How An Alcoholic Can Make A New Life For Themselves

BACK IN MY DRINKING DAYS 5+ YEARS AGO

When you are an alcoholic you feel inside that this will be your life forever, but that is not true whatsoever.

Anyone can change their life if you truly have the desire to make that change, and if change is not in you vocabulary then I guess being an alcoholic is what you will be forever. It's up to you, and you only!

It is up to each and everyone of us alcoholics to make a difference, not only for ourselves, but all those that love and care for us.  They too want us to have a healthy and happy life which in turn makes the family healthy and happy as well.

"How an alcoholic can make a new life for themselves" is very easy if you have the willingness and the strong desire to change.

Honestly, I don't know any alcoholic that wants to stay an alcoholic for the rest of their lives. The problem is that they (including myself) are trapped in this horrible addiction and think there is no way out, but there is a way out and that is to make up your mind once and for all that you need and want to be clean and sober.

Get out of the denial you have lived in for many years and face the fact that your life is going down hill very fast, and sooner or later you will indeed hit that rock bottom, sad to say, but very true.

SOBER AND HELPING OTHERS NOW

Anyone can change their life and don't let anyone or anything stand in your way of doing so.  Don't listen to your drinking buddies, because once you tell them you are stopping drinking they will be all over you. They will try their hardest to talk you out of quitting drinking, because after all they are your true friends right?  NO they are not true friends, they are people that have an addiction just like you do.

Ever heard of alcoholics that hate to drink alone?  It is a truly lonely experience, because I know, I drank alone many many times all because some of the people that I did drink with stopped drinking.

Come on guys and gals, lets stop fooling ourselves, because you know as well as I do that continuing to drink and abusing alcohol the way we do, our lives are being cut so short just because we are so stupid.  Saving your life is easy my friends.  All we have to do is STOP DRINKING AND ABUSING ALCOHOL!

I did it over 5 years ago and I know for a fact you can do it as well.  Put your mind to it and think nothing but positive thoughts, telling yourself, "you can and will beat this addiction to alcohol!"

What Kind Of Role Model Are You?

Since the very day we are born we look up to our parents, because after all they are ones that gave us life right?  We look up to them through the years as our role models.

What kind of role model were they all through the years they brought you up to be a decent and respectable adult?

What happens if the very ones that brought you life into this world are alcoholics or drug addicts?  What type of role model are they to you now having this addiction?

As you become an adult, and have your own family, "what kind of role model are you?"  Are you the same as your parents were?

How can anyone such as children look up to a parent that has an addiction to alcohol or drugs? They are not the role model that you would like to look up to right?

Any child brought up in an environment of nothing but alcohol and drugs can't have a great future can they?

They sure can have a great future, as long as they don't follow the footsteps of their parent that were poor role models. They still love and want them be a role model, but unfortunately, their parents chose a different type of life and were not able to be a great role model for their children.

When you become a parent and have your own children, be the best role model you can to them.  Your children want to look up to you, and idolize the very people that brought life to them.

Teach them the proper way and show them what life is really all about.

I Quit Drinking Alcohol So Now What?

So I quit drinking alcohol so now what is the question I asked myself, and I am sure many people that have quit drinking have asked the same question to themselves.

Now what?  Well you are about to start and new and joyous life, BUT you have to stick to your guns and never let those alcohol demons back into your life.  This is where it gets hard for many alcoholics after they have stopped drinking alcohol.

They are bored.  They don't know what to do with themselves because they were so used to having a drink in hand and being in bars and pubs drinking them up with their drinking buddies.  At least this was the life I had, and I am not speaking for anyone else, but I am sure those that have this addiction to alcohol understand exactly what I am talking about.

WHAT IS NEXT YOU MIGHT ASK?

• You quit drinking, and you are now sober, and the next step is to stay sober.
• You  can now enjoy your life sober and start spending quality time with your loved ones that maybe you never did when addicted to alcohol.
• You will be able to start saving money that you were spending on alcohol and not on your families.
• You can now see for your eyes how you are starting to change not only physically, but mentally.
• You can start living the life you so well deserve.
• You need to stay away from things, places and people that will tempt you to start drinking again.
• There will be so many things will be able to do now being sober, such as getting behind the wheel of you automobile without any worries of getting into an accident because of being drunk, being pulled over and getting that DUI. 
• YOU WILL BE FREE!

