Category: Australia

alcohol relapse

Verging On An Alcohol Relapse – 5 Things To Tell Yourself

Articles, Australia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Abstaining from alcohol in the first place is an extremely tough ask for those suffering from a dependence on the demon drink.

Taking a straw poll amongst those who have managed to stay sober for any reasonable length of time will show one definite result; the majority have had to fight very hard to remain on the path of sobriety.

This is understandable, and determination is certainly a requirement. To help enforce this determination there are certain things a person can tell themselves when the pressing need for a drink rises to the surface. Here are 5 of them.

I have stopped drinking because….

Think back to why you stopped drinking in the first place, of all the bad decisions made when alcohol was the major influence, all of the actions you carried out because of your devil-may-care attitude, all of those lousy hangovers and the depressive periods before you had another drink in hand.

This is a temporary feeling:

The need for a drink may regularly surface. This is because you have spent so long with a drink in hand, but the feelings you have now for a drink must be put into context. You have managed to go without for a time, by starting again you will be undoing a lot of the progress you have achieved since you stopped drinking.

Relapse must not be seen as an insurmountable problem, but it will be a set-back. Put your mind to other activities and give 100% to these chores or pastimes to ensure they will keep your mind off alcohol.

It really will NOT be worth it:

The strong urge to have “just one drink” must be resisted. Do not look for an excuse to have a drink. Whether that reason is out of happiness, sadness or over problems.

There is no reason that is sufficient to get you back on the bottle. You know fine well that one drink will lead to two and the next thing you will find is waking up with a fuzzy head and a deep disappointment in your actions.

The result of this disappointment can often mean you quickly get back on the drinking trail which is the last thing you need.

Hangovers from hell:

Let’s face it, no matter how long you have managed to abstain, you will not forget the horrendous hangovers experienced during your booze sessions.

Nausea, vomiting, no energy or power to do anything constructive and feelings of shabbiness that only temporarily reduce when you have another drink.

Convince yourself you cannot face going back to this state.

Letting others down:

Think about the disappointment and worry you will cause those closest to you who are fully aware of your past drink problems and are also aware of how much progress you have made to date without alcohol.

You will be bringing their worries and angst back to the surface when they discover you have relapsed. They deserve better than that from you and you deserve to give them more.

Of course, they will still love you, they will still care for you, but they will also hurt even more for you.

If the urge for a drink gets so strong give one of them a call and ask them to visit or talk to you. This action will help strengthen your resolve to remaining sober.

addiction sponsor

How Can A Sponsor Help An Alcoholic?

Articles, Australia, Education, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

A sponsor can play a vital role in helping an alcoholic through the often-arduous task of remaining sober. Here are some of the advantages to be had through asking a sponsor to assist.

What is a sponsor?

Widely used, but not exclusive to those who join Alcoholics Anonymous, a sponsor is a man or woman who has achieved progress through the recovery process they have chosen.

It is the sponsors role to share experiences of their own alcoholism and how they have managed to reach their current level of sobriety. This information and advice sharing is carried out on a personal one-to-one basis. It is also usual for them to offer support via telephone or social media platforms outside of face-to-face meetings.

Is a sponsor mandatory?

No, it is not something that a person going through the recovery process needs to have, but the continual and individual support on offer can make a big difference in terms of helping an alcoholic stay on the path of sobriety.

This makes the consideration of asking for sponsorship something that alcoholics going through the recovery process should think carefully about.

While thinking about this a recovering alcoholic should bear in mind that a sponsor will generally be a man or woman who has succeeded in remaining sober for an extended length of time.

This experience can show how a recovery program has helped them. What works for them, what did not, and tips on how to continue and maintain sobriety.

What benefits are to be gained:

Here are 5 benefits that an alcoholic going through the early stages of recovery can expect from a sponsor.

