again as if dealing with my own emotions I had to deal with my motherās grieving as well and my plate felt heavy. It took a few more detoxes in the ICU to finally get it to stick and get to where I am today now being a few months sober. Whatās helped me the most making it is probably finally being consistent in seeing my therapist weekly. I feel like when I vent to her I feel heard and understood with no judgement. She helps me manage things that trigger me the most to use. I donāt know if you have insurance but it may help. They also have apps and websites that have zoom N/A and AA meetings around the clock.
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### Author:  [@nsbrown41694](https://talkingsober.com/u/nsbrown41694)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/12 "2026-09-23T17:00:07Z")
YOU went to any lengths to get that next drink . So I suggest its time to go to any lengths to get to the nearest AA meeting. What ever it takes on your part. Your right for being aware that the drinking has and will cause you problems that just escalet if you dont take action on your part. Youāve taken the act once , now your doing it again , so get to that AA meeting thats so far away and really get going again and this time "STAY, NO MATTER WHAT " you canāt do this alone. My prayers to you.
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### Author:  [@Jwfletcher4792](https://talkingsober.com/u/Jwfletcher4792)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/13 "2026-09-23T21:12:47Z")
My sponsor was just telling me how the more time we get under our belt, the more detrimental returning to alcohol is. I only had 2 years almost last time I relapsed and it took 2 years to get my ass back in gear. He was telling me about a friend who had 32 years and was dead within 6 months of the first drink. That really kind of hit me itās almost like itās scary to get that far along because no one really can promise anyone theyāll never have another drink in their life we can only promise to fight today not to have a drink but thatās why those folks with so much time still go to meetings, Iāve heard them talk about how staying connected and continuing to serve others keeps their sobriety strong. Met a lady last week that hit 38 years and another last night that has 47! I love seeing them at meetings still working the program same as the new kid on the block ā¤
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### Author:  [@Jwfletcher4792](https://talkingsober.com/u/Jwfletcher4792)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2026, 9:16pm UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/14 "2026-09-23T21:16:19Z")
I love that story in the big book because itās such a great reminder no alcoholic is safe once they take the first drink. When I read that story it reminded me of something a guy told me at my first meetingā¦.we scrape away the alcohol, the habit, and underneath we find the person and we get to work figuring out whatās inside that needs to be repaired or addressed. The guy in that story took away alcohol for 25 years but he never figured out what fed his drinking and when he returned to it I imagine he felt entitled and free to go as wild as he wanted with it because he had abstained for so long and in retirement no longer had his work to focus on which was the only thing that seemed to keep him from drinking.
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### Author:  [@JasonFisher](https://talkingsober.com/u/JasonFisher)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2026, 9:23pm UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/15 "2026-09-23T21:23:55Z")
Ive often heard we pick up where we left off.
I also hear it progresses while we are sober.
For me both were true.
It didnāt look like I thought it would. Picking up where I left off meant drinking until I blacked out and doing drugs. It took a while to get there. But I did.
What progressed for me was my unwillingness to surrender. My determination to make drinking work for me this time was 100 times more powerful.
Like the big book says. āTo the gates of insanity even deathā
My inner alcoholic became stronger than ever.
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### Author:  [@Jwfletcher4792](https://talkingsober.com/u/Jwfletcher4792)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2026, 12:02am UTC](https://talkingsober.com/t/relapse-after-6-years-i-know-im-not-alone/210477/16 "2026-09-24T00:02:49Z")
Same, when I first picked up again two years ago it was like standing with my feet in the shallow end of the pool and before I knew it I was progressing towards the deep end! I blew through several red lights metaphorically speaking. One funny one now Iām not afraid to share is I woke up in the middle of the night and went to the bathroom, pissed in the closet, apparently attempted to clean it up in the dark so as not to wake my wife, and didnāt even realize it until the next morning. I ran downstairs and started apologizing to my wife who was confused thinking it was one of the catsā¦.I sold myself down the river š but that right there while I didnāt hurt myself or anyone else physically, man that should have been a red flag š© but I kept going. I wasnāt drinking everyday but when I did there was never enough and I just finally realized if I didnāt make a change I was gonna be in a bad situation in a hurry. I canāt count how many times I got up and checked my truck to make sure I hadnāt hit anything driving home from the bar. Iām just grateful to have 24 days under my belt today and working the program ā¤