Overcoming Marriage Trouble

Alcohol addiction is likely one of the more common substance abuse issues. Unfortunately, there is no single, easy path to becoming sober. Tackling addiction in multiple ways will give you the best chance at long-term sobriety.

Abstinence

Since alcohol is common in society, it can be one of the harder drugs to avoid. Although there are some schools of thought that believe recovering alcoholics can eventually drink normally, this is rarely effective. People who are in recovery for alcoholism are more likely to be successful if they abstain from alcohol. This can include anything that might be a potential trigger for your addiction, such as mouthwashes, baking extracts, or even hand sanitizer, since these products contain alcohol and are often misused by alcoholics. In the beginning of recovery, you might find yourself avoiding places that sell alcohol or even avoiding outings with friends until you feel like you can go to these environments without becoming tempted.

Counseling

Ongoing therapy as part of your recovery is also invaluable to become and stay sober. Many people attend meetings for recovering alcoholics, which is a form of therapy because you have the opportunity to speak with others in your situation and receive guidance. Professional therapy can be necessary to tackle issues beyond addiction, such as personal problems and mental illness that might has encouraged your addiction to alcohol. Alcoholism is frequently associated with depression, since people might use it as a coping mechanism to numb emotional pain. Regardless of the underlying mental illness, it is important to find the right medication and stay consistent with treatment to have a chance at long-term recovery from addiction.

Long-Term Goals

Although you might not think about long-term goals as a part of treatment, many recovering alcoholics have the goal of becoming a substance abuse counselor or working in the helping professions. Not only can having long-term goals help with confidence and take your mind off alcohol, but some people who have been sober for years or decades find investing their efforts in helping others is what keeps them sober. In some cases, the goal of being dependable to others serves as a constant reminder that you cannot help others unless you help yourself first. Of course, some people cannot handle the stress associated with this level of accountability and responsibility, but they formulate other long-term goals that can be influential in their sobriety.

Since alcohol is readily available, you might find it is easy to slip into old patterns of addiction. Abstaining from alcohol and addressing addiction in different ways will give the best chance at sobriety.

For more information, reach out to professional services like Oasis Behavioral Health & Addiction Services LP.