Posts Tagged ‘alcohol free life’

Not long after attending my first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous I began to hear people using the phrase Higher Power and even talking about God.  This was one of the things that kept me skeptical about AA.  I had always had a hard time relating to God and I was petrified that I couldn’t stay off drugs and alcohol because of my aversion to organized religion.  Luckily I obtained a temporary sponsor at my very first meeting and after a few months of going to AA meetings regularly I finally told her about my dilemma.  It was explained to me that Alcoholics Anonymous was not a religious program and that I did not have to believe in anyone else’s concept of God.  That put me at ease for a while but I kept hearing people sharing in meetings about their Higher Power and I was still confused and apprehensive. 

When the time came that I began to go through the twelve steps I had been clean and sober for over three months and still felt disconnected from God.  The first step was to admit that I was powerless over drugs and alcohol and that my life had become unmanageable, which was easy for me.  However the second step was no easy feat, “We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”  I went over and over the words in my head and tried to think what it meant to me and how I could relate to this concept of a power greater than myself.  My sponsor told me that she had a similar experience when she was a newcomer and that all that I needed at that time was to believe that there was something in the universe that was more powerful than me.  I had heard of people using the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous as their Higher Power because they felt that the group was more powerful than they were alone.  That idea made sense to me and for the time being it would suffice.  I was hopeful that in time my relationship to God would blossom and develop as was the experience of others in AA.

Detoxing from alcohol and drugs is something that should be done with medical advice and care, and should be backed up with counseling in order to help the alcoholic get past the psychological dependence as well as the physical dependence on alcohol. The first goal in an alcohol and drug detox program will be to help the person get through the symptoms they will experience from withdrawal, including any psychiatric problems they may experience. This is usually the first step in a total detox program and can be very effective if done under the right circumstances.

Everyone goes through detox differently and what any one individual may go through will depend largely on a person’s age, frequency and amount of use, as well as any underlying medical issues they may have. For the most part, one can expect to experience withdrawal symptoms such a nausea, vomiting, tremors, sweats and anxiety. In extreme cases some people also may have convulsions or seizures. These are just a few of the reasons why it’s important to have proper medical support in order to help with an alcohol and drug detox program. Many of these effects can be lessened with medications and with proper supervision. On the other hand, some people get through it with very few symptoms. There is no way to tell how any one person will react. Supervised detox is always the best approach. It helps knowing that you have support there if you need it.

Once you have gone through the detox part of the program it’s important to realize that this is just the first step. You’ve managed to eliminate alcohol and drugs from your body but there are still steps that need to be done to ensure that you don’t return to drinking or using again. In order to have a complete recovery it’s important to understand that you now will need to make lifestyle changes in order to increase your odds for a sustained recovery. Learning to live without alcohol as a crutch can be very difficult, but the longer-term benefits of a new and happier life are well worth it.

During the first 30-90 days of a detox program is the time when people are most vulnerable. This is why it’s important to effect changes in your lifestyle as well as getting psychological support. Lifestyle changes can mean staying away from friends who are heavy drinkers, and who may not understand what you have gone through and what you are now trying to accomplish. Staying away from bars or other places where alcohol is served, including your home. Your family will be able to understand the need for you to not be around other people who are drinking. It’s also important to understand the meaning of a dry drunk. This is a person who has ceased drinking and eliminated alcohol from their system, but has done nothing to change the emotional aspects of abuse. This is another aspect of how your lifestyle must change. The more you work with a counselor, the more you will understand that it also takes emotional changes in order to remain sober.

Emotional support from friends and family is also crucial when you are going through alcohol detox. Rehab treatment centers that help people detox also provide support for them through counseling or through a 12-step program such as AA. It is important for the alcoholic to take actions to help in their recovery, and going to counseling regularly is a part of that. If you are on medications you need to take them as directed and never stop it without consulting a doctor. It’s also important to include the family of anyone going through alcohol detox, and allow him or her to offer support and help and be a part of the recovery process. In the end though it is up to the alcoholic to do the necessary work to effect a complete recovery, and then take the needed steps to remain in recovery.

Alcoholism. What is it? What makes an alcoholic an alcoholic? Can alcohol rehab help? What does alcohol treatment really do? Is there an alcohol rehabilitation center that can help? If it is you who suspects that you are an alcoholic or if there is someone in your life that you think may be, if you are asking these questions, the answer is “yes” you or this person may be an alcoholic. Since you’re asking the questions it must mean that you have come to a point in your life that change sounds good. You might be at that point where drinking everyday isn’t helping you to get out of life what you feel you deserve, or your spouse’s alcoholism has impeded on your quality of life long enough and you are ready to live life the way you dreamt you would. It could be that you finally realized that your beginning to drink more and drinking is the very reason you aren’t living the life you thought you would. The good news is that you can get your life under control. You can live a healthier, alcohol free existence. You can be sober and you can be happy!

You don’t have to do it alone. Many alcoholics try to stop the drinking on their own. As with any addiction, some are able to stop their addiction cold turkey, their attempts turn into failures, in turn compounding their addiction. Professional, consistent, help is the key to recovery. Alcohol treatment is an effective way to reach your goal of lifelong sobriety. If alcohol rehab is in your future make sure that you take the time to find an alcohol rehabilitation center that will help you meet your goals the way you want to. Your environment will have an impact on your ultimate success, as a recovering alcoholic you are going to want to trust the people that are too take care of you.

Detoxification from alcohol can be extremely uncomfortable, and if not done with proper care and attention, the initial detox period can prove to be fatal, depending on the severity of the alcohol abuse and other health issues that have arisen because of it. Today is as good a day as any to start the journey to your new alcohol free life. Call 1-888-443-3869 and find an alcohol rehabilitation center that will help save your life or the life of someone you love.

Your life is too precious to be lost to addiction. If you or a loved one need alcohol treatment don’t waste anymore time. Your family and your friends love you, and they want you to be healthy and happy, and around for a long time. alcohol rehab will get you through the darkest days of recovery and help you see the light on the other side. Your alcoholism isn’t only destroying you; it’s also affecting the lives of the people that you love the most.

by Amit Chakraborty