Being an alcoholic is a sickness. It’s not something you can decide not to do with a snap of your fingers — it has to be treated like any other disease. But the road to recovery is a painful path, one filled with bumps and stops and temptations that you have to learn not to succumb to.
Maybe life hasn’t treated you well, or you’ve had enough problems to last a lifetime. Any reason you have for drowning yourself in alcohol in hopes of them fading away is valid. Still, that doesn’t mean that you can forego treatment forever. The only way you can move forward in your life without the ghost of this disease lingering in your shadows is by getting the treatment you need to break free.
Thankfully, there are numerous solutions to alcoholism, some more cost-effective than others. While there are several options for you to choose from, finding a balance among all these solutions is the best way to combat this disease. Once you find a scheme that works best for you and your needs, the road will be slightly less rocky but challenging all the same.
AA Meetings
This is probably the cheapest solution to alcoholism, one that doesn’t cost you anything except self-confidence and the ability to admit that you are, in fact, an alcoholic. AA meetings are a great avenue to build up the courage to get treatment. You can hear about other people’s lives as they go about their days fighting the urge to drown their sorrows in alcohol, and at the same time, share with them your struggles as you combat your demons.
Alcoholics Anonymous is famous for its 12-step program for sobriety that encourages its members to follow its principles as a way of life. It is a completely voluntary community-based affair that you can consider attending unless, of course, if it is a court-mandated decision. Coming to AA can help you get over the fear of getting the help you need. Plus, you get tokens as a reminder of your progress.
Entering Rehabilitation
Rehab centers have always had a bad reputation. It’s not their fault that they were created to help addicts move forward in their lives, but they have become infamous for it all the same. However, it’s high time that the narrative for it is changed because what they do is to better society and all its members.
That’s also a big reason why more and more addicts are less likely to get treatment, because of the reputation that rehabs have. If these centers are highlighted for the good impact they have done on an addict’s life rather than imply that this is where addicts go to be away from society, then maybe addicts will be more inclined to get the treatment they need to get well.
And although this option is more costly, going to a rehabilitation center has been proven as an effective measure to take when combating addiction. These centers focus on giving their patients the help and care they need to recover from alcoholism and other addictions. Rehab offers treatments and counseling and an avenue for recovering alcoholics to heal without the pressure from their friends and family.
If you prefer a facility that values your privacy, attending a private rehab clinic would be your best option. These clinics have more focused treatments because they have fewer patients compared to public rehabs. They also take a more educational path to instill the dangers of alcoholism in their patients.
Online Consultations
If you’re struggling to go out into the world because of your alcoholism, there are options that you can take to receive treatment from the comforts of your own home. Several clinics and doctors have gone online to cater to patients unable to come to them in person. Some offer online consultations, psychotherapy sessions, counseling, and even conduct follow-ups through the web. There is no more limit to what you can do on the internet.
So if you don’t think you’re ready to handle face-to-face interactions or group counseling sessions, consider searching the web for a therapist or a doctor you can consult regarding the steps you can take to reach sobriety because you’re going to need all the help you can get.
They say no man is an island, and that especially manifests in the road to recovery. Everyone needs a little help sometimes. You have to accept that you need it, too.
Recovering from alcoholism is not an easy thing to do. Sometimes you fall back into your old patterns. There will be times when you slip up and start from the beginning, and that’s okay. Be patient with yourself because that is the only way you can reach sobriety and still find happiness without alcohol by your side.
