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28Jun

Millions of people throughout the world are struggling to get rid of alcoholism; let’s understand the lessons to enjoy happy drinking without being an alcoholic!

Have you been a hardcore alcoholic? Was it a daunting task to quit this addiction and start all over again?

If yes, you are not the only one who has gone this roller coaster ride. Yes, you might find it weird, but it’s right! Alcohol addiction keeps you on the verge of leaving everything else and getting drenched towards it.

Many people lose their work, money, and even relationships with alcoholism, but the most challenging part is to quit and fight the withdrawal symptoms like depression, anxiety, and restlessness. It adversely affects your physical condition.

This is a great way to enjoy a peg of your favorite brand and still be incomplete senses. If you have already fought a long distressing alcohol battle and wish to start with it, here are few things to remember.

6 lessons to start drinking alcohol again without being an alcoholic

1. Never stock it up

People who are fond of alcohol often pile it up in the refrigerator or maintain a stock of it, when you have a house bar with bottles of whiskey and wine, it is natural to keep repeating the drink.

The best way to resist alcohol is to avoid it. Please don’t stop it entirely but ensure to enjoy it sip-by-sip.

Even if you have a house party and friends are coming down to your place, buy as much required for that night, stocking up on alcohol will increase your desire to have it!

2. Don’t be an emotional drinker

This is the most common trait of an alcoholic person; alcoholics have a common problem of searching out reasons to drink.

Remember, alcohol might be a way to celebrate or hang out with your pals, but it cannot solve your emotional jeopardies, it ruins your brain, and you end up distancing from real-world relations.

It’s your problem, and you have to deal with it while being in the senses. Alcohol only adds to putting on your health at risk.

If you are planning to start back, drink without getting deep into it, even a person drinking 10 beers in front of you must not hit your brain! It’s your life, and rationing at anything that can hamper your life is essential.

3. Don’t copy others

This is a fundamental lesson to learn from past experiences if you happen to be at the party where people are binging on alcohol glass after glass, it’s okay.

You need to manage your alcohol quantity so that you do not get back into that phase again, you must know your limitations and beyond that is an alarm to stop.

You can enjoy other mocktails and soft drinks to curb your thrust if you have friends who often compete on many pegs, be an exception to them, do inform you that you cannot be a part of such stupidity!

4. Skip bar visits

As you are no longer an alcoholic and planning to re-start quantified drinking, bar visit is a strict no, even if it is for any reason, you should say no to the bar.

Visiting a bar will make you more prone to drinks, and you would forget the limits. Getting back to old conditions can be avoided only if you maintain your dignity.

5. The beer belly is an indication that you are going wrong

Have you heard of a beer belly?

It’s not because of beer, but due to excessive alcohol consumption, if you are feeling slaggy and your waist size is increasing, you are crossing the lines.

You need to limit alcohol intake and focus on a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise, lots of water, and a proper diet are vital points to stay fit!

6. Restrict parties with drinkers

If you don’t wish to go back to that alcohol zone, it’s good to say a no; you can cut off on hangouts with regular drinkers so that you spare the addiction nightmare.

Only you are aware of the long path you have gone through to meet success. Restricting and maintaining a drinking discipline will make your life sorted.

Following the lessons mentioned above help get aloof from alcohol addiction and still enjoy its feel once in a while!

So what have you decided?

After a daunting process of getting away from alcohol addiction, starting all again needs a lot of control management.

Alcohol can drench you if not kept in limits; it depends on you to nurture yourself with limited alcohol quantities, take a step forward and create a happy and healthy life for yourself and your loved ones!

We hope this post helps you; if the article is helpful for you, do share it on social media.

25Jun

There is no single prescribed therapy that can assist an alcoholic to get rid of the clutches of his addiction. Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that affects the health, mental stability, personal well being, family relations, finances of an individual, and then finally the society as a whole. Fighting this devastating cycle is not only important for the individuals in particular but also the people closely related to them. However, it must be mentioned in this context that getting rid of alcohol addiction is a lengthy and tedious process. Nevertheless, no matter how difficult the journey might look or how impossible the results might appear, you can easily leave the habit of alcoholism with simple yet very effective tips.

