10 Things people who have overcome alcohol addiction want you to know

Alcohol can be deceiving:

Alcoholism can cause the denial. Because of the dependence, you believe that you don’t have an issue with alcohol. People with alcoholism are the only ones who can’t see it. Your reality separates from that of your friends and family.

You can’t deal with alcoholism (alcohol addiction)on your own:

The road to recovery is difficult and hard and is not possible without help. You need an institute to guide you, to help you recognize your maladaptive ways. From friends, family members to doctors, psychologists all help in navigating towards recovery.

It’s okay to be scared.

Initial sessions and the new environment can be quite daunting and it is okay to be scared. Seek clarity about your disease and treatment from your therapists and doctors; it will help you overcome the uncertainty and nervousness. Remember you are not alone. Your path to sobriety is not very far.

Social gatherings can be testing:

Drinking is part of the social norms and setting and being a recovering addict in situations like these can be challenging. But it’s important to realize to not throw away your months of recovery for one weak moment.  

New hobbies help:

Because alcohol consumes your mind it is hard to not think about it. But in times like these new hobbies always acts the perfect distraction. The void that you’re drinking left can now be filled with creativity and productivity.  From writing to gardening, you can now choose to do anything you love.

Fun is different from drinking:

You don’t need alcohol to make you feel good about yourself or to help you have a good time. You are enough for it. Allowing alcohol to decide for as to when you can have fun is not fun.

Quitting helps you to make better choices:

When you get your head cleared of the clutter alcohol has created over the years, you realize you are now able to make better choices and decisions for yourself.  Your mind needs you and not the alcohol to think for you.

Hangovers are never worth the indulgence:

Hangover is a sign that you overindulged and your body is now revolting against the toxic substance. The major health consequences that alcohol causes are never worth it.  

There is no such thing as last drink:

For most quitters last drink is their way of finding closure but that one last drink will never allow you to have one, as your last drink will end up being the first of many.

Life without alcohol can be transformational:

Now that drinking does not take a centre stage, you can now focus your time and energy on something that helps you enrich your life. Your decision to quit has to help alter your wellbeing for better. Life is just waiting to happen for you the moment you decide to quit alcohol for good.

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