How to Recover from Alcohol Abuse

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol, nearly 1 in every 12 U.S. adults abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent. This adds up to over 17 million people. Alcohol abuse can present several problems to both individuals and their society at large. People who abuse alcohol may have trouble fulfilling work, school or family obligations. They may also face legal travails, including drunk-driving arrests. Moreover, alcohol abuse can cause other health problems. Individuals who abuse alcohol may or may not be medically classified as an "alcoholic." Alcoholics are considered physiologically dependent on alcohol. Nonetheless, alcohol abuse may lead to the condition of alcoholism and should be addressed and treated as soon as possible

Instructions

Consult with Your Primary Care Physician

• 1

  Call your primary care physician and make an appointment. Your primary care physician is an excellent starting point from which you can voice your concern. He or she can give advice and make any recommendations or referrals as appropriate and necessary.

• 2

  Talk to your primary care physician about your alcohol abuse. Answer all questions your physician asks you. Do not withhold any information. If your primary care physician asks you how many drinks you have a day or week, be completely honest.

• 3

  Ask your primary care physician for his or her advice on what course of treatment you should take. He or she may recommend inpatient treatment. Conversely, many cases of alcohol abuse and alcoholism can be effectively treated on an outpatient basis.

Consider the Benefits of In and Outpatient Medical Treatment

• 4

  Assess the outpatient treatment options your primary care physician gave you, if he or she recommends outpatient treatment. Some physicians will prescribe medications to inhibit your cravings for alcohol. Others may recommend that you see a counselor and increase your social support.

• 5

  Evaluate the inpatient treatment options your primary care physician provided you with, if he or she proposed that you receive inpatient treatment. Inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse is the most extreme starting place for recovery. Many inpatient treatment centers prescribe medications that are now available on an outpatient basis via the supervision of a doctor.

• 6

  Write down your treatment plan, per your physician's recommendations and your assessments and evaluations. Write down what you intend to do today, tomorrow, next week and next month to start recovering. Post it somewhere that you can see it every day.

See a Counselor, Therapist or Psychologist

• 7

  Find a counselor, therapists or psychologists in your area. While dependence can account for the physical reason you abuse alcohol, it is worthwhile to investigate the psychological cause of your alcohol abuse. Some examples of these causes include, but are not limited to: depression, grief, habits, low self-esteem, post traumatic stress and general stress.

• 8

  Make an appointment with your chosen counselor or therapist. You will appreciate the psychological insight and support that he or she can provide during your physiological recovery.

• 9

  Discuss your alcohol abuse with your counselor or therapist of choice. Make sure that you answer all of his or her questions openly and honestly, just as you did with your primary care physician. You may wish to set up a series of appointments for the future.

Increase Your Social Support System

• 10

  Tell select family members and friends about your alcohol abuse. You can also discuss your treatment and recover plan with them. Ask for their support. You may also wish to respectfully request that they not offer you alcohol during your recovery time, or ever again.

• 11

  Consider attending a local support group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon. Not everyone receives benefit from these groups; many people do, however. You could attend one or two meetings and see how comfortable you feel. You could also attend a few different groups in various areas, and find a comfortable match that way.

• 12

  Reduce your contact with any of your friends who also abuse alcohol (or are alcoholics). This aspect is also important to your recovery. You cannot increase your social support system if you regularly come into contact with people who do not support you and/or who pressure you to abuse alcohol. Give those relationships a rest.

Follow All Aspects of Your Treatment Plan

• 13

  Follow the advice of your primary care physician. Take any medications as prescribed. Follow through on all aspects of any selected in and/or outpatient treatment programs.

• 14

  Attend any regularly scheduled counseling appointments. Alcohol abuse typically involves both a mental and physical aspect; both aspects are important.

• 15

  Continue attending local support meetings, if you have elected to do so. Otherwise, keep enlisting the support, help, encouragement and support of trusted family members. Know that there is an end to your misery and that your active participation in your own treatment plan is the key to that recovery.