The Road To Recovery: How To Start Getting Over An Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol is something that most people will have sampled at some stage of their lives. For the most part, people enjoy an occasional alcoholic drink when socializing. But there are others that develop an addiction to booze, and it’s something that can transform their lives – for the worse.
It’s a sad fact of life that thousands of people die each year from problems associated with alcohol addiction. As you are reading this blog post, it is likely that you have decided you want to deal with your addiction before it’s too late. Admitting that you’ve got a problem is the first step on the road to recovery.
If you’re not sure what to do next, here are some tips to help you get over your alcohol addiction.
How can I be sure I’ve got an addiction to alcohol?
There are many telltale signs that you’ve got an alcohol problem. For example, the most common one is finding that you always have a need to drink. Another is you keep finding yourself getting into trouble after you’ve had a few drinks.
The most obvious sign of all is when more than one person tells you that you’re drinking too much and that you’ve got an addiction to alcohol! Some people that have at least one alcoholic drink each day don’t think they’ve got an addiction.
The truth is; frequent drinking means that you are more likely to drink to excess on a regular basis. The same thing applies to any addiction. In other words, once you’re hooked, you feel that you can’t stop, and you just want more all the time.
What should I do?
Admitting that you’ve got an alcohol addiction is always the first step to getting better. Despite what you may think, it’s a major hurdle to overcome for many addicts. When you admit to yourself that you’ve got a problem, you can then start to seek help for your addiction.
The next step is to contact your doctor for advice and support. They can refer you to appropriate services such as a local support group or rehab facility that can work with you to cut alcohol out of your life for good. Wherever you are, be it Kansas City, New York, or London, there will be support available to assist you in your recovery.
Should I go “cold turkey”?
You’ve probably read some websites that suggest you cut alcohol out of your life immediately. If you’ve got an alcohol addiction, going cold turkey is probably the worst thing you can do! Why? Because it can sometimes place you into a life-threatening situation!
It is better to make gradual changes in your life so that your body can get used to them.
Is it a bad idea to live at home?
There is one problem with staying where you are when you’re getting over alcohol addiction. And that is temptation can often be hard to resist. A fresh start to sober living is needed, and one way to help do that is by living in a different environment. One where you’ve got the support you need.
In some ways, they are “half-way houses” for people that want to give up drinking alcohol. Once you’re confident and well enough to live on your own again, you can go back to living at home.