Advice in Quitting Alcohol
In my desire to quit alcohol, I used to think that there would come a time when a legendary white horse with a knight in shining armor from ancient times would suddenly appear before my eyes and save me from alcohol addiction just like the proverbial damsel in distress. I waited for so long but it seemed that legends are just like what they are; they only happen in your dreams. Unfortunately, the time I wasted waiting for an instant help only worsened my situation, it was like being pulled down in quicksand where I continue to sink every time I make a move.
The Truth Will Set you FREE!
From then on I realized that I’m the only one who can save myself from sinking in a desperate world of alcohol addiction. And I am the only one who can decide and choose whether to quit drinking alcohol or just let alcohol slowly ruin my life.
In my hands lie the solutions and in my heart emanates the conviction to rise from the ashes, just like a phoenix rejuvenating for a new life. I’m the only one who has the power to quit alcohol and break away from the seemingly impossible recovery from alcohol addiction. The knight in shining armor simply vanished into thin air, and reality sets in. There’s no magical wand, no magic spell, no Open Sesame in seeking recovery from alcoholism.
People closest to me provide support unconditionally, and for this, I am truly grateful. My family has never ceased understanding my predicament. My real friends never question my ways, yet they have felt that all they can offer is limited since they know they cannot pose a great influence on my behavior. They only have that fervent hope that I will start to help myself and quit alcohol so that I can soon get back on my feet and face the world with dignity and self esteem. They know that I cannot be likened to a handful of clay which they can mould the way they want to. I have to rely on my own strength, I have to find the path to recovery from alcohol addiction. The bone of contention is when shall I start?
The answer is:
NOW.
Hold On to HOPE
It’s not too late. It is never too late. If there is one thing that I should hold on to, it is Hope that I can quit alcohol. Great men and women in history did not achieve great heights in just one click of a finger. They also have enslaving problems that hindered their paths along the way. But they never stopped hoping. And another thing that I should hold on to is Faith. The inner faith that I can conquer my cravings for alcohol, I can withstand the pains and sufferings. This is my chance to lift myself up and make my life worth living. Then, I can probably say that I am living, not merely existing. I am a part of the universe, and not a mere speck of dust out of nowhere.
The first few days of quitting alcohol were the most critical, since the addictive substance has been in my system since time immemorial. Indeed, habits are hard to break especially drinking alcohol. It was like taking away an integral part of you. Just like cravings for food, hunger pangs strike when the digestive system makes you aware that it’s time to replenish yourself with food. I came to a point of realization that this was the greatest battle in my life. My head, my body, my whole system was craving for alcohol. It has been a part of me, even when I was working, a shot would give me that extra boost of power. All events in my life were never complete without alcohol. What will I do to break this chain?
Finally, I accepted the challenge. I quit drinking alcohol just recently. Breaking away from a bad habit was surely not a walk in the park. But I knew winning this battle was the best thing. I needed to start with the will to get it out of my system. I need determination to stop drinking. I felt that all of my senses were reacting to the sudden stop. Every nerve in my body seemed to panic with the absence of alcohol.
Just HOLD On
I had reached the difficult stage, the part I dreaded most, the time when I felt that my mind would explode into tiny shattered pieces… I was experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Moreover, I started to act strangely; I was on the brink of self destruction. The sufferings were too much; I couldn't sleep; I couldn't concentrate in everything I was supposed to do; and the saddest part of it all, I was tempted to take even a drop of alcohol just to soothe my aching soul.
If quitting alcohol is that simple, why then, do we have numerous rehabilitation centers where patients come and go, and eventually return in a much worse state? Why do we have casualties in the long run? Why do we continue to hear about people who were already rehabilitated and then suddenly committed crimes under the influence of alcohol?
The truth is, the war on alcoholism is a war that starts from within, and it should end from within. The fight against dependence on alcohol is a long struggle, but it is not a hopeless case. Stop blaming other people for the complicated situation that you are in now. I know that for my part, I really cannot blame anybody. I am responsible for my actions and I know that no matter how I try to find reasons for my dependence on alcohol, no amount of defense mechanism will help me.
The struggle is just like a winding road. There are low points and these are the crucial times. What then, can be done to motivate yourself from holding on? The determination to quit alcohol will find a way, the willingness to suffer will help and visualizing the beautiful future that awaits you will strengthen your spirit. It is like seeing what’s at the end of the road. This is the best motivation that will make you go on and push your plans to quit drinking alcohol.
If visualizing a great future where you are alcohol free is not enough, you can find other reasons to continue your struggle to quit. Think of the negative effects of dependency. Recall the many incidents how alcoholism ruined your life; the wounded spirit, the broken dreams, the endless rejections. Think of how alcoholism robbed you of joy in your life.
Take Actions!
It is not enough to ask for advice from other people. The pieces of advice may sustain you for a while, but at the end of the day, when you are left alone, you need to rely on your own determination, you have to develop the willpower to control the urge to drink again. Remember that you are responsible for your own life.
There is no need to wonder when that knight in shining armor would save you from the crutches of doom. The best time to start quitting alcohol is NOW. Do it NOW. No need for procrastination. In the end, your knight, much awaited knight, may turn out to be the hooded black silhouette angel of death, ready with his scythe, ready to take you in the deepest tunnel of doom.
Quit alcohol now before it is too late.
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