For successful alcohol addiction recovery, three factors
must come together simultaneously. Addiction recovery is
amazingly complex subject that just begs to be broken down
into simplicity. Here are the three factors that should
come together to have a reasonable chance of success and
lifelong abstinence:
1. Motivation - If the drinker does not believe they have a
problem with alcohol, their logic is that there's
absolutely no reason to do anything about a problem that
doesn't exist, is there?. This is a huge problem because
the denial of a problem is one of the defining
characteristics of alcohol addiction. Now, even if the
drinker does believe that they have a problem, there's a
question of whether they're willing to do something about
it, and what are they willing to do? Often they may concede
that there's a problem with their drinking, but are not
motivated to "do what ever it takes" to become completely
abstinent. They will spin around in circles in futile
efforts to maintain 'control' over their drinking.
2. Timing - If the drinker concedes that they have a
problem with alcohol addiction or it is causing problems in
their life, that's great, but it's not enough. Many
drinkers are fully aware that they have a problem but not
ready to do anything about it. The motivation and timing to
quit drinking are most often brought about by an up front
and close personal crisis. Getting whooped in the head
with a figurative 2 x 4, such as narrowly escaping death,
or losing a job, or losing somebody close to them.
Motivation and timing generally do not come together as a
result of nagging, finger-pointing or educating the
alcoholic on the evils of addiction. I knew I had a
problem with drinking for 20 years, and said I could quit
any time I wanted to, but the time was never quite right.
If a drinker has admitted that they have a problem with
alcohol and states that want to quit the next question to
be asked to simply... now? If the timing is right we move
onto the next piece of the puzzle.
3. Persistence - If the motivation and timing are in place
and a drinker has actually stopped drinking and achieved
abstinence, the question now is how they stay stopped
drinking for the long run? The best answer is for the
person and alcohol addiction recovery to keep abstinence
and sobriety the number one priority in their life. The way
that is done is through persistence. It is imperative to
maintain an awareness that no matter what life may serve
up, good or bad, returning to alcohol use is not a
solution or celebration. The vast majority of people who
have relapsed back into alcohol use have stated that
sobriety lost its priority. They did not persistently
maintain their awareness of their alcoholism; actively
pursue relapse prevention, and life skills. Many people
returned to drink because their life is going so well they
forget they have a problem with alcohol and believe they
can once again return to its use and control it.
There many views on alcoholism and addiction recovery.
There is no one definite view or methodology that has been
proven to be more successful than another, so there are
many theories and opinions out there. It is simply my
experience as a professional working with people and
alcohol addiction recovery that the confluence, or coming
together, of motivation, correct timing, and persistence,
are necessary pieces of the puzzle for long-term sobriety.
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Pick up your Free Addiction Recovery Help Guide, Over 100
pages of alcohol addiction recovery tips, resources and
links to enhance your life. Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an
addictions therapist at a leading residential treatment
center. Visit our growing community at:
http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com
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