If you are in treatment but relapse, stay in treatment. After relapsing, work hard to avoid or to prepare for your next lapse. Time involved Probably several hours per week over a period of months is required if it is a well ingrained compulsive habit that requires learning new behavior and extinguishing old habits via exposure to old temptations. Without special preparation, few people could resist. The idea is to build the skills necessary to avoid relapse.
Many experts believe it is dangerous to re-expose oneself even to situations involving mild risks.
Besides, the needs that were met by drinking, such as social needs, feeling more powerful, and having fewer worries, must now be meet in different ways. If you ever gain some additional self-control, preventing a loss of that control is absolutely essential for growth. Relapse is an ever present danger. But if successful, victory is sweet. Preventing relapse in the addictions .