Does a Tough Economy Increase Relapse Chances?

Have you heard? These are tough economic times. Have you heard it enough? You would have to have lived on a deserted island for the last year to have avoided the news. Even then you would have to wonder if news would reach you through a message in a bottle. “We’re sorry, your rescue has been delayed due to the current economic crisis.”

The government is hurting. Jobs are being lost. Small business is affected. Big business needs bailouts. News of a bad economy seems to work its way into almost every story in the news. Recently a headline appeared that read, “Swine flu outbreak could have negative impact on the economy.”

Does this constant barrage of bad news eventually weigh on the recovering person? Absolutely! Does it increase the chance for relapse? Possibly. Keep in mind; it is not the circumstance that causes the relapse. It is how we choose to cope with the circumstance. Whether or not the economic news becomes a personal trigger is up to you.

We can’t escape the news. Nor should we want to completely. After all, the health of the economy can and should be a consideration in some of the choices we make. When do I buy a car? What type should I buy? Should we go out of State or stay close for vacation? All of these questions should be addressed with some consideration to current economic trends. That is just good common sense.

The recovering person begins to get into trouble when he or she begins to obsess over situations. Remember as recovering individuals we all have a tendency to live life in addictive ways. We overindulge. We focus on one thing. We obsess. We idolize one thing such as drugs or money. Soon, every decision is based on that idol. We slowly slip into relapse mode without even knowing it.

Is the economic news becoming a possible trigger for you? A simple way to answer is to honestly assess how obsessed are you with the economy. Do you think about it too much? Does bad news raise your stress level? If so, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk factors.

• Make a realistic budget and stick to it. Set a monthly budget for the remainder of the year. Make sure the basics are covered as well as a little extra fun money. Set aside a little money every month as well. Remind yourself that this too shall pass. Lastly, remember that God provides your income and consider this a good time to practice faith.
• Control your flow of information. Turn the TV off and throw out the newspaper. If you reduce the stimulus, you will reduce your reaction to it. The Bible clearly warns us to guard our thoughts. Remember that where your mind goes, your heart will follow.
• Seek the advice of many counselors. Surround yourself with good people that you trust to help you make wise and conservative choices regarding money.
• Take care of yourself. Eat right. Rest. Exercise. Remember to have fun. Take care of yourself on a daily basis. Remember the HALTS (hungry, angry, lonely tired and stressed). If you are more than one of these at any given time the chances of being triggered intensifies.
• Never make important decisions when you are stressed. Intense emotions rob you of common sense, particularly fear. When we are operating in our “fight or flight” mode we are using a lower part of our brain. This is the survival aspect of the brain. Common sense can’t override the survival instinct. And when we make a bad decision based on our emotions, there is a domino effect where one bad decision leads to another. Thus the setup for potential relapse is magnified.

Can a bad economy lead to a relapse? Only if you let it. Remember the serenity prayer. The economy is something you cannot control. You can control how you react to it. Knowing this difference leads us to wisdom.

There is some interesting news from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Money is in fact a contributing factor in relapse. However, the lack of money is not the issue. Consistently, an excessive amount of money was identified as a primary trigger for relapse.

Related articles

As an extra feature this month we have included a pair of additional articles:

• The relapses of Israel. The nation of Israel suffered countless relapses throughout the Bible. This article by Larry Solomon explores some the underlying causes of some of these relapses. To see the article “The relapses of Israel” click here.
• When does fun turn to desperation? Addicts in recovery must always be on guard for a quick fix. In a tough economy a recovering person is at risk of turning to gambling as a solution to his or her problems. The idea might even be exciting. In this article Bobbe McGinley explores the phases a gambler goes through as a seemingly harmless activity leads to disaster. To see the article “When fun turns to desperation” click here.