Granted, there will be days in the beginning, and even far into sobriety, but you can not give in no matter what it takes to say NO!

I have had many times in my recovery that I just wanted to throw in the towel and take a drink. Why?
The reason was maybe that day something went wrong in my life or something just didn't work out like I'd planed it to.  I stood my grounds to my demons and say NO I can not do this!

Back in October of 2009 I made a promise to myself that no matter what happens in my life, good or bad I will never pick up an alcoholic drink again, and I am a man of my word and would never break a promise especially to myself.  Sure it was hard to say NO I can't do this, but as the minutes passed by that urge and temptation to drink passed.  I knew if I gave it some time that feeling and urge to drink would go away, and it did.

You have to be a strong person and much stronger than your inner demons.  The demons are waiting for you and I to mess up and start drinking again.  This way if you and I do drink alcohol again our demons will have full control of our lives once more, but this time if we break and drink it will be harder to get rid of this demons that are out to kill us.
\
So get sober, stay sober, and start to live the clean life like I have since 2009 and will continue for many years to come.

Abusing Alcohol And Your Life Ahead

I have nothing against anyone that drinks alcohol, but abusing alcohol and your life ahead can be disastrous in the upcoming years.

What I mean here is that drinking to much, or doing to much of anything can be harmful.  For a guy like myself, I only wished I could drink only one or two social drinks, but in my case, and in many cases, we that abuse alcohol just don't when we have had enough to drink.  We continue to drink until we have had our fill of alcohol for the day and get to that buzz or high we all long for.

I have been sober since October of 2009 and have not touched a drop of alcohol, although there were many times I had that urge or temptation to pick up that drink and get drunk just like the old times.

I made a promise to myself back in October of 2009, telling myself I will never touch another drop of alcohol no matter how good or bad my life get.  I continue to keep a positive attitude at all times and continue to tell myself that drinking and abusing alcohol helps nothing in life, in fact it only make matters worse.

You will never realize what you were doing to your bodies and those people that loved and cared about you until you have been clean and sober for some time and then it hits you exactly what you have been doing to destroy your one and only life.

Drinking alcohol and having a good time is okay by me if and only if you drink alcohol responsibly and not drink and abuse alcohol.  That is the part that just didn't go right with me and so many other people that have an addiction to alcohol. 

If you are one those that are abusing alcohol than you really need to sit back (in a sober state of mind) and look into your future and see the life that is ahead of you.  If you truly look hard enough you will see that your life will be going nowhere except downward to rock bottom.

Once you see what is going to happen, and you except this, you might want to make a huge change in your life as I made that change in my life.  I am not telling you what to do because it is your life, but I am just warning you of the outcome that is ahead if you continue to drink and abuse alcohol. It won't be a pretty thing, so act now and get yourself sobered up, and live that one and only life you have with long term sobriety.

There is hope for every alcoholic, if you really want to change you life.  Your life is not over just because you have a addiction.  Your new life is waiting for you!  Now, all you have to do is to go after that new life and make good of it.  Sobriety cost nothing except your acceptance that you need help and you are willing to change your life for the better.

Put the drink down once and for all and start living the life you were put on this Earth to live.

If you think alcohol will not ruin your life, you are dead wrong.  You just have to wake up and see it for yourself, and not let someone like me tell you in an article like this one.  I write these articles because I went through all of this and finally realized after many years of drinking and abusing alcohol that my life was going nowhere and I needed to change, so I did, and could not be happier.

Alcohol will ruin your life if you let it!

Read more of my articles here on the Clean Life, and my articles on HubPages.

Is Loaning Money To An Alcoholic Enabling Them?

Here is a question to think about for all those that loan or give money to an alcoholic.  Is loaning money to an alcoholic enabling them?

For anyone that does this, I know what you are thinking right now.  You think that you are helping the alcoholic by giving or loaning them money to buy their alcohol, but in fact you are enabling them and making them think that is perfectly okay to drink and abuse alcohol as they are doing.

They then think by you giving them money to help them get the alcohol necessary for their fix you will continue to do so whenever they ask again.

