Chronic relapse must be situated in the transitional phase between chronic addiction and early abstinence. The patient feels as if there were two personalities within himself, a so called 'àddicted self and a `sober self . Both are in turn dominating his behaviour. There seems to be a constant witholding of cathartic processes, which are essential to the development of a new identity. On a therapeutic level, we suggest an approach of emotional support and understanding the ongoing process, rather than focusing intensively on the drinking problem itself. Long-lasting abstinence is not any longer considered to be a quickly and easily reachable goal. Instead, patients are taught skills to cope with relapse and to make progress in dealing with daily problems.