Quit Smart: How to Start an Alcoholism Abuse Recovery Plan

 

 

If you’ve been battling alcoholism, you have probably come to realize that it’s often easier to get sober than it is to stay sober. Alcoholism is typically classed as an addiction that causes you to crave alcohol and lose control of your drinking once you start. There is hope to recover from this seemingly hopeless situation, but it does take some diligence. Millions of people around the world were once in your same position, but they have learned a better way of living that doesn’t involve alcohol.

 

Think the Drink Through

Before you pick up that first drink, play the tape in your head. Alcoholics typically forget the turmoil that their drinking causes, so it’s important to keep those memories in the forefront of your mind. Whether your drinking has harmed your personal relationships, business relationships or legal situation, you must remember those potential consequences before you begin drinking. Ask yourself if those consequences are worth it, and you’ll most likely realize that they aren’t.

 

Simplify Your Sobriety

When you tell an alcoholic that they can’t drink for the rest of their lives, it sounds like a goal that’s unobtainable. The best way to stay sober is to do it one day at a time. Don’t worry about how you’re going to stay sober next week, next month or the next day, just worry about staying sober that day. Some days are more difficult than others, but remember that your cravings will eventually pass. The longer you’re able to do this, the less power your cravings will have.

 

Don’t Try to Quit on Your Own

It’s common for alcoholics to want to quit “cold turkey” because they believe they can do it on their own. The reality is that the withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism can be painful, uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. Many alcoholics justify their drinking because they don’t want to go through the withdrawals as well. Seek the help of a professional detox center, so you can safely detox and clear your head to begin a life of recovery. Others try to quit by reducing their alcohol consumption gradually. If you attempt this, be aware that even a single drink can lead to a relapse or binge when you’re trying to quit. According to a specialist who analyzes Ohio DUI tests, estimating your blood alcohol content can be difficult, so it’s best to completely abstain from alcohol consumption if you’re trying to quit.

 

Find a Support Group

You need to surround yourself with people who care about you. Sometimes this means you have to stop hanging around people you considered friends. If they don’t realize that your sobriety must come first, then they could threaten your new way of living. You can easily find a support group by simply attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and introducing yourself to people. The people in the rooms of AA understand how important a support group is and will be there whenever you’re having a rough day.

 

By acknowledging that you have a problem and that you need help, you have made a great step in the right direction. There’s no cure for alcoholism, but it can be treated when you learn how to replace your hold habits with new healthy ones. Each day your mind will begin to heal and you’ll see that you’re able to live a life far beyond what you ever expected when you were still drinking.

 

Categories: abuse, alcoholism, quit, recovery

How to Break Free from the Clutches of Alcoholism

 

Alcoholism is insidious. It may start with social drinking with friends or drinking alone when you are under stress. Before you know it, you need that drink rather than want it. If you decide not to drink, you get the shakes or cannot function. You know if your drinking continues you may lose your family, job and freedom in the case of a car accident while drunk. There are steps you can take to break free from the clutches of alcoholism and protect yourself from issues that may have arisen while you were drinking.

 

Admit You Have a Problem

Alcoholism has been a problem for people down through the ages. The key to gaining sobriety and the quality of life that you and your family deserve is to quit drinking. You don’t have to feel overwhelmed with the idea that you must stop drinking forever. You only have to stop for today. Take your sobriety journey one day at a time.

 

You Need Support

Very few people will succeed at becoming sober on their own. Anyone wishing to gain sobriety will need a support system. If your drinking has become serious, seek medical attention. A stay in a rehab may be just what you need to get you started on your life-long journey living a sober life. Join a 12-step group like AA, and learn from those who have traveled this road before you. Find help and you will significantly increase your chances of staying clean and sober.

 

Admit Your Shortcomings

Two of the 12 Steps tell the recovering alcoholic that they must admit their shortcomings and make amends to gain sobriety. While people struggle with staying away from alcohol, admitting our mistakes is even harder than giving up drinking. But admitting your problems and making amends is one of the best ways to start your new sober life afresh and on the right foot.

 

Protect Your Legal Rights

Once you have become sober, you deserve the new life you have worked so hard to attain. If you ended up in an accident or may be about to lose your driver’s license due to your past DUIs, you will definitely need legal representation from Druyon Law or other specialty firms that have experience and know how to make sure your rights are protected, whether you are guilty or not.

 

Break Free Starting Today

You can break free from alcoholism. Start today. You only need to stay sober one day at a time. Help is there if you ask for it. You can do it!

 

Categories: 12 steps, alcoholic, alcoholism, DUI, family support, lawyer

Early Indicators of Alcoholism to Look Out For

 

Because drinking is so commonplace in various cultures, it’s often difficult to identify when a person is early on their path to problem-drinking or alcoholism. The developed signs are easy to spot, but early indicators are a bit more elusive. These are several early indications that a person is at risk for developing alcoholism.