You, the enabler, feel bad by saying, "NO I will not feed your addiction by giving you money!"  You hurt inside by saying no, so you give in and give the alcoholic what they need to make them happy. You are not helping by any means by giving in and saying yes here is some money so that you can buy your alcohol.

By doing this and giving in, the alcoholic will expect this yes for an answer everytime they ask for money.  You have to be firm and same No I will not support you habit and your addiction no longer.

I know this will be hard for you to say, but I have been there in my life of my own addiction to alcohol.  I used to ask my wife, "please go out and buy me more beer because I was so buzzed and drunk I couldn't drive, so I pleaded with her to go out for me, or simply take me so that I didn't have to drive.  She didn't like it, and in fact hated that I would ask her this, but she always said yes just to shut me up.

See she thought she was doing good by shutting me up, but in fact she was letting me win all the time if I bitched and complained enough.  You simply have to say NO I will not go out and buy you  more alcohol, and I will not drive you anywhere to buy it.

She just wanted to keep peace in the house and I can see that, but in reality it was making it worse,, until one day when her words to me were, "IT IS ME OR ALCOHOL...YOU MAKE THE CHOICE!"

She meant business and I knew it.  It really made me stop and think. "what really is more important, my wife or my addiction to alcohol?"  I was smart enough to figure out I'd better change my ways real fast before it is too late.  So I did, and that was over 4 years ago and haven't touched a drop of alcohol since.

Our married life improved 1000 percent and life couldn't be any better than it is right now.  Our love has grown more than ever and we are closer than ever before, and why is that you may ask?

Because she laid the law down, and stuck to it, and I made the choice to stop drinking and chose my wife over my addiction to alcohol.

Life is great and so is SOBRIETY!

For anyone that has an addiction to alcohol, just try out living sober. You will be very surprised of how your life will turn around all for the good!

How To Help An Alcoholic Quit Drinking

HERE ARE THE TWO BEACH CHAIRS MY WIFE AND I SAT IN MANY TIMES LOOKING AT THE OCEAN AND THANKING GOD FOR MY SOBRIETY.

There are so many families that have one or even two people (husbands and wives) that are are addicted to alcohol.  In many cases that I know of, and one case was my past addiction to alcohol that my wife wanted to help me try and quit drinking alcohol, but anything she said, I just wouldn't listen because I thought she didn't know what she was talking about.  After all, in my mind, I had no problem whatsoever with my alcohol, and how much I drank of it. I guess I was living in denial for sure.

That being said, there are, I am sure, millions of families going through the same thing as I did.  The spouse wants in the worse way to know how to help an alcoholic quit drinking, but doesn't know the right way to go about it without getting into a huge argument with the alcoholic.

It is like walking on eggshells in a sense.  You want to help the alcoholic, but worry at the same time that you my light a fuse and make things worse than they really are.  Some spouses just say nothing and deal with the tortures the alcoholic puts them through, until one day, they just have had enough.

That is when things could get ugly in a sense, because they have been holding back saying to the alcoholic what they really think and feel.  They just want to help the alcoholic get sober again and remain sober, but in many cases lost for words.  And suddenly they start to spurt out everything they have been holding back for so long.

Sometimes arguments and fights may start because the alcoholic knows the truth deep down, but they still don't want to be helped.  They may say, (as I did) "I can stop drinking alcohol anytime I wish."  Well you know, as well as I know that is a false statement, at least for me it was.

Sometimes the alcoholic needs to be threatened, such as the spouse threatening to leave and not come back until things in the alcoholics life changes for the better.  Sometimes, as hard as it might be to do, you need to light a fire under the alcoholics butt and let them know you mean business in every word you speak.

Many times this will work and make the alcoholic think twice before drinking another alcoholic drink.  It worked for me that's for sure.  Those words, "I WILL LEAVE YOU IF YOU DON'T STOP DRINKING!"

Words such as those are not to hurt the alcoholic, they are to help them.  Those words of meaning business may save the marriage or relationship and will in turn save the alcoholics life. Tough love as they call it!

I guess the whole thing here is, if the alcoholic truly loves their spouse, parents or relationship enough, they will stop drinking alcohol and start their recovery process towards long term sobriety.  That is what will make the difference of continuing to drink or quitting drinking.  Love, and what is more important in their life.  Their spouses, families and friends or alcohol?  It is not a hard decision to make!