  • They understand your current situation, they care passionately about your progression to sobriety and their aim is to help you resist the many temptations that alcohol brings.
  • They are there to help you when overwhelming thoughts of alcohol crowd in on you, or if you have succumbed to these urges and have had a relapse. It is extremely important to understand that while a relapse is a set-back, it is not a failure.
  • As well as talking about their personal experience with alcohol, they are there to listen to your experiences. They can offer articles, books and advice relating to alcohol abuse as well as recovery.
  • If the two of you are in a particular group recovery program the sponsor will encourage you to attend meetings with them and help you get there if necessary. They will also encourage you to join and participate in group activities and introduce you to other members they feel suitable to assist with your recovery.
  • They will not give a structured, defined opinion of the program you are in, but will offer different ideas and thoughts to help you find the best way in which to maintain sobriety.

Using a sponsor can offer a massive boost:

Sponsors are available because they have a passion to help. They have experience and have been in that dark place you may currently be in.

During the early stages of trying to maintain sobriety a sponsor can be the difference between success and failure in that important task of a person remaining sober for the foreseeable future.

alcohol tolerance

Are You Building An Ever-Growing Tolerance To Alcohol?

Articles, Australia, Education, International, United States

There is no real stigma attached to alcohol partly because it is legally available in many countries worldwide.

Brief overview of positives and negatives:

Alcohol is an expected ‘ingredient’ at celebratory events such as birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. It is a regular partner at dinner parties, and there is no doubting that it can add to social gatherings.

Having said these positive things, here are a few negatives: Just because it is illegal does not mean it is not addictive. Drinking to excess can lead to physical, psychological, relationship and social problems, and very importantly, it changes the way a person thinks and acts while under its influence.

Building a tolerance is not too difficult:

Drinking alcohol in moderation is not seen as being a problem, but the one word that stands out here is “moderation”.

The body and mind enjoy and appreciate alcohol, what needs to be guarded against is allowing them to enjoy it too much!

If a person drinks regularly and excessively, or goes on regular binge drinking sessions then they are guaranteed to build a tolerance to alcohol. This means the more you drink, the more that is required to achieve the same effects as previously felt.

There is no ceiling to this tolerance. It will simply keep on growing with the result that a person drinks greater and greater quantities. This habit will eventually lead to a dependence upon alcohol simply to function. They will be unable to get through the day without alcohol.

Signs that drinking is growing into a dependence:

There are many signs and symptoms of a growing alcohol dependence. Here are 6 to consider:

  • Increasing preoccupation: It is natural to think and look forward to meeting up with friends for a drink, but if your thoughts turn more and more towards when the next ‘session’ is going to be, it could be leading you down the dependence path.
  • Activities fall by the wayside: Activities, hobbies or pastimes you once thoroughly enjoyed are forgotten or rarely taken up because drink is becoming ever more important.
  • No self-control: You promise yourself that you will limit your intake before drinking begins, but end up drinking far too much and far more than you initially intended to.
  • Violent or irrational behaviour: People react differently when they have had too much to drink. Some put on a smiley face, others fall asleep, but if you feel more aggressive, look for trouble or regularly cause controversy then your drinking must be curbed before it gets you into real trouble.
  • Memory loss: Struggling to remember parts of the evening, or more worryingly suffering blackouts is a sign that you are drinking far too much.
  • The morning after: The vast majority of us have suffered the occasional hangover and it is not at all pleasant, but if you are increasingly waking up hungover and decide the best cure is to have a drink, help is needed.

Listen to others:

If loved ones or those closest to you comment that your drinking is getting out of hand please listen to them. It is quite often the case that the last person to realise they have a problem with drinking is the person themselves. The earlier excessive drinking can be addressed, the better.

Alcohol and Body

What Does Alcohol Do To The Body?

Articles, Australia, Education, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Excessive alcohol intake can cause real harm to a person’s body. The effects certainly do not happen overnight, but continued heavy drinking either through regular sessions, or abstention and then heavy binge sessions will eventually take their toll.

There are so many potential health hazards for those who drink excessively that it would take a long series of articles to list them all. Here are just 4 that should be of real concern.

Digestive system:

Drinking too much can activate abnormal enzymes produced by the pancreas. If these enzymes continue to build-up they cause inflammation and a condition known as pancreatitis. This can be a long-term problem with serious complications.

Liver:

The liver takes the brunt of alcohol because one of its responsibilities is to break down and remove harmful substances. Alcohol is awash with potentially harmful substances and excessive drinking causes the liver to work overtime. If constant pressure is placed on the liver there is a strong possibility it will become inflamed and diseased.