Recovery from alcoholism is more than possible with effective tips

Alcohol addiction is a serious problem. It affects the brain functions of an individual and degrades their ability to think clearly. Getting rid of this habit can seem tough; even then you can rest assured that it is achievable. Let us discuss some effective and proven tips in this domain:

  • It is time you spend more time with family than drinking company – Alcoholism like every other form of addiction gets momentum in the company of alcoholic friends who are in various stages of addiction themselves. The best way to remain sober is to avoid their company and spend more time with your family for quality convalescence.
  •  Avoid social gatherings where alcohol is usual – Most social groups accept alcohol as a permitted means of merrymaking. Try to steer clear from social gatherings where the culture of spirit consumption is adulated.
  • Manage stress – Stress is one of the biggest factors that drive people into the cradle of alcoholism. Whether at work or in the family try to keep away from stress. Try constructive means like yoga and meditation to keep your psyche clean, calm, and well-focused. They will help you relax in the process.
  • Take up some new harmless substitute – In programs of alcohol addiction recovery, patients often have time to time urges of taking a swig from regular hard drinks. At such stages try to soothe the craving with a harmless substitute like a mocktail, a soft drink, or even a chewing gum.
  •  Engage in old hobbies – Try and retrospect into your yesteryears to find the neglected and long gone hobbies which were once your passion but now have been buried in your daily routine etched in stress and a hectic schedule. Try to relive those passions that will give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. They can be very effective in keeping your mind away from your alcohol cravings.
  • Healthy lifestyle – Most importantly maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat a healthy and balanced diet, sleep well, and follow a proper workout or exercise regime. Working out gives us a feeling of self-satisfaction, improves our immune system, and helps to focus on productive and positive things.
  •  Invest in relationships – Alcoholism often takes a huge toll on the personal relations of a person. Under the spell of this devastating habit, many lose their loved ones and get detached from their family members and friends. While you make a bid to break away from the clutches of this vicious cycle its time that you begin investing in your relations afresh. This is the best time to pick up the threads that have been missed and have been laying bare for so long. This will help you to build a positive aura around you.
  • Healthy concentration on work – Even though you must try to manage stress at your work, this is the best time to give your complete concentration to your profession and career. A healthy focus on work is bound to get your results that can help you feel stronger and more worthwhile. Both aspects can be great emotional boosts that will help you to steer clear from the habit of drinking.
  • Support Network – Try and develop a social support network of people who can support you throughout this journey. It is best to enroll in alcohol addiction recovery communities where you will find people coping up with a similar set of challenges as yourself. This can help you feel a camaraderie with them and you can get some real-life practical tips to combat your situation better.
  • Professional help – Apart from all the psychological support and help that you can get at home. It is also imperative that you have a quality professional help behind you. Hence try to get in touch with a professional addiction recovery specialist, a doctor who can help you with the precise steps and tips that will help you to recover from the addiction completely.

Recovery from alcoholism is a long and tedious journey. However, there is no reason to think that it’s unachievable. With a little extra care, support from loved ones,  and strong determination you can leave this negative habit and start a normal life like the people surrounding you.

23Jun

One of the biggest challenges that you will come across in the journey of getting rid of alcoholism is to first discern your mental and physical state. Unlike other illicit substances, alcohol has general acceptance in our society. The legal and widespread availability of the commodity prevents alcohol from being considered a prohibited product.

Starting afresh – drinking again after being sober

The basic idea of going for a recovery program from alcohol addiction is to help an addict attain sobriety. This is where come in the different therapies and treatment patterns to facilitate recovery from this vicious cycle.

Many try to ensure this by staying away from alcohol completely forever in the future. Yet again there is a section of old alcoholics who tries to control the habit not willing to be controlled by it instead. These people try to bring drinking as a habit within their stride. This is a step that marks a complete negation of their earlier past of addiction.

