448 How To Come Back After A Relapse448 How To Come Back After A Relapse
The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast
Trauma therapist and long-term sober woman Lisa Arrigo talks with host Arlina Allen about her relapse after 22 years and how she found her way back. The conversation focuses on shame, trauma, and practical steps for returning to recovery without feeling like everything has been lost.
1:16:10•17 Sept 2026
How To Come Back After A Relapse Without Drowning In Shame
Episode Overview
- Relapse is framed as a traumatic event that does not wipe out previous recovery work.
- Shame and pride are highlighted as major barriers to returning after a slip.
- Seeing relapse as a message from an "addicted part" of the self can reduce self-blame.
- Gentle daily self-care and curiosity toward one’s feelings are presented as practical safeguards.
- Trauma-informed therapy and supportive community are recommended as key routes back into recovery.
“A relapse is not a failure; the relapse doesn’t erase all the work that you did.”
What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? This conversation on The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast takes that question head‑on through the raw and very human experience of relapse after decades of sobriety. You’ll hear about Lisa Arrigo, a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years in private practice, specialising in complex trauma, Internal Family Systems, EMDR and somatic work.
After 22 years sober from cocaine, Lisa found herself back in addiction in 2022, ultimately waking up in hospital wearing a yellow wristband marked "Fall Risk". Her story speaks directly to anyone who’s back at day one and wondering, "What now?" Host Arlina Allen creates space for Lisa to talk frankly about how relapse can appear "so fast" and without conscious planning, especially when emotional pain, loneliness and unaddressed trauma are simmering in the background.
Lisa describes relapse as a communication from an "addictive part" of the self, rather than proof that a person is broken, and she repeatedly stresses that "relapse does not erase all the work that you've already done". The episode blends personal experience with trauma science: epigenetics, generational trauma, the nervous system, and the idea that trauma "does not know time".
You’ll also get practical touches, like Lisa’s gentle morning self‑care routine and her concept of stepping out of the "shame bath" after a slip. Together, she and Arlina question time‑counting culture, perfectionism, and some unhelpful messages found in traditional 12‑step spaces, while still acknowledging their value for many. If you or someone you love has relapsed, this chat may feel like a warm hug and a firm reminder that you’re not starting from scratch—you’re starting from experience.
What if your relapse could become your greatest teacher rather than your final chapter?
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