Story from an Alcoholic
It is hard to believe that someone in their right mind would continue to drink at the expense of losing everything. Today there is such a thing as alcoholism treatment and all sorts of ways of dealing with alcoholism. There are some pretty amazing things however out there now in the area of how to give up alcohol. Most people don’t want to believe they’re an alcoholic. Like, me for example. I went years trying to control my drinking. I finally realized I could either control it or enjoy it, not both.
I needed treatment and a rigorous recovery program that I work each and every day. I would not have my life be any other way today. My recovery program started out in a treatment center but today consists of a holistic and spiritual program.
There are as many different options for trying to stop drinking as there are types of drinks. For example, you can even attend rehab online apparently with Rehab Strategy that claims to be the #1 online addiction recovery tool. I’m not sure if these types of tools work, I never tried them. For me, I needed help in a personal way and going to a physical treatment center, getting a sponsor, and going to AA, was the only way I finally stayed sober.
Treatment consists of several different steps, some of which are abstinence, support, and spiritual or holistic growth. Most importantly, the first and most important step in treating alcoholism is admitting one has a problem.
Abstinence
If someone who is suffering from alcoholism wants to stop drinking; first, they need to stop drinking. But that is easier said than done. In many ways, for the alcoholic, alcohol is not the problem but has been the solution. It has helped them deal with emotional issues or served as a “social lubricate.” It is often this very reason many have to hit some type of “bottom” before they realize something must change.
The most effective way to stop drinking is to find a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous has support groups and meetings all over the world with millions of members. If the person has been drinking a lot for some time, medical assistance may be needed for detox. Detoxification from alcohol can be extremely serious and even fatal.
Support
As mentioned above, finding a support group is valuable to long term sobriety or staying sober. Finding other individuals who have been through similar experiences is a major step in the acceptance and healing process.
Support groups are there for support, not forgetting the alcoholic sober. That is up to the alcoholic. If you want bread, you go to the store, if you want to get sober, find people who are staying sober.
Spiritual or Holistic Growth
In the past, those who had drinking problems were seen to be morally deficient or lacking self-will. Alcoholism has been proven to be a chronic disease and some believe it to be hereditary. There is a common thread in alcoholics that have maintained long-term sobriety and live happy and content lives. That common thread is; they continued a path of spiritual or holistic growth.
Alcoholic Treatment Centers
There are treatment centers that specialize in alcoholism treatment. However, it must be mentioned that they do not cure an alcoholic. There is no cure. However, they are great resources for anyone looking to stop drinking. Alcoholic treatment centers specialize in detoxification and teaching the basic skills need to maintain long-term sobriety. But it is up to the patient to continue those skills taught once they leave the treatment center.
The Difference between Alcoholism Treatment and Recovery
It could be said that the treatment for alcoholism is recovery. In this context, the term recovery refers to a long-term recovery program. A recovery program is something that is worked on an ongoing basis. Personally, I work in my recovery program daily. It’s a set of routines that helps protect me against obsessive thoughts about drinking. The routine is spiritual in nature and keeps me focused on gratitude.
Truly, my recovery program today is about loving life and consists of too much to list here. Let’s just say that it is no longer simply about drinking.
Let me make a huge point here about what I used to perceive alcoholism treatment centers to be about. It was my personal view, that if I properly attended to some deep-rooted emotional problem, a problem that obviously made me drink alcoholically, then I would be able to drink normally. To some extent that is true. I did have a deep emotional imbalance (although I realize now it was mostly spiritual). However, my drinking was my solution, not the problem. Alcohol was the solution to my inability to deal with life and emotions constructively. Moreover, I did not realize this at the time, I simply thought I liked drinking and quite frankly, didn’t have anything better to do.