However, this is a proposition, which comes with its risk factors. The act of starting drinking afresh after a period of sobriety often exposes the person to a threat of relapse. This means that you as a sober person, free from the clutches of alcoholism must bear certain lessons in mind which your previous alcoholism must have taught you.

6 important tips of alcoholism to remember when you begin drinking afresh

To reintroduce yourself to controlled drinking soon after your period of sobriety is another ball game altogether. It is one of the biggest acid tests that you will face as a sober and recovered addict. The following are 6 principal lessons that you must bear in mind while beginning your new stint with drinking.

  • Drink only on occasions – Drinking must be a strictly occasional affair for you. Social gatherings, celebrations, and parties must be the places where you drink. Do not start collecting fancy spirits at home. No guests must be entertained with hard drinks. Drinking with friends as a casual affair must be prohibited strictly.
  • Count your pegs – Beginning drinking afresh after recovering from addiction will mean that it will be a mere customary affair for you. Always count your drink. As the best measure, just have a single drink in your hands throughout the evening. If requested you can go for a second drink at a maximum and nothing more than that.
  • Negative company is still a big no – Friends and a company that encourages drinking and fosters the habit of alcoholism must be avoided strictly. Always remember that these were the people who even though pushed you into the doom did not come to a single step forward to pull you back from it.
  • Invest time in family and hobbies – Your family, personal relations, and hobbies must remain your first choices of relaxation and entertainment. Alcohol takes you away from reality, the real fun of life; it does not provide you with any.
  • Drink to celebrate not manage stress – Drinking to manage stress ad negate pain is the first step towards alcoholism. As a thumb rule never touch spirit when you are in a foul mood, is low or is feeling worried, depressed, or anxious about something.
  • Be in the guidance of your therapist – Professional help is a must to recover from the clutches of addiction. It is also highly important to take professional help when you attempt to make a return to your routine life and include drinking as a negligible part of it. Your therapist is the best person who can guide you back into the process of controlled drinking if you so wish.

The idea is to live in perfect harmony even after tasting the spirit back, instead of slipping into the fathomless abyss of addiction. This is the final straw that can seal the sanction of your sobriety forever. At the end of the day, it is your life, the devastation, and miseries that happened affected you and your family and none else, the struggle and the challenges during the time of recovery were for you and your loved ones and none else. Hence it is your determination that matters the most and can make all the difference. On our end, we wish you nothing but all the luck. 

21Jun

Alcoholism or alcohol addiction is a real-time problem that has affected millions of people all across the globe. There is no specific reason that can explain why an individual steps into the web of this devastating habit. Even then some experts have pointed out factors like gender, genetics, race, and socioeconomic strata that can make a person increasingly vulnerable towards this substance abuse.

Alcohol diagnosis is tricky and important

As compared to cocaine and heroin, discerning alcoholism is far more difficult. The main reason behind this challenge is the general social acceptability that is there for the consumption of such intoxicating spirits. The use and consumption of alcohol are quite regular in almost all the ethnic sections of the world. From religious rituals to social merrymaking, everywhere the presence of alcohol in one form or the other is a routine phenomenon. Hence when regular consumption slowly enters the threshold of abuse and then addiction is difficult to point out. Nevertheless, it is very important to recognize the initiation of the phenomenon as alcoholism can take a huge toll on the health, personal life, and finances of an individual. It has been proven that alcohol abuse can change the way the human brain functions. It can alter human neurochemistry which is why an alcohol addicted person is unable to control their actions. This can have a rather severe effect on their personal, professional, and social lives.

