Sunday 1 May 2016

​​Coming to Terms with Abstinence

Coming to terms with the concept of “never again” can be quite overwhelming for the dedicated alcoholic or drug addict. Imagining a life without drugs and alcohol seems near impossible – and certainly unsatisfactory. I mean, okay, so drinking and drugging has gotten a little out of hand over the course of the past several years… but this doesn’t mean you have to stop forever, right? That seems a little dramatic. You’ll dry out for a few months, get your life back on track, then manage your drinking and drug use without letting it get out of control again. You’ve certainly learned your lesson, after all. If you do decide to begin what has the potential to be a beautiful and unimaginably fulfilling journey – the journey of addiction recovery – you will soon find that ‘managing’ your drinking and drug use is altogether out of the question. In order to live a life of meaning and absolute freedom, you will need to give up the drink and the drug entirely. How do you go about doing this?
Most alcoholics and addicts continuously turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of coping with deep-seated emotional issues that have never been adequately addressed. The point of drug rehab (or at least one of its biggest priorities by far), is to therapeutically treat individuals who are suffering from unaddressed and underlying issues, such as emotional trauma and undiagnosed psychological disorders. Once a client has been successfully treated and learns to cope with uncomfortable emotions in a healthy and efficient way, he or she is far more likely to maintain sobriety. For this reason, amongst many others, finding a reputable drug rehab is essential. Another role that any good drug rehab will serve is introducing clients to the 12-step method of addiction recovery. The 12-step program will further help an addict accept the concept of ‘never again’ – and here’s how.