| Alcohol is a drug, pure and simple. But the | | | | bet I wouldn't be queuing up for a second |
| way if affects people is quite different. | | | | slice! When an alcoholic pours the juice |
| Statistics indicate that one out of every 10 | | | | down his throat, then all the above upsets |
| folks is alcoholic, or at the very least, has | | | | plus more are quite often the norm, yet |
| drink problem. So consuming lots of booze on | | | | unlike the cake, he develops no healthy fear |
| a regular basis does not necessarily get you | | | | or regrets, and is usually ready for another |
| hooked. In fact, if you locked 10 people in | | | | bout soon after. This really does emphasize |
| a room for a year and had them drink a quart | | | | the denial of this destructive disease. |
| of whisky a day, at the end of the | | | | Unfortunately, most alcoholics have to go |
| experiment, 9 would be happy if they never | | | | through the physical and emotional wringer, |
| saw another drop of alcohol for as long as | | | | and quite often to deaths doorstep, before |
| they lived, but the remaining one would be | | | | they even consider alcohol treatment of any |
| begging for more of the same. It is this | | | | kind. |
| remaining one that would require some kind of | | | | |
| alcohol treatment, but only if he wanted it, | | | | Many alcohol treatment programs are focused |
| and here lays the problem. | | | | on the mind not the body. The recovering |
| | | | alcoholic has to realise that all he has to |
| When it comes to alcohol and the alcoholic, | | | | do in order to stay sober is not pick up that |
| one of the biggest problems is that his or | | | | first drink. However, getting sober is one |
| her mind tells them there is no problem. If | | | | thing, but staying sober is quite another. |
| only other people would get off their case | | | | This is why most alcoholics need to |
| and leave them alone, all would well in the | | | | continuously be in recovery or some kind. |
| world, or so they believe! Speaking from | | | | |
| personal experience, I was a sicky drinker. | | | | Many choose to become members of Alcoholics |
| I would throw up most mornings, suffer | | | | Anonymous or AA. AA is a fellowship of men |
| splitting hangovers at least once a week, | | | | an woman who have lost the capacity to |
| spend all my spare time and money boozing, | | | | control their drinking. Many find that the |
| and continuously bounce in and out of failed | | | | support of the fellowship and the 12 step |
| relationships. Yet denial kept me from | | | | program of action is the only way for them to |
| owning my problem which is a common | | | | stay sober and live happy and joyous lives. |
| characteristic of most alcoholics. It was | | | | Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic and |
| only when I hit rock bottom some 30 years | | | | there is no returning to the bottle unless |
| later that I saw the light when I was drying | | | | through choice. Those that do relapse |
| out in an alcohol treatment center. | | | | usually pick up right where they left off, |
| | | | whether it was 2 weeks or twenty years |
| Alcohol is cunning baffling and all powerful | | | | earlier. |
| and once it grips the mind of an alcoholic | | | | |
| personality, it tells the drinker they have | | | | Personally, I found AA to be the perfect |
| no problem at all and to continue drinking no | | | | alcohol treatment program for me. I've been |
| matter what. When you really think about it, | | | | sober for a good number of years now and |
| this really is a crazy condition. There's no | | | | after loosing my youth and early adulthood to |
| healthy fear to protect them from the perils | | | | the booze, I have a life today that is |
| of alcohol. Let's look at this from a | | | | indescribably wonderful, and it all started |
| logical perspective. | | | | the day I got honest with myself and put a |
| | | | plug in the jug. |
| Say I ate a piece of strawberry cake and it | | | | |
| gave me a splitting headache, diarrhea, | | | | What about you. Are you ready to look at |
| disorientation, vomit attacks, and problems | | | | alcohol treatment? |
| with the law. There would be a pretty safe | | | | |