For professional help, click here for more details on our alcohol rehab program

Alcohol addiction recovery is simple and easy with these ten tips

Alcoholics are trapped in a vicious loop. As you try to come out of this loop, at various points of time you may fail and quit. You need a strong guidance that could show you the right path of coming out of this vicious loop. Let’s have a look:

  1. Evaluating the short-term gains with long-term losses – As you have understood the problem and decided to come out of the trap with all your efforts and support from near and dear ones, you have won half of the battle. Compare every time what you gain being alcoholic and what you have lost so far. You may be getting detached from your family and friends, your hobbies and sports, and your education or business. You have to develop a self-realization that the short-term mental satisfaction and virtual happiness due to intoxication have taken its toll in several ways spoiling every good thing surrounding you.
  2. Make a base plan – As a second step evaluate the nature of your alcoholism and the kind of discontinuation you wish to bring. If you are a moderate drinker then cutting down on the frequency is a good idea. However, if you are a heavy alcoholic stopping the habit straight away is the way it should be.
  3. Set precise and attainable goals – It is very important that you set realistic and achievable targets. To begin with stopping drinking on weekends! Then you can slowly cut down on the weekdays as well. It will be prudent to reduce the number of drinks on weekdays as the first stepping stone.
  4. Evade the company of other alcoholics – Experts have observed that alcoholism is a pattern that gets greatly boosted in the company of likeminded people. It is a habit often developed in the company of irresponsible and negative minded friends. So, when you plan to bid the habit adieu, you have to evade the company of other alcoholics.
  5. Surround yourself with positive people – Support and love from family and genuine friends at this time will always help you to overcome the urge to go back to the same rut. So, try and surround yourself with positive-minded and supportive friends and family members.
  6.  Maintain a healthy lifestyle – This is the time when you must take good care of yourself. Maintain a balanced diet, exercise daily, go for a morning walk, meditate, and get enough sleep. This prevents mood swings and sudden urges and cravings. It helps to release more endorphins that promote emotional relaxation.
  7. Try and find out your long-lost interests – Channelize your mind into your long-lost hobbies and passions. This will keep you occupied fruitfully and will help you to take your mind off the craving for alcohol. It will help you find a new purpose and meaning in life that will give you a highly satiating experience. Soon drinking as a choice will lose its appeal.
  8. Stay away from stress – Stress is one of the major catalysts that induce an individual towards alcohol abuse. Stress could be generated at work or even at home. Make a conscious effort to stay away from stress. In an attempt to do so practice meditation, yoga, exercises, and other techniques to help you relax.
  9. Build a supportive community – These days you can find several communities and social organizations that offers moral support to the alcoholics. These are the communities where you can find like-minded people, having similar problems and challenges as yourself. Instances of these people can motivate you and can give you real-life effective tips to overcome your problems.
  10.  Slips are normal, do not lose heart – Slips are quite common in such alcohol addiction recovery programs. Nearly 70 to 80% of patients face the challenge of slipping back into the mesh of alcoholism, from where again they need to make a tedious recovery. This is a slow process, with time, effort, support, and discipline you are sure to succeed.

Your battle against addiction can take longer time than you expect. Do not expect overnight results as such expectations are quite impractical. There is no single therapy or short-cut in your battle against alcoholism. You have to follow the plan and cross the hurdles one-by-one.

8Apr

Alcoholism: Diagnosis & Treatment

Admitting that you have a problem is the first logical step in treating addiction. For most people, this remains the most challenging task. This confrontation and acceptance of the fact are not easy by any standards. However, it is essential before you begin your journey towards recovery and health. When you have alcohol dependence, limiting your alcohol consumption does not help. You need to give up alcohol entirely. Along with your determination, you need professional medical help in terms of detoxification, medications, counseling, and other treatment options. 

Earlier, an alcoholic was the term used to refer to a person with this condition. Over time this term got associated with negativity, and now alcoholism is called ‘alcohol use disorder’ (AUD). The alcohol consumption in India will alarmingly reach 6.5 billion liters by 2020 end. It indicates the severity of the situation and demands awareness regarding the issue of alcoholism.

