Would you count it as a relapse or slip up if you were sober for 333 days and messed up one night and used for the night?
If you do a search with that exact phrase, it’ll come up with several threads on the subject.
Here’s one:
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And as far as I am concerned, the days are not lost. That’s a whole lot of 24-hour segments. If you mess up one night and don’t do it again, why does it matter what you call it? It’s already in the past at that point. All you have is this moment.
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The term is unimportant. You drank which is a pity. What you do from now on is what matters. Did you learn something from drinking? What can you do to prevent it happening again? Why did you think it was a good idea to drink? What made you decide to do it? Did you plan to drink one or two, or did you want to get slammed? And how did it play out? Etcetera. It’s one day at a time for all of us. What happens today is what matters. Don’t drink again. Hang out with non-drinkers. Go to a meeting or hang with us. Or both. Success.
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It’s a lapse. I would reset my counter if you count because the lines get to blurry otherwise but that is entirely your call. The time isn’t lost, journeys have set backs sometimes. Best wishes to you
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For me it is relapse. Slips, in terms, of alcohol, usually produce more and more slips. If it has been just an slip, forget it and try not to be around that moment. Continue with the struggle being aware than a perfect historial without alcohol since the start, it is ver difficult. Best regards!
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Thanks, It did make me take a step back and look at all the emotions I was ignoring that eventually led to using again. I think it would be a good idea to get some support this time around. 
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Thanks, I guess it’s just hard for me to reset it when I was only one month away from a year 
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Thank you! I slipped up using drugs not alcohol but I think you’re right getting too careless can lead to more and more slips.
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More than one time would be a relapse imo… but it’s really not relevant i guess.
@Sammyy i know resetting sucks but it wouldn’t truly be a sober year anyway. At the end of the day it’s your counter, your sobriety though. Keep on ODAAT
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Yes, you are right on that I could keep it but it wouldn’t truly be 1 year sober… I just reset my clock 
back on day 1!
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I’m going to sound blunt but I talk from experience after an 18 month clean spell and then picking up.
Relapse, slip call it what you want you picked up and didn’t want to. Your no longer clean so what you were doing didn’t work no matter how long you were sober. Everything you thought you knew about recovery was wrong. Get that support, it works.
Don’t worry about it either bc this is you learning just be willing to get re-educated.
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Yeah you’re right, I thought I could do it without help but clearly I can’t I wasn’t even happy those whole 11 months were a struggle haha. I searched up meetings and I’m going to go to one this next week. Thanks for the advice and hope you’re doing well in your recovery journey
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Hi @Sammyy sorry to hear about your lapse… I am of two minds. My new age, harm-reduction, modern sense says it was just a lapse, not a relapse, and you should still feel just as proud of your 11 months substance free.
However in Narcotics Anonymous this would definitely be a relapse and you would have to start your counter back at Day 1 (which you have done).
For myself, I can’t do the new age way because it would be like giving myself permission to use/drink just for 1 night. This time around I am big on counting days strictly otherwise I cheat. However I struggled with honesty for 4 years.
I don’t completely discount my periods of sobriety during those 4 years however and you should still give yourself kudos for those 11 months.
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Thanks kat!! We definitely do deserve credit for our years that we were sober for long periods of times even if we had some lapses in the middle. I’m starting to forgive myself now and ready to try something different and get support this time around
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@Sammyy getting support has made all the difference for me this time round, I hope. I have really embraced the program of NA for the first time after only paying it lip-service before. This time I am sharing, listening, and doing what is suggested.
I am also using this forum regularly, there is a great thread called Checking in Daily where you can post how many days you have and say what is going on with you and people will cheer you on, respond and inspire you.
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A friend of mine was telling me about when he quit drinking, he went on a marijuana maintenance plan he was sober but he wasnt clean because he was just using a different drug. In NA ive come to find out for myself i need to stay away from any mind altering substance because it’s just in my nature to abuse drugs no matter what substance it may be im an addict/alcoholic. Its a slippery slope for me to think i am able to just use once and can handle it being a simple slip, before i know it im totally tail spinning, down on my luck again. Just have to get back to work and stack the days back up, honesty with ourselves is a great reminder how hard we need to work to remain clean/sober.
keep reaching out for support glad to see you back
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I just want to applaud you wholeheartedly for all of your sober time but more importantly what you noticed and are taking away from this slip. You are changing things up, reaching out for support, and looking at meetings/joining a sobriety community. Really well done on your part, my friend. Failure is not getting back up and reflecting on what needs to be changed to live a wonderful sober life. Community and support is a key component for me. I really appreciate you sharing this with us. It’s a great example of strength and courage.
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Meetings will be a good move for you you lost this battle but the war is still there to be won learn from it and move on stronger good
Luck in your journey 
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