Beating Addiction

If you believe that you have some sort of issue with alcohol then your first course of action is to properly diagnose your problem. What is the true problem at hand when it comes to your drinking and how much of an issue is it really? Is your problem really with drinking too much or does your problem really get nasty when you actually stop drinking?

If you tend to drink large amounts but can basically go without booze for long periods of time when you want to, then you are likely just a problem drinker.If you can't leave the bottle alone for several months on end without becoming antsy over it then you are likely suffering from alcoholism. If you are not sure what your level of dependence is, you might try the following 2 experiments:

1) Have one drink every day for the next six months; never to exceed the amount of one drink per day. No sneaking an extra drink in here or there allowed allowed.

2) Abstain from alcohol entirely for 6 months. No exceptions allowed.

If you can do either of these challenges without any problems and without slipping up at all then you are likely not an alcoholic. But if you find yourself struggling with the experiment and actually resenting it then you might be suffering from alcoholism. If you just have a drinking problem then you will screw up the first one and go overboard by drinking too much at some point. If you are an alcoholic then you will fail at the second experiment and not be able to abstain for six months without some sort of recovery program.

If you determine that you have some problem with alcohol then it is best to ask for help. If you happen to be suffering from alcoholism then you should find a rehab with a medical detox area to help you through it. This is highly advisable because coming off of booze is a serious condition that can result in death if not monitored properly.

On the other hand, if you have a drinking problem, then you might seek counseling or therapy in some way. This can show you if you want to take action towards either reducing or eliminating your alcohol intake altogether and beating addiction.

There are many struggling addicts who have continuously relapsed and keep returning to a 12 step program, completely mystified as to how they can not "get it." They believe that they are missing out on the secret to staying clean and sober, when in fact they are just screwing up whatever program it is they are trying to work in their lives. It is not lack of wisdom that causes relapse, but rather a lack of application.

Addiction help comes to those who seek it. If  you want to know how to stop drinking it is not going to happen if you are sitting at home on the couch and trying to wish your problem away. There are a number of different recovery programs out there and the most popular one is undoubtedly Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Regardless of what system of recovery you are following, the secret is in taking positive action.

None of the recovery programs out there are special or have the secret sauce that the other programs are lacking--it doesn't work that way. If you are wondering how to help an alcoholic or addict then the key is in applying a program; not in choosing one. The secret is in the follow through. You have to put in the elbow grease if you want to achieve great results.

One of the biggest keys is in finding a way to connect with others in early recovery. Many will do this and still relapse, but the support you get from networking with others in recovery cannot be denied. If you want to do well in recovery then you should understand the importance of peer support from others who are trying to accomplish the same basic goal as you are. Regardless of whether you really believe in the 12 steps is not an issue because nearly anyone can gain strength from the fellowship and the people in it who are willing to help you.

Now this element of networking is critical for newcomers in overcoming addiction but as you progress in recovery then a shift needs to occur. This is due to the fact that what worked for you well in early sobriety will not keep you sober in the long run. The strategies you employ for early recovery are only useful up to a point and then you will have to make a change to pushing yourself for holistic growth. If you do this then you can enjoy a lifetime of recovery instead of becoming dependent on meetings and possibly relapsing.

How can we give addiction help to a struggling drug addict or alcoholic?

For starters, what can really help the them in the long run is for you to change your behavior towards them. The whole point is to be firm but fair and supportive without enabling, which of course can be a very fine line at times. This means that you might have to take a stand on some issues and put your foot down in cases where in the past you might have helped them. For example, if a struggling addict has children and they come over and beg for money so that they can provide for their children - do you give it to them? Most people would argue that it is compassion to give people money, especially if it is for children, but understand that doing so enables the addict and will only hurt the kids more in the long run. Because they are actively using drugs and alcohol, the money you give them is actually supporting their habit, even if indirectly. Just because they played the "kids" angle on you does not mean that they are not still wasting money on dope.

It is very easy to become manipulated when you are trying to give an addict addiction help. A lot of times what happens is that the addict finds a way to manipulate the situation so that they do not have to stop using drugs. This can be especially tricky if you are a close loved one who is trying to convince someone to change.

Generally speaking, codependent people will be involved closely in the addicts life, and they will need to set boundaries in order to help the addict come to a decision. Make it very clear what your boundaries are by telling the addict what you will not allow in your life and also tell them what you will do if these requests are ignored. If you are confused about how to go about setting boundaries then you should start by going to an Al-anon group. The folks there can show you how to deal with an addict in ways that do not enable them or push them towards further drug use.

Helping a drug addict can be counter-intuitive for some people because many times we need to show tough love and let them face the natural consequences of their actions instead of bailing them out of yet another problem.