Why Relapse Is Not Failure: Learning From Our Mistakes

Why Relapse Is Not Failure: Learning From Our Mistakes

From Doc Jacques: Your Addiction Lifeguard by Dr. Jacques de Broekert

January 16, 2026 · 28 min · Season 6 · Episode 2

About this episode

This episode discusses the lessons learned from relapse in addiction recovery and how to approach it with curiosity instead of shame.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Doc Jacques: Your Addiction Lifeguard, we take the heat off relapse and put the spotlight where it belongs: what it’s trying to teach you. Doc breaks down the difference between an “accident” and a full relapse, the three common relapse patterns, and how to swap shame for curiosity so you can make one solid course-correction and get right back into structure, support, and forward motion. Support the show

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Jacques de Broekert

Topics covered

  • relapse
  • addiction
  • mental health
  • learning from mistakes
  • shame
  • curiosity

Keywords

  • relapse
  • addiction recovery
  • mental health
  • learning
  • shame
  • curiosity
  • support
  • course-correction

More episodes of Doc Jacques: Your Addiction Lifeguard

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Doc Jacques: Your Addiction Lifeguard podcast page.