Every now and then we hear in the news or read newspaper reports about one celebrity or the other who has been sent to a home for a rehabilitation course. Not only celebrities, but even the most common person ends up in these homes either for drug abuse or for treatment for their alcohol addiction. Alcoholism has become a big issue in our world, as more and more people are becoming addicted to it.
A lot of people who don’t understand alcoholism will simply tell someone that they just need to quit drinking. All of their woes will end if they just don’t give into temptation. Sure, that sounds like a logical solution and a sensible one as well. However, having an alcohol addiction simply does not allow for someone to just stop drinking. They may attempt to stop but soon find that the cravings are just too much to bear. And that’s how you know if you or someone you care about truly does have an alcohol addiction. Having a bad day at work and stopping at the bar on the way home for a few quick beers does not make you an alcoholic. Stopping every single day on your way home for a few quick beers, and a few quick more, may indicate signs that you’re not as in control as you’d like to be. You know that you, or someone you love, have an alcohol addiction when they simply crave more and more of it. They want to keep drinking in order to maintain that happy euphoric feeling of being high. To some, that is only achieved when they have a drink attached to their hand.
It isn’t easy to watch someone you care about battle an alcohol addiction. It can tear families apart, ruin marriages and relationships and destroy households. There is only so much that you can do for an alcoholic; the rest, they must have the strength to move towards getting treatment. Going through treatment for an alcohol addiction takes a lot of strength and support. Those loved ones who may have gotten hurt and pushed away suddenly may find that they are needed for the aid of a successful recovery. Deciding to just stop drinking isn’t always the best way to battle an alcohol addiction. Getting treatment and letting doctors and counselors assist in the process can make things go much smoother for not only the individual but their families as well.
Reaching out for help and recognizing that an alcohol addiction is the first step in the journey. It won’t always be a flat road, there may be some mountains to climb, but crossing that finish line will be the greatest of rewards.