Regardless of how long we've been in recovery we'll always need to be on guard against our problem. One of the first shortcomings realized about recovery is that none of us are ever cured of our problem, we'll always have it, and will always need to stand guard against it, for the rest of our lives. It seems like too much to bear at first, but eventually we'll see the whole program of recovery has been designed around these facts. As long as we practice living our life on a daily basis by the principles found in the recovery program our problem has no power over us, but any of us at any time can let our guard down, and if we do we're headed for trouble if we want to live a that's full and one that has meaning, get an incurable problem like ours, that's treatable, and take care of it for the rest of your life.