Phase 4: Crisis Building.
During this phase recovering people begin to experience a sequence of life
problems that are caused by denying personal feelings, isolating self, and
neglecting the recovery program. Even thought they want to solve these problems
and work hard at it, two new problems pop-up to replace every problem that
is solved. The most common warning signs that occur during this period are:
4-1. Tunnel Vision. Tunnel vision is seeing only one small part of life and
not being able to get "the big picture." Many recovering people
look at life as being made up of separate, unrelated parts. They focus on
one part without looking at the other parts or how they are related. Sometimes
this creates the mistaken belief that everything is secure and going well.
At other times, this results in seeing only what is going wrong. Small problems
are blown-up out of proportions. When this happens they come to believe they
are being treated unfairly and have no power to do anything about it.
4-2. Minor Depression. Symptoms of depression begin to appear and to persist.
They may feel down, blue, listless, empty of feelings. Oversleeping becomes
common. They are able to distract themselves from these mods by getting busy
with other things and not talking about the depression.
4-3. Loss of Constructive Planning. They may stop planning each day and the
future. They often mistaken the A.A. slogan, "One day at a time,"
to mean that they shouldn't plan or think about what they are going to do.
Less and less attention is paid to details. They become listless. Plans are
based more on wishful thinking (how they wish things would be) rather than
(how things actually are).
4-4. Plans begin to fail. Because they make plans that are not realistic and
do not pay attention to details, plans begin to fail. Each failure causes
new life problems. Some of these problems are problems that occurred during
drinking. These usually include marital, work, social, and money problems.
They often feel guilty and remorseful when these problems occur.
Phase 5: Immobilization.
During this phase the recovering person is unable to initiate action. He or
she goes through the motions of living, but is controlled by life rather than
controlling life.
5-1. Daydreaming and Wishful Thinking. It becomes more difficult to concentrate.
The"if only" syndrome becomes more common in conversation. They
begin to have fantasies of escaping or "being rescued from it all"
by an event unlikely to happen.
5-2. Feelings That Nothing Can Be Solved. A sense of failure begins to develop.
The failure may be real or may be imagined. Small failures are exaggerated
and blown out of proportion. The belief that "I've tried my best and
recovery isn't working out' begins to develop.
5-3. Immature Wish To Be Happy. A vague desire "to be happy' or to have
"things work out' may develop without their identifying what is necessary
to be happy or have things work out. "Magical thinking is used."
they want things to get better, without doing anything to make them better,
without paying the price of making things better.
Phase 6: Confusion and Overreaction.
During this period recovering people have trouble thinking clearly. They become
upset with themselves and those around them. They become irritable and overreact
to small things. The most common warning signs experienced during this phase
are:
6-1. Periods of Confusion. Periods of confusion become more frequent, last
longer, and cause more problems. The recovering people experiencing this often
feel angry with themselves, because of their inability to figure things out.
6-2. Irritation with Friends. Relationships become strained with friends,
family, counselors, and A.A. members. The recovering people may feel threatened
when others talk about the changes they are noticing in their behavior and
mood. The conflicts continue in spite of their efforts to resolve them. They
begin to feel guilty and remorseful about their role in these conflicts.
6-3. Easily Angered. They experience episodes of anger, frustration, resentment,
and irritability for no reason. Overreaction to small things becomes more
frequent. Stress and anxiety increase, because of the fear that overreaction
might result in violence. The efforts to control themselves adds to the stress
and tension.