Recovery from Alcohol Addiction: The Journey Back to Sobriety

It’s necessary to understand that alcoholism is a real and severe condition/disease and is not something that emerges from a weakness of character. Alcohol addiction, widely known as alcoholism, is a condition that impacts people of all ages, in any stage of life. Experts have tried to highlight factors such as genetics, sex, race, or socioeconomics, that may make someone prone to alcohol addiction. However, it has no single cause or reason. Psychological, genetic, and behavioural aspects can all contribute to developing the condition.

Alcoholism can exhibit itself in a wide variation, which includes the intensity, the consumption frequency, and the type of alcohol consumed. Some people drink heavily every day, while others drink excessively for a day or two and then stay sober for months. Regardless of how the addiction looks or starts, alcohol addiction treatment and intervention are necessary to lead a healthy and happy life again and get a grip of your habits pertaining to alcohol consumption.

We spoke to our patients suffering from Alcoholism on how they first got hooked onto the habit. Here’s what they had to share.

Quitting Alcohol: Learnings from the community

1. Alcohol can be deceiving:

Alcoholism can lead to denial. Due to alcohol dependence and the ignorance surrounding addiction, you may believe that you don’t have an alcohol problem. People with alcoholism are the only ones who refuse to see the way alcohol addiction affects them and their family. The loved ones, on the other hand, face a completely different reality and are often severely affected by the addiction.

2. You can’t deal with alcoholism on your own:

The path to recovery is challenging and hard. It is not possible without professional assistance. You need a doctor and support group to guide you, help you recognise your dangerous behaviour. From friends, family members, doctors and psychologists, all play an important role in your journey towards recovery.

3. Social gatherings can be testing:

Drinking is part of many social events, parties, and gatherings, and being a recovering addict in situations like these can be extremely challenging. At times like these, it is important to focus on long-term goals of recovery and stay strong. Inform friends or family and ask for help prior to/ during the gathering if required.

4. It’s okay to be scared:

The initial sessions and a new environment can be a little stressful, and it is okay to be scared. At the earlier stages of seeking help, you and your family may be in denial about the extent of the problem, it is important to confide in each other and trust your doctors and psychologists. You can seek clarity about your condition and a treatment plan that would suit you best from your therapists and doctors. This will help you overcome the uncertainty and nervousness. Keep in mind, you are not alone, and your road to sobriety is not far.

5. Quitting helps you make better choices:

When you get alcohol addiction help and make significant progress, you will be free from the clutter alcohol has created over the years. You realise that you can make better choices and decisions for yourself.  You can think for yourself and not let alcohol control your thoughts.

6. Taking up new hobbies:

As alcohol consumes your mind, it is difficult to not think about it. But in times like these, new hobbies always act as a great distraction. Drinking can leave a void, but it can be filled with creativity and productivity.  From writing to gardening, you can choose to do anything you love.

7. There is no such thing as the last drink:

When trying to quit, many people are stuck chasing the bottom of the bottle as they promise themselves the one “last drink” before quitting. It is important to realise that one drink may not be the last and instead become the, first of many. This happens because addiction is a disease and when someone has addiction, their body reacts differently to alcohol. The misinformed promise of the last drink often makes overcoming alcohol addiction much more difficult and stressful. Hence while it is tempting to have that last drink, remember what it can entail. Seek help and support when you think you might be craving alcohol. You don’t have to fight this battle alone.

8. Life without alcohol can be transformational:

Once drinking is not the main focus in your life, you can direct your time and energy on something that helps enrich your life. Your decision to quit has to help alter your well-being for the better. Reconnect with your family and friends, revisit your passions and hobbies and rediscover yourself.  Life is waiting to happen, the moment you decide to quit alcohol for good.

Life Stories of Successfully Recovered Alcoholics: Learning from Experiences

To understand the harrowing experience and to give you a better insight on the journey from alcohol addiction to recovery, here is the true story of Raajan from Bangalore.

He is a recovered alcohol addict who is motivated to share his experiences at the rehab centre. He aims to share his experience with people- especially parents- on how alcohol consumption routine can affect children’s life.

He shared how his uncle once asked him, “Do you drink?” To which he answered, “I want to try, once!” That was a milestone in his life, “My first drink ever!” Unlike the bitter taste of alcohol that soon left his mouth, his urge for alcohol stayed. The craving urged him to steal alcohol from his father. His father played a significant role in influencing Raajan, through his actions and his own dependence on alcohol.

When Rajan’s alcoholism got worse, he dropped out of school and was isolated from society. These problems only aggravated his habit. , His distance from his family made him rely on the drink even more.