 

Drinking Alone

A common early indicator of alcoholism is drinking alone and outside of social situations. While this person might still engage in social drinking, they still have no problem consuming alcohol without others around. They might often purchase alcohol in relatively large quantities for the home. For example, this person might purchase a large case of beer with the sole intention of drinking it all themselves. Drinking alone might also be indicative of embarrassment related to the drinking problem.

 

Using Alcohol as Emotional Therapy

Many alcoholics use drinking as a method for self-medication. To an alcoholic, the drink is a “quick fix” that can temporarily wash away all emotional problems, pain, and stressors. This person might be more apt to drink if they’ve had a bad day at work or a catastrophic life event has taken place. According to Rod Gregory, an Edmonton DUI attorney, the risk factor is particularly high if the individual immediately turns to alcohol after something negative has taken place.

 

Failing to Show Effects of Alcohol Use

Alcoholics typically have higher tolerance levels for the substance than average people. This means that it takes quite a bit of alcohol for the person to feel “buzzed” or drunk. The person could be able to remain composed despite consuming large amounts of alcohol. Likewise, the person might not appear to suffer hangovers, sickness, or any other negative effects associated with drinking heavily.

 

Lying about Drinking Habits

Many people that are in the beginning stages of alcoholism will regularly lie about how often or much they drink. They might go out for a night of fun with a few friends, but by the next day, they could possibly deny to others that they did anything at all the night before. Lying about the drinking habit is directly related to embarrassment concerning the addiction.

 

Becoming Defensive When Approached about Drinking

Lastly, a drinking problem could be imminent if the person is perpetually defensive about their drinking habits. When questioned or approached about their drinking, they might either clam up or become annoyed with the concern. In some cases, the irritation from being questioned could be so severe that it causes problems in the relationship between the two people.

 

Categories: Alcohol, alcoholism, Drinking, drinking habits, drinking problem, early indicators, indicators, look out, nbsp, person

Cancer and Alcohol: The Personal Impact

It is common knowledge that abusing alcohol on a regular basis can lead to several health issues such as cirrhosis of the liver. Additionally, alcoholics have a heightened risk of dealing with high blood pressure, liver failure, seizures, decreased mental function and body tremors. However, it is also important to note that drinking can increase your odds of contracting several forms of cancer even if you do not drink on a daily basis.

 

What Forms of Cancer can be Impacted?

Extensive research has linked alcohol usage to cancer of the mouth, breast, esophagus, rectum, colon, voice box and throat. Researchers are also currently studying the potential link between pancreatic cancer and alcohol consumption. Although anyone who drinks has the increased risk of contracting one of these forms of cancer, it is important to note that your odds of developing cancer of the voice box, mouth, esophagus and throat will be much higher if you are also a smoker. In fact, drinking and smoking at the same time leads to many more cases of these types of cancer than smoking alone.

 

How does Alcohol Increase My Risk?

There is no simple link that researchers can point to that easily explains how drinking can make people more susceptible to cancer. However, there are several issues caused by alcohol that are likely to be a factor, including the fact that alcohol damages body tissues, lowers levels of folate and other necessary nutrients, has an undesired effect on estrogen levels, can cause people to gain weight and acts as a solvent that increases the harmful impact of other chemicals such as those found in tobacco smoke.

 

What are Some of the Other Dangers?

Although becoming occasionally intoxicated is not likely to significantly increase your risk of dealing with any serious health issues, it could lead to legal and social complications if you end up getting a DUI. After all, a DUI conviction is typically accompanied by high fines, a suspended license and the possibility of jail time.

 

Additionally, having a DUI on your record could cause you to lose your job, and it is likely to make it more difficult to attend the college of your choice and get a new job in the future. Retaining an experienced DUI attorney would be an absolute when faced with such difficulties due to such a charge on a record.

 

When this happens it is important to retain legal representation. According to David Katz from the Law Offices of Katz & Phillips there is a difference between DUI lawyers and DUI law firms. The team approach achieves the best possible results for clients.Legal representation can help assist in getting charges reduced in an effort to prevent the harsher punishments that can accompany it.

 

Keep in mind that getting behind the wheel when you are intoxicated can also very easily lead to a life altering injury or a fatal car accident. Due to this, it is vital for everyone to be careful with their alcohol consumption.

 

As you can see, regularly consuming alcoholic beverages can have several negative side effects. Therefore, it is safer for everyone to avoid drinking in most situations so that they do not end up dealing with issues such as cancer of the mouth or cirrhosis of the liver. It is also important to note that the total amount of alcohol that you consume will have a bigger impact on your cancer risk than the type of alcohol that you drink. Additionally, studies have indicated that binge drinking an average of once a month will greatly increase your risk of developing cancer, especially if you are a woman.

 

Health advocate and blogger Lisa Coleman personally understands the damage and risks that can accompany overconsumption of alcohol, and the effects it can cause to an individual’s life. She recently viewed how Katz & Phillips, an Orlando DUI attorney firm, can legally assist a client who is faced with a DUI charge to help them get back on their feet.

Categories: Alcohol, alcoholism, cancer, DUI, risks of drinking