Relapse is a process, not an event. It begins long before the first drink or drug. By understanding Gorski's 10 phases, I can learn to spot the early warning signs — in myself, and so can the people who love me — and take action before it goes too far.
— Terence T. Gorski & Marlene Miller
🚦 Quick Reference: My Warning Sign Stages
Early Signs (Phases 1–3)
- Feeling uneasy or anxious without knowing why
- Avoiding honest conversations
- Thinking "I'll never use again"
- Becoming defensive about my program
- Spending more time alone
- Crisis after crisis building up
Middle Signs (Phases 4–7)
- Daydreaming about "escaping"
- "If only" thinking becoming common
- Feeling nothing can be solved
- Periods of confusion & irritability
- Sleep and eating becoming irregular
- Skipping meetings / appointments
Late Signs (Phases 8–10)
- Feeling completely trapped & helpless
- Thinking using might be the only option
- Open rejection of help from others
- Overwhelming loneliness & resentment
- Stopped attending meetings entirely
- Loss of all behavioural control
💬 What This Plan Means to Me
🎯 My Top 5 Personal Warning Signs
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Gorski's 10 Phases of Relapse
Each phase lists Gorski's warning signs. Add your own personal signs in the dashed box — these are what your support team will watch for with you.
⚠️ My Personal Warning Signs
Signs specific to you. Add them in the 10 Phases tab — they appear here automatically, grouped by phase.
📖 My Story — What Relapse Has Looked Like Before
🔍 Hidden Warning Signs I Often Miss
❤️ My Support Network
For each person, note their specific role — what they should watch for, how they should respond, how you want them to reach out.
👤
My Sponsor
Sponsor
Their role in my plan
🩺
My Counsellor
Professional Support
Their role in my plan
💑
Ang
Partner
Signs she should watch for
👧
Lucy
Daughter (16)
How she can help
👦
Tom
Son (14)
How he can help
🤝
Justin
Friend
Their role in my plan
🤝
Ian
Friend
Their role in my plan
🤝
Matthew
Support Person
Their role in my plan
📞 If Someone Is Worried About Me
🧰 My Coping & Recovery Tools
Self-knowledge alone is not enough. You need specific, practiced strategies ready before you need them.
🙏 Spiritual / Step Work
👥 Fellowship & Meetings
🏃 Physical Wellbeing
📓 Journaling & Reflection
🏠 Family & Home
💼 Work Boundaries
🚨 My Emergency Plan
✅ Daily Check-In
🔴 High-Risk Situations I Must Avoid
My Warning Signs — Network Map
Your personal warning signs as a live force-directed network. Nodes repel each other so nothing overlaps. Drag to rearrange and pin in place. Click a node for detail. Filter by stage.
Drag nodes to rearrange · Click for detail · Filter using buttons above