The Path To Recovery From Alcohol Addiction: First Steps

Alcohol addiction and substance abuse can be a very testing period for those who suffer from it and or have a family member or friend suffering from it. It can be difficult to see a life collapse into dismay and lose the incredible potential that it once had, all due to a drug.

The one comfort that you can have if you are an alcoholic, or if your loved one is an alcoholic, is that there is a way out and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Many of those who suffer from alcohol addiction have been able to beat it and live long, happy, sustainable lives.

There are many ways to overcome an addiction or substance abuse problem. It can vary from person to person in terms of coping techniques. But the recovery process comes with some of its own challenges.

Oftentimes, people struggle to find a program to help them as they often need a doctor’s referral and are likely to be placed on a waiting list to be admitted. The time element of getting into such programs can be too long for those seeking help, which make them fall back into their negative ways.

But, from what we’ve seen from iRecover in Alberta, Canada, there do exist programs that can offer 24-hour assistance without any referrals or a long waitlist. Such programs can help alcoholics detox and be set on a path to recovery. Here are some of the first steps to a path of recovery from alcohol addiction.

Recognizing the Problem

To fix any problem, you must first admit and come to terms with the existence of the problem. Alcoholics may be in denial about their addiction or abuse problems. They can make excuses for or rationalize their excessive drinking. Sometimes having a non-aggressive confrontation can help the alcoholic recognize the issue.

Interventions can be useful in such scenarios to allow the person’s loved ones to explain their points of view to illustrate to those suffering from the addiction that they do, indeed, need help. It’s important to not be hostile during such confrontations. Show that you care and that you will be by their side to help — don’t make them feel alone.

Hitting Rock Bottom

Some say to truly be on a path toward recovery, an addict must hit rock bottom. While this may be the case for some, it is not always necessary and also not always effective. The addict must feel a sense of urgency or responsibility to take action to help with their addiction.

In other words, the addict must be ready to shift their mindset from simply being aware of the problem to actively take steps to resolve it. At this stage, it helps if the addict can see the effect of their addiction on those they love and not just on their own, personal lives. They must look beyond themselves and use their selflessness to drive them toward action.

Finding the Right Treatment

Exploring recovery options can be overwhelming. Many people are misinformed on the correct path to take, the right techniques to be used to cope, and have a false sense of the struggle it will take to overcome the addiction. The clear path toward proper, effective recovery is finding the right treatment center. While such centers help with educating the addict, they can be critical during the detox phase.

Depending on the level of addiction, quitting alcohol immediately can have adverse health effects. Having an appropriate, qualified medical care while detoxing can be crucial to the addict’s continuation of recovery and in ensuring the addicts’ safety. Find an appropriate treatment facility.

The path toward recovery is definitely manageable, but not easy. Admission of the problem’s existence, finding the motivation and willpower to take action, and getting to a treatment facility are sadly only the first steps to recovery.

But, in the treatment center, the addict will learn the necessary tools to manage their condition. They will experience a period of intense vulnerability, struggle, but eventually learn.

Whether the rehab facility has their patients go through the 12-step program or otherwise, the addict will find ways to acknowledge the root cause of their drinking habits and learn, not only to curb them, but resolve them in a proper, healthy manner.

Inpatient facilities can be both costly and time-consuming, meaning that they aren’t a viable option for everyone. Elite Home Detox offers flexible, in-house alcohol detox treatment and support services that are customized to patients’ schedules.

This process highly depends on the addict themselves, but it helps immensely to have a good support system. There are group meetings and counseling sessions for family members of those who suffer from addiction and they can be incredibly useful in helping said family members understand and support their loved ones.

The path to recovery may be long, but it is manageable. Take the first steps today.