What is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism or alcohol use disorder (AUD) occurs when a person loses control over their drinking habits. It is a stage where the individual feels that he cannot function without alcohol. Consider alcohol disorder more of brain disease. Regular consumption cause changes in your brain, making it hard to quit. One can try hard enough to quit, but it remains a futile attempt without proper professional guidance.  

Alcoholism causes a wide range of health issues that impact an individual’s professional and personal relationships. You will face several problems, both mentally and physically. 

Types of Alcoholics

Based on the amount one drinks, time spent, and the effect of alcohol on a person, AUD is often categorized into the following five categories. 

  1. Young Adult Subtype: the ones without any family histories or recurring mental illness. 
  2. Young Antisocial Subtype: these have a family history of alcoholism, suffer from co-occurring mental illness and probable addiction to other substances.  
  3. Functional Subtype: With a history of alcoholism, these are middle-aged with a successful and stable occupation. 
  4. Intermediate Familial Subtype: these are middle-aged people with a prior depressive episode and family history of alcoholism. 
  5. Chronic Severe Subtype: middle-aged people with a family history of mental illness, alcoholism, and other substance addiction. 

Signs of AUD 

Be vigilant and pay attention to the slightest changes in behavior if you suspect someone close to you is suffering from AUD. There are specific behavioral patterns that can confirm your doubt: 

  • Alcohol consumption goes beyond control
  • Having intense cravings to drink
  • Developing a tolerance to alcohol such that the person can drink more
  • Having a drink to feel confident or good. 
  • Hiding alcohol in unusual places at the workplace and home.
  • Drinking alone or maintaining secrecy while drinking
  • Unusual behavior when the person does not get the opportunity to drink
  • Continuing the habit despite the detrimental effect on work and family 
  • Preferring to drink over other activities like spending time with family and friends
  • Regular forgetfulness regarding what you did or who you were with. 

That’s not all; specific symptoms come in prominence when the individual is unable to drink. These are withdrawal symptoms that may include: 

  • Sweating
  • Shaking
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea etc

Treatment for AUD 

The ideal treatment for alcoholism will vary depending on the individual. The procedure may come in different forms, like counseling, intervention, and residential programs. The central objective of every type of treatment is to stop the use of alcohol and improve health and quality of life. 

The effective treatments for AUD may include: 

  • Psychological Counseling: It leads to a better understanding of the underlying problems and encourages quick recovery. These counseling sessions may be individual, in a group, or along with family members. 
  • Detoxification: It is the initial step of the treatment. The detox schedule may continue from two to seven days. It also includes sedation medications to prevent withdrawal symptoms. 
  • Designing a treatment plan: Here comes the role of specialists. It involves a mix of different methods like goal setting, self-help, counseling, behavior change techniques, and follow-up care. 
  • Medications: Oral or injected medications also have an integral role to play in the treatment plan. The choice of medication depends on the suggestion of the medical professional. The response of the addict is also taken into consideration. 
  • Diet: A healthy diet, as prescribed by the dieticians, is a supportive measure of the comprehensive treatment plan. It helps to bring back the health and vigor of the body. 
  • Yoga & Meditation: Regular yoga and meditation sessions, improve the mental health and physical stamina of the individual. It works best in diverting the focus towards the inner energies of the human body. 
  • Spirituality: Involvement in spiritual practices develops a support system for the individual and provides inner strength. Gaining insight into the spiritual side is a critical element of recovery. 
  • Continuing support: The people recovering from alcohol use disorder have the challenge of managing relapses and adopt lifestyle changes. Aftercare programs and support groups are helpful here.

Residential treatment programs

In most of the AUD cases, a residential treatment program has proven to be the most effective. Primarily, you are in the caring hands of the experts, and continuous guidance and monitoring are possible. These residential programs adopt a comprehensive approach in their treatment plans and hence hold more promises of permanent recovery from alcoholism. 

The recovery from alcoholism significantly depends on how early the symptoms of AUD are identified in the individual, and professional advice is availed. Continual treatment program involving addiction experts and professionals and a supportive family environment is of great help here. 

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