Just do it! Quit Alcohol Now

"Quitting alcohol is a tunnel experience - there is light at both ends. You can surrender and turn back... or reach the other and continue the track." - Aliyah Arsiton

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.

Quitting Alcohol and the Art of Positive Thinking

"Positive thinking should embrace reality, knowing when to move forward and when to stop." - Aliyah Arsiton

I Believe I Can Quit Alcohol

"It is easy to quit drinking alcohol, the book told me, just put your mind to it and you can overcome any form of addiction, including your alcohol addiction. You just have to believe that there is a way out. You must also have that… that… strong faith in the art of positive thinking. You need to have a firm determination, optimistic outlook in life, and the right motivations, and I am sure, you can get out of that awful condition."

Is it?

Can you easily quit alcohol even if you have trouble sleeping at night because your system is trained to have booze before going to bed?

- I have difficulty sleeping. I've tried all those “home remedies” – drinking a glass of milk before going to bed, reading a good book, listening to relaxing music, taking a hot shower, counting thousands of sheep but no luck. I still find myself wandering in the night. And if I managed to fall asleep, I feel exhausted the next morning. My body is aching similar to the feeling of a person who gets beaten by ten drunken barbarians. The thought of having few shots of whiskey at night always pops up on my head. But deep inside me is the resistance because I know it is not the solution. And that instance makes it very difficult for me to quit alcohol. Because the fight is within me.

- I don’t want to take sleeping pills because it’s habit forming. I might get addicted and I am sure will only worsen my condition. Probably, this is only a part of those alcohol withdrawal symptoms that I have to deal with. I must be persevering in trying to have a good night sleep. Who knows, I might get lucky tonight.

Can you simply quit alcohol even if you already consider it an escape door from family related and work related problems, daily stress? And that it has become a part of your instinct when dealing with everyday issues in your life?

- I used to drink whenever I feel grumpy. For example, after a stressful day at work, dealing with complicated situations, facing difficult decisions, I put my head on alcohol’s shoulder. I binge drink believing that it would ease my burden (at least for that instance). And now that I am trying to quit drinking, whose shoulder will I put my head on?

- What I didn't realize is that abusing alcohol and engaging to binge drinking only add another problem in my life - a huge, unnoticeable problem. And that is becoming hooked with alcohol. And THAT problem slowly became the root of all my problems. Until I woke up one morning I can’t live without alcohol. And that makes it very difficult to quit alcohol. The habit manages to go through my system gradually, creating a strong addiction.

- I regret the time that I've wasted. If only I was smart enough to deal with those little problems, I would not have experienced THIS huge problem. If only I learn to deal with those stressful situations, I would not have encounter difficulties in life now. I guess I learned it the hard way.

Can you get out of alcohol addiction easily even though you are physically and psychologically dependent to the addictive chemicals and substances in alcohol?

- I made a research on how long alcohol can stay in the bloodstream and my system. This is to allow me to monitor the timeline of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. And it will also make me stronger and more motivated in that span of time of quitting alcohol.

- The chemicals and the addictive substances present on alcohol can stay in the bloodstream as long as two years or more depending on many factors. (Those I will discuss in future post.) If a person has a chronic and severe condition, he needs medical attention or detoxification programs and stronger medications to get rid of the last trace of alcohol in the body. In my case, I need to maintain my sobriety for two long years before I can actually say that I am alcohol-free. And if landslide occurs, I will need to start counting all over again to meet that status. Not easy obviously.

Can you get rid of alcoholism effortlessly even if you are constantly drinking and abusing alcohol for the last 25 years of your life?

- I tried to quit alcohol several times in the past but did not manage to maintain it. The longest time that I have been alcohol-free is a period of a month. That’s all I can do. I cannot easily ignore the cravings - that strong desire to drink. Now, I realize that it is the addiction that dictates the strength of the cravings. Dealing with it is next to impossible.

- Even if you have a firm mind to quit alcohol, cravings for alcohol and the urge to drink again can destroy your plans. Even though you have that put-your-mind-to-it principle in your pocket, if you are already addicted to something and that something has already created a huge and tough connection within your system, you cannot get out easily. You must take it one day at a time, go through the process.

Can you easily quit alcohol even if you are experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

- One of the most dreadful parts of quitting alcohol is the stage of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Anyone who has tried to quit drinking will agree with me that these symptoms can bring back the bad habit. Physical and psychological, as well as, emotional withdrawal symptoms, whether these are short-terms or long terms in nature, can absolutely affect an individual’s resolute mind in quitting alcohol. This is normal as the mind is seeking for temporary solutions to make the body feel better. It tells you that if you drink alcohol, it will make you feel better.

I guess, it is not that easy to quit alcohol. There are more realistic things to be considered and there are other things that should be focused upon than just thinking positively. Although positive thinking can help in accomplishing these tasks, it is not only the solution. Now that I am familiar with the fact that the effects of alcohol addiction are the reasons why it is very difficult for a person to quit alcohol, I realized now that I must concentrate on doing this - try not to add more to the negative effects by simply not drinking.

I know there are many ways to combat alcoholism. I know there are many effective programs, support groups, quitting alcohol procedures, treatments and medications out there that can make me easily quit drinking alcohol. I am also aware that there is NO program or procedure that can instantly or quickly stop my drinking problems. Better yet, I should take the necessary actions to quit alcohol rather than relying ONLY to positive thinking.