Want to relapse

[why am i alive?]

Hey. I'm recovering ATM and am actually making progress for the first time in 3 years.
Buy I often get the thought of wanting to relapse. Is this normal?
How can I stop them?

 

[Arahant]

One way of doing it could be using your inner voice to disidentify from them, thereby regaining control.
Anything you mentally hear, think, visualize or feel that would lead you toward relapse or away from recovery is deemed to be "it", a part of you that you have, but not who you truly are.
You are always you; you are pure will and self-consciousness.
You may be of two minds about something, but you as a sovereign being get to decide which one to empower and which one to dissolve.

For example:
You hear the thought "I really want to relapse" and change it into saying "it wants to relapse".
Notice how this makes you feel different, how it the impulse diminishes, and how you feel a bit more confident.
Maybe a feeling of frustration and confusing arises.
You dub this: "it feels frustrated and confused".
You are not arguing back and forth. You simply label it and observe.
Kind of like shining a light on a stray dog, thereby scaring it away.

If I may elaborate, ask me anything.