Whenever Rajan made an effort to stop drinking, he would face adverse withdrawal effects; his hands would shake, he would tremble, nausea, body and headache would take over. He felt helpless and alone. During the darkest times, he attempted suicide but luckily, he surivived.

A pleasant twist of fate caused his clothes to get caught on the second-floor pipes. Rajan survived the ordeal with a few minor injuries. Later, Rajan’s father took him to a rehab centre for treatment, and there started the transformation in his life.

Initially, everything was strange but as group therapy began, everything started making sense to him. Rajan began to cooperate with treatments and therapy. After 62 days, he observed some positive changes through his self-journal.

Today, Rajan has successfully completed his ninety days of the de-addiction program. He will join school again and engage with a safe friend (also called sponsor) circle. Even his father has quit drinking in order to help his son cope. The family is slowly but surely overcoming the devastation that drinking wreaked in their lives.

Lessons to learn from Rajan’s experience:

The night is darkest just before dawn. Understand that you are not alone – even when things seem to be at the worst possible state and there is no way out of it. Reaching for help might be the most difficult thing to do but it’s necessary to get better. Know that you are not alone and that recovery is possible.

It is extremely stressful for a parent to watch their children be consumed with alcohol. It might even be confusing and bazzling. It is important to understand why they got into alcohol in the first space. Their surroundings – family and friends – may ease them into drinking which gets uncontrollable. It is essential to not blame the victim. Try to understand what they are going through and help them without judgement. A gentle and understanding approach will go a long way rather than antagonizing a child.

Alcoholism Habits and Patterns: All You Need to Know

Q1. Why is Alcohol Addiction considered a Chronic Disease?

Alcohol addiction is a chronic disease that gets worse with time. Like numerous chronic diseases, it can be diagnosed and treated but not cured, and it carries a risk of relapse. If you’re looking for a speedy recovery from alcohol addiction, get in touch with the experts at Cadabams.

Q2. How to open up about your Drinking to loved ones?

Knowing the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse can be tough, but it’s vital to recognise potential warning signs. If you’re not comfortable opening up to your family or friends, you can always consult health care experts at Cadabams; they are always ready to help you with the right solutions, treatments, and care.

Q3.Can addiction be cured?

Systematic detox and rehabilitation can cure addiction. But the cure is highly dependent on the individual – what drives them to alcohol and what makes them keep drinking. Medical and psychosocial factors play a very vital role in the recovery process. Loved ones need to co-operate and aid in the recovery journey.  The earlier the disorder is recognised and treated, the more the chances of recovery.

Q4.Why is rehab necessary for addiction?

Rehabilitation centres for alcoholism focus on holistic treatments. In rehab, a person undergoes medically supervised detoxification, psychotherapy and family therapy to rewire the brain and its response to impulses. It takes a holistic approach to a long-term treatment process along with community support, healthy coping mechanisms and focuses on healthy lifestyle. Rehabilitation centres at Cadabams focus on the overall recovery and easy reintegration into the society as fully-functional people.

Q5.How does Cadabams treat addiction?

Cadabams recognizes the social and family aspects of addiction. It provides support groups for individuals and families. There is a 24/7 support with immediate crisis intervention and a multifaceted team of psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, etc. Cadabams takes evidence and solution-based treatment plans which are customized for every individual.

Why Cadabams?

We put our 28+ years of expertise to ensure that you get the treatment you need and deserve. Our multispecialty team of psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, physicians work round the clock and are with you every step of the way. We offer world-class evidence-based treatment that is fit for all stages and all types of addiction.

Our team are experts in Psychosocial Rehabilitation, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT), and Family-Focused Therapy that has proven to be highly effective in treating alcohol addiction and dependency. Cadabams is widely trusted by various healthcare experts to help addiction relief with care and love. It is a renowned facility with state-of-the-art architecture where individuals are treated with attention, love, care and concern. They offer an exclusive range of solutions and treatments based on the condition and issues faced by an individual.

You can call us on our mental health helpline +91 96111 94949 for further details on getting alcohol treatment in India or any alcoholism-related emergencies.

Disclaimer – We strive to treat our patients with dignity and the utmost sensitivity. We understand that addiction is a disease and that it is not a sign of weakness. The term alcoholic or alcoholism is used not in a derogatory fashion but to remain relevant to user search trends and common usage.– It is important to note that addiction should be referred to as ‘substance use disorder’ to better address the effects of this psychological condition. Words like addict, junkie, etch should be avoided as they place the blame on the individual. Individuals/person/people suffering from substance use disorder or substance dependence syndrome should be used. In case you or a loved are struggling with alcohol abuse and share a unique viewpoint on how we can improve this content for our readers, please reach out to us on info@cadabams.org