FOUR AMAZING WAYS TO BREAK THE CHAINS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE.
“My father was an alcoholic, and I
followed in his footsteps. At 12 years of age, I was already drinking. By the
time I married, I was getting drunk every day. I became violent; often the
police came to my family aid, my health deteriorated. Alcohol caused a gastric
hemorrhage, which I barely survived. I then developed cirrhosis and anemia. I
joined self-help groups in an attempt to quit, but to no avail. Felt as if I were
caught in a spiderweb and could not break free”.-Victor
Again and again stories such as this one
are told by people ensnared by alcohol. Like Victor, they feel trapped with no
way out. Can alcohol-induced problems be overcome or even avoided? If so, how?
1.
RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM; the best way to reduce
the total of alcohol-related problems in a society is to focus on curtailing
the drinking of moderate rather than heavy drinkers. Does your drinking exceed
the limits recommended by health authorities? Do you drink in situations
requiring your full attention and quick reflexes? Are your drinking habits
causing problems in your family or at work?
2.
SEEKING HELP; detoxification programs, however,
are no guarantee of success. Medication is only a temporary measure, not a
cure. Allen, in France, undertook several detoxification treatments. “as soon
as I left the hospital, I started drinking again because I associated with the
same drinking partners. Basically, I did not have the proper motivation to
stop” he says
3.
FILLING THE VOID; a manual published by WHO with
advice for those trying to change their drinking habit highlights the
importance of purposeful activities in avoiding a relapse. One idea given as an
example is engaging in religious activities.
4.
COPING WITH A RELAPSE; if you are struggling to
break free of alcohol, remember that relapses are likely to occur and that you
should consider them as part of the road to recovery. Do not give up! Analyze
what led to the relapse, and use that as knowledge to prevent future slips.
Identify specific situations that arouse in you the desire to drink. Could it
be boredom, depression, loneliness, arguments, stress, or events or places
where others drink? Then avoid them.
If
your drinking habit poses a threat to your well-being, do not hesitate to make
the necessary changes. It can be for your own good and for the good of those
who love you. A person can make changes whether he is at risk of an accident
through misuse of alcohol, is suffering problems because of abusing alcohol, or
is alcohol dependent.
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