
Welcome Guest	Home \| Submit Article \| Contact \| Search

ArticleSubject.com » Health » Stop Drinking Alcohol - Free Yourself

Stop Drinking Alcohol - Free Yourself

by: DavidPeters
Total views: 4
Word Count: 970

One of the major villains of the modern world is none other than Alcoholism. This disease, which was once considered a harmless inability to curtail one's extravagances, today accredited the responsibility of destroying millions of homes and devastating an even more shocking number of lives. However, it is not uncommon to find many people disregarding this disease as, "Something that happens to other people" or even justifying their excesses as only "a passing phase." And it is this attitude that organizations and even governments are fighting against, as these notions are the very roots of the vicious disease that is alcoholism.

One of the major factors which make alcohol abuse such a difficult disorder to diagnose and cure, is that the victim himself is often unwilling to come to terms with his addiction. He is in, what is referred to as the phase of denial. The most objective method to ascertain if you are indeed, in the throes of addiction is to count the number of drinks you consume. If you find yourself consuming more than 4 drinks a day and 17 drinks a week, you need to pay heed to your consumption patterns. Also, if you drink more as a way to escape your depression or simply because you can't think of any other way to spend an entertaining evening, you are well on your way to becoming a victim of addiction. The best thing to do at this point would be to talk to a doctor about your drinking, as your analysis may not always be the most objective and the most unbiased one. You may defend your addiction with a number of excuses and justifications, or even think that every one else around you is blowing the matter out of proportion.

Another prominent way to access whether you are indeed going overboard, is to gauge what the people closest to you are saying. If, for even an instant, you are struck by the possibility that there is some truth to their observations, don't dismiss the thought. Make that call to your doctor and set up your appointment without any further delay. The most important reason for you to give up on that bottle is 'you'. Think of all the physical ailments that alcohol abuse could cause you and those which already afflict you. From liver cirrhosis, to gastrointestinal disorders to even cardiovascular problems, alcohol literally wreaks havoc on your body. Also, if you are resorting to alcohol to alleviate your tensions, you may be surprised to know that alcohol, in itself is a depressant. The momentary high that you feel in followed by rapidly increasing bouts of depression, to the point that it becomes a vicious cycle where you have to drink to rid yourself of the depression that alcohol has brought on to you.

Look for reinforcement in all its forms once you have made the decision to quit. Make a list of all the reasons which prompted you to take the first step. From your physical health to your family ties, every reason is reason enough for you to quit. Tack this list to your refrigerator, your dresser, or any place where you can see it often. This will give you the much-needed motivation when you are feeling particularly low and egg you on stick to your resolve. At times like these, it also helps if you talk to friends and family and let them help you overcome any hurdles that impede your path to recovery. If you do recourse to alcohol to ease you through psychological trauma, seek the advice of a trained counselor to rid you of these problems. Group therapy sessions have also proven to be immensely beneficial as they allow victims to share their experiences and consult with others who have been through similar times.

Make sure to divide your process of recovery into distinct milestones where you reward yourself for every barrier you overcome. An interesting way to reward yourself would be to set aside the money you save on alcohol and spend it on something you truly enjoy. This could be a quiet dinner with your family, an evening at the movies or even something you have wanted to buy for a long time, but haven't been able to afford. This system will keep you motivated to stick to your routine until it becomes more of a way of life for you, rather than a regime you impose on yourself. For those excruciating withdrawal symptoms, you can also try alternative techniques like hypnosis and acupuncture or even unwind with a relaxing massage.

The first month of your de-addiction program is bound to be the most difficult. However, once you've eased through that crucial phase, make it a point to redesign your social and personal interactions to avoid any circumstances which may prompt relapses. This could involve avoiding those weekend "Let's get sloshed" sessions with your colleagues from work, or even keeping away from all the people you associated with, during your addiction. Many of these associates may be in the denial phase themselves, and hence not recognize the need for you to take the drastic step to curtail your drinking habits at all. What's more, they may even try, in all innocence, to coerce you to break your program "Just once," assuring you that a single drink will not do you any harm. And before you know it, the one drink multiplies into two and then four and before you know it, you're back right where you began.

Although the difficulties and obstacles, which crop up when you take that first step towards de-addiction, seem overwhelming at first, don't let them weaken your resolve. As they say, perseverance pays and yours will too keep moving towards your goal relentlessly and you will discover the many beautiful facets of life which your addiction blocks out.

Advertisements
Click here to join VC Affiliates - Fantastic revenue share, CPA and Hybrid Structures available!