How to Handle Relapses: A Compassionate Guide

Let us be honest: relapses happen. And one of the most important things you need to know is that a relapse does not erase all your progress. Every clean day you lived changed your brain for the better, and that is not lost.

The first step after a relapse is to avoid the shame spiral. Shame tells us we are flawed, defective, incapable. But the truth is that you are a courageous person fighting for a better life. A fall does not define who you are.

In Firmo90, when the streak counter resets, your complete history is preserved. You can see all the days you were victorious. You can see how your freedom periods have been getting longer over time. This is real progress.

After a relapse, do an honest emotional check-in. What were you feeling before? What happened? Identifying triggers and patterns is fundamental to preventing future relapses. Firmo90 helps you track these patterns over time.

Seek support in the community. You would be surprised how many people have been through exactly what you are going through. Sharing your experience, even anonymously, can be incredibly freeing and helpful to others in the same fight.

Remember: recovery is not a straight line. It is more like a spiral staircase, where sometimes it seems like you are returning to the same place, but you are actually on a higher level. Each attempt teaches you something new about yourself and makes you stronger for the next cycle.

Be kind to yourself. Get up, dust yourself off, and keep going. You deserve freedom, and you are capable of achieving it.