Alcohol usage often starts small and then becomes a habit. The habitual drinking of alcohol can continue for a while before the body begins to adapt to the regular quantity. The user, at this point, has built a tolerance to the usual intake and needs to increase intake to get the desired buzz. With increasing intake comes dependence and then addiction.
Alcohol addiction rewires the brain – making it think it can’t survive or function properly without alcohol. Addicts often face a lot of problems in all areas of their lives, including career, health, relationship, finances, and others.
Getting off the addiction path isn’t a simple thing to do. If you have chosen to become sober by enrolling in addiction recovery at Pacific Ridge, you need to understand that it takes work and effort. This article guides you through some of the steps needed to work through alcohol addiction.
Take A Stand
Addiction isn’t always easy to address. Sometimes, addicts do not realize that they are addicted to a substance until it has become too late. If your family and friends have noticed this problem and have staged an intervention or have offered help, it may be hard to accept.
The first conscious step to overcoming alcohol addiction is taking a stand. You need to decide against the abused substance and choose sobriety instead. You cannot do this on your own either. You need professional help and support from your family and friends. Get started by enrolling in an addiction treatment facility to be evaluated.
Addiction treatment professionals will guide you through an appropriate treatment procedure while offering as much information as you need to know about alcohol addiction treatment. Always remember that simply going to an addiction treatment facility isn’t the cure you want. You need to choose to remain sober irrespective of how great the temptation to relapse may be.
Brace For The Pain
Addiction is a hardened habit that may be hard to beat. Many people in addiction treatment centers have returned the second, third, or even more times because they fell off the sobriety train. In the first few days of your decision to quit alcohol, you may find yourself facing the worst kind of withdrawal symptom.
Your addiction treatment professional may be able to help through medications that will reduce the effect of withdrawal. However, this depends on the specific approach to treatment taken by the professional.
You should also know that although the first few days may be tough, other days will be a battle between doing what is right and going back to the abused substance. Choosing to face your challenges head-on and choosing sobriety each day can help. You may also need to remove yourself from circumstances, people, situations, or conditions that may tempt you to relapse.
Sobriety Isn’t Recovery
There is a world of difference between sobriety and recovery. Sobriety is a temporary state wherein you are free from the influence of alcohol or other abused substances. Living sober is a long-term goal. Living sober means that you have stayed away from the abused substance for a prolonged period of time, and you have continued to shun its advances.
The goal of addiction treatment is in two folds; first, to get you sober, and second, to inspire sober living. If you wish to be free from substance abuse, you must choose to be sober each second and minute of your day, and this can culminate into sober living over time.
Fellowship Is Important
Whether you choose in-patient or out-patient alcohol addiction rehabilitation, it is often common to have fellowship with like-minded individuals who are going through the same struggles as you are. Fellowships, in the form of AA meetings or support groups, can help you understand that certain circumstances aren’t only particular to you.
It can also help you to better understand how others dealt with the challenges. Fellowship also helps you to meet more people that you can make friends with to improve your chances of remaining sober.
Forgiveness Is A Huge Part Of Recovery
Sometimes, addiction is borne of traumatic experiences inflicted by friends, family, and loved ones. As you work through your addiction, it is best to understand the root cause of the problem and address it. Addiction is only the symptom of your hurt or pain.
Forgiving the people who have hurt or wronged you can help you move on faster. Identifying the source of your addiction and moving on from the problem can improve your chances of beating addiction and living a sober life.
Addiction treatment isn’t an overnight treatment that offers immediate results. All parties involved are required to pay attention and do their part to ensure overall success.