My Alcohol Addiction
My father once said to me that as long as you can wake up in the morning
and go to work, then you are not an alcoholic - a convenient definition
if you have a "casual alcohol addiction". Like him, I never
considered myself a "drunk", but I do know that alcohol addiction
is a problem for me no matter what the level of consumption. Whenever
I make the mistake of letting myself start drinking again, alcohol quickly
becomes an obsession. It starts with a casual drink and some good times,
it then turns into a social necessity, then into the focus of my life,
and pretty soon I'm drinking as fast as I can at every opportunity until
I once again fall into a personal, social, or mental crisis. I cannot
tell you how many times this pattern has repeated itself in my life.
I'm happy to say that I have discovered a technique that has enabled
me to quit drinking alcohol altogether. Better yet, I no longer have any
desire to drink again. I figure enough time has passed so I can say that
the method I used really works. I created this website because I want
to share the technique with you - I feel that it is something that can
really help some people out. However, keep in mind that I am not a doctor
and there are many people for whom this information will not suffice -
so please do not rely on it for your alcohol rehabilitation.
Consider this information as my personal story, and use it only if it
corresponds with guidance you receive from a qualified medical or mental
health professional.
The Groundwork for "My Alcohol Rehab"
For me, alcohol addiction has always been more of a mental battle than
anything else. Winning that battle has required that I realize and
never forget that whatever benefits I believe alcohol gives me,
it actually takes away.
Examine the "benefits" that you perceive alcohol to give you.
Then take a close look at your past experiences - or do some research
- to determine the reality.
Here are some examples of my own mental mis-associations about alcohol:
| The illusion |
The reality |
| Alcohol helps me to relax |
It is not relaxing to "need
a drink"; Also, there are much better and more reliable ways
of learning to relax. |
| Alcohol helps me to sleep
better |
Studies show that alcohol consumption is one of
the top causes of poor sleep. It takes your body a tremendous amount
of energy to breakdown alcohol, so even though you may be able to
"fall asleep" (unconscious) after drinking, your body is
not able to rest. Alcohol also interferes with REM (rapid eye movement)
sleep and dreaming, which are important components of mental renewal
- without them, we will not feel fully refreshed after sleeping. |
| Alcohol helps me to be
more social |
To need a drink before you interact is a social
distraction; It is also more difficult to make real connection with
others once you're intoxicated - alcohol distorts emotions, judgment,
and communication ability; Drinking alcohol often leads to social
disasters like saying things we regret, or things that are just not
appropriate for the situation; Furthermore, any social connection
you do make with others while intoxicated is not being made by the
"real you" or the "real them" - therefore, people
are not getting to really know each other; Also, intoxicated people
are often perceived as being less reliable, less honest, and less
emotionally stable - this makes them less attractive as friends or
potential mates; Alcoholics almost always suffer an erosion of self-esteem
and personal integrity, qualities required for lasting social success;
A high percentage of violent crimes are a result of alcohol - that's
certainly not very social. In short - quit drinking alcohol and you
will find that your socializing is much more productive. |
| Alcohol helps me to be
"intimate" |
It is true that alcohol can be a sexual lubricant
- I think this fact is implied by studies showing that people who
abuse alcohol are more likely to contract HIV and other sexually transmitted
diseases than non-drinkers. But alcohol is also associated with increased
likelihood of ED (erectile dysfunction or male impotence) and decreased
sexual drive. Heavy drinkers are more likely to fall asleep before
intimacy as well. Also, for all the reason listed in the previous
paragraph, alcohol addiction makes the connections leading to regular
sexual intimacy less likely to occur. I don't know about you, but
I am now at a point in my life where I don't want to waste time on
the quality of people or the level of mentality commonly found in
bars and clubs. I think I reached that point the first time I went
into a bar, but ignored my intuition to for a long time. |
| I've heard that a glass
of wine a day is good for my health |
Wine does contain antioxidants, but if your body's
health is really the priority, why not eat a handful of grapes or
drink green tea instead? Stop foolishly deceiving yourself - alcohol
is a poison - it kills brain cells, destroys heart muscle, damages
the liver, and much more. Alcohol is also a carcinogen associated
with increased risk of many cancers, such as breast cancer. And it's
a mutagen. There's a good reason why drinking alcohol leads to a condition
called "inTOXICation". |
| Alcohol gives me confidence |
We all know that this is a false sense of confidence
that often appears more like arrogance or foolishness to the sober
people around us. From my experience, alcohol cannot be relied on
for attaining that feeling anyway, as whenever I'm feeling uneasy
or self-conscious, alcohol just amplifies the existing emotion. It
makes more sense to quit drinking and find real ways to build confidence. |
| I enjoy alcohol-induced
"numbness" or "oblivion" |
The tail end of my alcohol drinking phases of life are usually characterized
by a tendency to drink nearly a bottle of wine in one gulp and then
"relax" and "maintain" in the drunk zone with
a second bottle. For me, this sensation is the truly dangerous appeal
of alcohol and other drugs, and probably what people are referring
to when they use the old term "looking for love in a bottle".
We fall "in love" with the feeling. I'll talk about the
urge for this feeling more on the next page. For now, it's important
to realize and never forget that this false "love
affair" is one that ALWAYS leads to destruction of the real
and important things in your life - things that lead to real fulfillment
and happiness. Alcohol abusers never find fulfillment at the bottom
of the bottle.
|
The list of mis-perceptions people hold about alcohol goes on and on -
these are just a few that were important for me. You should examine your
own assumptions closely to make sure that you correct the ones that have
been motivating your decisions to not quit drinking. This kind of self-reflection
is the first important step in moving beyond alcohol addiction. In such
self-awareness, you can more easily start making the decision to stop
drinking.
Hopefully you're starting to see that it's only illusions that have led
to your alcohol addiction. "Right thinking" will lead you back
to sobriety and inner peace. Before you take a drink, always remember
that whatever you believe that the alcohol is going to give to you, it
is actually going to take away. Alcohol may have been a stepping stone
and new experience at some point in your life, but at this point it is
only stealing from you what your life could be.
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