Alcohol Freedom Blog

There is no doubt about it; alcohol is a very difficult addiction to control. Statistically 90% of people who receive treatment for alcohol abuse end up relapsing before their 4th sober year is complete. This is an astonishing number and testament to the firm grip this wily threat has on the vulnerable drinker.You can agree to enter treatment, arbitrarily decide you need help and seek it out, or become sick enough so the decision is made for you. However you end up in treatment and recovery, the task ahead of you is daunting to say the least. Alcoholism and problem drinking has no preference for its targets. It is said that alcohol addiction is the great equalizer.

Doctors, lawyers, politicians, school teachers, housewives, construction workers, teenagers and octogenarians all have sought treatment for problem drinking. Some have been successful without relapsing and many have slipped. Psychological theories abound with reasons why there are so many relapses with alcohol. Surely there are physiological causes as well but I will offer my layman’s theories.

Personally I was fortunate to have avoided a relapse when I ceased drinking but I must remain eternally vigilant for the remainder of my life to the warning signs of potential relapse. In my mind, stress is one of the main reasons why some people inevitably “fall off the wagon”. Not learning earlier in sobriety methods to manage stressors that can result in slips is a classic cause of relapse.

Understanding why you drank in the first place will aid you in recognizing the warning signs of potentially drinking again in certain situations.

As an example, many people have told me I should go to Las Vegas, since knowing me; they believe I would love it. I have no doubt I probably would - but I also know me, and the temptation of free alcohol, gambling, every prudent fiber in my body tells me visiting Las Vegas would be a bad idea. Same goes for all inclusive resort vacations in a certain environment or cruises.

Separating yourself from potentially “dangerous” surroundings is vital to an alcoholic or problem drinker’s long term sobriety.

Why make it more difficult on yourself than it already may be? If you can avoid it - do so. There are always going to be those who test their limits and this is just foolish behavior and asking for trouble.

I also found that taking the hard road to sobriety probably helped to sustain my recovery especially in the early, difficult days. As much as I craved a drink and the physical lure to alcohol was still achingly present, I knew that if I started drinking, just one single drink, I would probably not stop and that scared the sweat out of me. Why? Because I was so sick the first time I got sober I just couldn’t go through it all over again.

If you had an easier time of stopping initially from a physical perspective and staying sober is more an emotional urge than physical compulsion perhaps you could try shelving your selfish desire to drink and think about those that you deeply hurt the first time around with your abusive drinking. Don’t they deserve some tranquility in their lives for a change?

As a recovering alcoholic or problem drinker who appears to be slipping, you must do whatever it takes NOT to take that first drink. Easier said than done but you must dig deep. Getting sober is not for the faint of heart; if it was a simple process then 90% wouldn’t relapse.

Another risk factor is societal demands.

If you feel vulnerable to relapse try not to put yourself in a social situation where alcohol is prevalent. Avoid your old drinking scenarios and those you used to drink with.

Think about it for a moment. In the bad old days when you were stressed and angry over something at work, would you seek out a drink at your favorite watering hole or get home to your private stash and quell your frustrations and anxieties in private?

Alerted to the warning signals of anger and frustration, a classic stressor responsible for many of your drinking binges, you understand it and counter the urge to drink by avoiding your old habits and perhaps go to the gym for a full workout instead of the pub to simply bend your elbow.

Behavior modification is critical to long term sobriety.

But how do you learn these techniques for recognizing your stressors and successfully managing them?

It would be terribly difficult if not impossible to do this without some form of support.

Millions of alcoholics around the world attend A.A. meetings specifically to get this emotional support from others who share the commonality of alcohol dependency. Learning from others is the basis of the program at A.A. and helping each other overcome the harshness of alcohol recovery.

A.A. isn’t for everyone - many problem and excessive drinkers prefer and choose to have personal, confidential counseling. This is a marvelous way to learn about yourself and customize a coaching program to suit your emotional needs while in recovery. Having a medical professional available to assist you in recognizing your susceptibilities to alcohol and teach you how to cope when you really feel under pressure to drink is an extremely valuable resource. They will aid you in controlling your angst that leads to unrestrained drinking.

Quitting or modifying your alcohol consumption is a good start to a better quality of life, however you must have a support system in place to avoid relapsing to drink. This means those closest to you should also be aware of how you are feeling and what triggers your alcoholic behavior. It is then a solid idea to not place yourself in these situations and that’s where the support of your family can be helpful.

It’s helpful to set goals for yourself and try to achieve them. Short term goals initially, maybe your first month sober, give yourself a reward like a nice dinner out with your significant other. Then work toward 6 months and a year resulting in a reward after each milestone, something special and meaningful to mark the occasion.

I think the simplest way to avoid a relapse or slipping back to drinking is living life via the cliché of one day at a time and in the early stages of sobriety try living one moment at a time without alcohol. You need to try and stay sober at that critical time you are tempted to drink so do whatever it takes to avoid the slip at that particular instance. Repeat this as often as is necessary. Remind yourself of the time you have already invested into sobriety and the challenge you’ve faced and conquered up to this point. Staying sober is the most important, relevant and immediate purpose in your life particularly in the first few years of sobriety.

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