Inflammation causes scarring and the associated condition of cirrhosis. This is where the formation of scar tissues destroys the liver. Without a healthy, fully functioning liver a person will suffer long term health problems that can kill.

A warning for women:

An important point relating to alcoholic liver disease for women is that their bodies generally absorb more alcohol than a man’s. Their liver also needs more time to process it.

This means women who regularly abuse alcohol are at an increased risk of developing liver damage more quickly than men.

Blood sugar levels:

It is the pancreas that works to regulate the body’s insulin use and its response to glucose. If the pancreas and liver are not functioning correctly then there is an increased risk of hypoglycemia. This condition is when a person suffers from low blood sugar levels.

A damaged pancreas can also prevent sufficient insulin production to use the sugar that keeps the body healthy. If this occurs it has the opposite effect. There will be too much sugar in the blood causing a condition known as hyperglycemia.

Being unable to balance blood sugar levels leads to health complications and increased chances of diabetes.

Damaging central nervous system effects:

We have all experienced or heard the way in which a person slurs their speech when drunk. This is one of the first signs of excess alcohol. Too much alcohol reduces communication between the brain and body. Coordination becomes far more difficult, balance is affected and it is not uncommon to see a person stumble or fall over.

Other damage alcohol can cause to the central nervous system is numbness or tingling feelings in the bodies extremities, Short and long-term memory is affected as is decision making and the ability to think clearly. This is shown by irrational thoughts and acts that often get a person into trouble.

Go steady:

The occasional hangover may not be sufficient to convince a person that drinking is causing them harm. The reality is that a continuation of heavy drinking sessions will more likely than not cause serious health problems in later life.

The ultimate ‘reward’ for abusing your body in this way is an unwanted, early grave.

what is addiction

What Is Addiction?

Articles, Australia, Education, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

This commonly asked question can be answered in a straightforward manner, but it is the issues surrounding addiction that are far more complex.

What is addiction?

It is a point where a person who uses drugs or drinks alcohol cannot stop even if they have a desire to do so. The cravings and urge to keep using is far too strong for them to control even though they know the substance concerned is causing them harm.

There is no blueprint for addiction:

One thing is for certain, when someone tries an illegal substance or drinks alcohol they are not expecting to become addicted. The majority do so because they are curious, and keen to experience the effects that so many will have told them about.

The problem with these substances is that they have an extremely strong pulling power. They are moreish and the more a person has the more they want.

What starts as a once a week bit of fun with friends turns into 2 or 3 times a week and then it becomes an expected everyday occurrence.

Not everyone is caught in this spiral of increased use, this makes it very difficult for those who can take or leave substance use to understand why others cannot simply leave it alone.

Something that must be understood is that these substances can change the way the brain works. Many who use drugs or alcohol begin to need them simply to feel normal. Those affected in this way can quickly find that dependence takes over their lives.

Is your dependence deepening?

Here are 6 factors that show a dependence is deepening:

  • Tolerance: Are you finding alcohol or drug use is increasing over time? Is more required to achieve the same feelings as previously experienced?
  • Lack of control: Do you find there are times when you take more of the substance in question than was your initial intention or more than you wanted to? Do you sometimes drink simply to get drunk? Does the first drink regularly lead to more? Is there ever regret regarding how much of the substance you used the previous day?
  • Continued use despite negative consequences: Even though you are aware of the harm this is causing yourself and those around you, you continue to use.
  • Neglected duties: Expected duties around the home or social obligations are either forgotten or purposely ignored. If so, this is because substance use is more important.
  • Increasing time spent: Increased amounts of time and energy are being put into buying and using your substance of choice and thoughts of it are either constantly on your mind or just below the surface?
  • Withdrawal: If you try to forego the substance do physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms take hold? This can range from sweating and shaking to increased anxiety and irritability. The significance of emotional withdrawal is on par with physical withdrawal symptoms.

Deepening dependence will not disappear on its own:

Anyone who feels their substance abuse is getting the better of them needs to seek professional help. Many who are addicted have strong feelings and actions of denial. The sooner this denial is ended and professional help sought, the sooner a solution can be found to help.