Episode 1126: Backsliding In RecoveryEpisode 1126: Backsliding In Recovery
Take 12 Recovery Radio
BACKSLIDING IN RECOVERY. In this episode of the Came to Believe Recovery Podcast, Tom and Monty e...
56:10•26 Aug 2026
Backsliding, Stalls and Staying Sober: A Candid Chat on Recovery
Episode Overview
- Backsliding usually starts well before a relapse, with compromises in thinking and daily practices.
- Abandoning convictions and spiritual routines like prayer, scripture and honest sharing can create a dangerous slide.
- White light syndrome and expecting instant, dramatic change can lead people to say "it didn’t work" and stall their growth.
- Slips and mistakes can be corrected quickly through step work and accountability, while a stall involves ongoing loss of forward movement.
- Trying to handle recovery alone "in the dark" increases risk, whereas fellowship and honest conversation help stop a slide early.
“The question isn't simply, have I relapsed? A better question is, am I still moving in the direction God wants me to go? Or have I quietly started walking backwards?”
How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober? This episode of Take 12 Recovery Radio’s Came to Believe Recovery Podcast zooms in on the messy middle ground between feeling "fine" and full-blown relapse. Host Monty Dale Meyer and co-host Tom Williams kick things off with light-hearted New York trivia, showing that recovery talk can include a few laughs before heading into serious territory.
From there, they talk about "backsliding" – a term Monty first heard in a Nazarene church as a teenager – and how it fits into modern recovery conversations. You’ll hear them break down the difference between a simple slip, a full relapse, and what they call a "stall": that slow slide away from spiritual and practical maintenance where the dragon waits at the bottom of the slide.
Tom shares that he once planned his own relapse months in advance, pointing out how old thinking usually returns before old behaviour. They challenge the idea that sobriety alone is the goal, pushing back on the mindset of "at least I didn’t drink" while life falls apart. The pair talk frankly about prayer, spiritual practices, honesty, and fellowship, stressing that abandoning the convictions that once kept someone safe is often where backsliding starts.
Monty warns against trying to "do recovery in the dark" and highlights the danger of "white light syndrome" – expecting a dramatic spiritual flash and declaring "it didn’t work" when everyday change feels slow. Mail from a listener called Gall sparks a side conversation on AA traditions, money, and accountability in teaching the steps, giving extra context for anyone curious about 12-step history.
The show closes with Pop-Daddy Dale’s song "Backsliders" and Monty’s reminder that the real question isn’t just about relapse, but whether someone is still moving in the direction God wants. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re quietly walking backwards rather than falling down outright, this episode might be the prompt to ask some honest questions about your own recovery routines.
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