If you really want your spouse to get sober and stay sober try sitting down with him/her while they are sober, (with no alcohol in them) and try to explain in a calm way what they are doing to them self and how their drinking is effecting the family and friends they have.

The alcoholic has to know this unless they are totally blind to the whole situation.  I knew and agreed that every word spoken was correct, BUT when a alcoholic lives in denial it might be a bit hard to convince them to stop drinking.

The alcoholic has to be ready to change his/her life on their own and not be forced or threatened into sobriety, because if the alcoholic is not ready, no matter what you say will make a difference. I can relate, because I had those talks many times and might of stopped drinking for short time to let the fire burn out and then, bang, right back at my old habits.

In the case of my 2009 experience drinking my beer in the garage all alone, a voice came into my head and it was a voice that changed my life forever.  While the talks I had with my wife helped me understand what I was doing to the family and myself, the voice that came about me convinced me I had to get sober and to do it at that moment.

HERE IS THE ARTICLE I WROTE ON HUBPAGES
 A LIFE CHANGING WHISPER

I wish that every alcoholic could experience what I did. Many people will not believe me and what I have written in this article, but I know what I heard and that is all that matters.  I am a SOBER guy once again and will remain clean and sober for the rest of my life.  I never want to go through the hell of alcohol addiction ever again.   

Stand up to your addiction and save your own life.  Your life is worth a second chance, so give it to yourself.  You will never be sorry you made the decision to quit drinking alcohol!

Signs Of An Alcoholic

HERE I WAS BACK IN 2009, DRINKING ALONE AS I MENTIONED IN THIS POST AND RIGHT BEFORE I DECIDED TO STOP DRINKING ALCOHOL FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

Millions of people in the world drink alcohol.  Some can handle it and then there are those that can not handle alcohol whatsoever.

Many of those that can't handle alcohol may often ask themselves."what are signs of an alcoholic?"  Am I an alcoholic or just someone that loves drinking?

From my past experiences of my addiction to alcohol, I can honestly say when I asked that same question to myself, it was YES indeed, I was an alcoholic. I knew deep down inside of me that I was, but did I think others thought the same about me?

I can assure you they thought I had a drinking problem.  Many would not come right out and say it to me, but hearing the way they spoke to me I knew they knew something was up and just didn't want to come right out and say it to me.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF BEING AN ALCOHOLIC?

• CRAVING A DRINK THE MINUTE YOU WAKE UP.
• DRINKING EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK.
• NEED TO HAVE A DRINK BEFORE YOUR DAY CAN BEGIN.
• DRINKING TILL WEE HOURS IN THE MORNING.
• PROBLEMS WITH YOUR SPOUSE REGARDING HE/SHE TELLING YOU DRINK TO MUCH.
• YOUR HAPPY AND THE NEXT MINUTE YOU ARE A DIFFERENT PERSON.
• YOUR BEHAVIOR CHANGES AS YOU DRINK MORE AND MORE.
• DRINKING ALONE.
• HIDING YOUR ALCOHOL.
• NEVER WANTING TO ATTEND A FUNCTION THAT DOESN'T SERVE ALCOHOL.
• CAN NOT REMEMBER THE NIGHT BEFORE.
• SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, UNLESS YOU HAVE PASTED OUT.
• YOU NEED MORE AND MORE ALCOHOL TO GET TO THE DRUNK STAGE.
• LOSING JOBS BECAUSE OF YOUR DRINKING PROBLEM.
• FREQUENT FIGHTING OR ARGUMENTS WITH YOUR FAMILY.
• DENIAL THAT YOU HAVE A SERIOUS DRINKING PROBLEM.

If you are seeing signs that you maybe an alcoholic then I would really stop and take a hard look at your life and those lives around you.  Is it really worth losing everything in your life from an avoidable addiction to alcohol.  I bet you are saying NO, it is not worth losing everything from something that will kill you in the end.

If you said No it is not worth it, then are you going to do something about it or just continue to drink your life away?

Believe me once the demons get hold of your body it will get harder and harder to get out of your addiction to alcohol.  Don't let that happen.  Nip it in the bud before it is too late!

I know you might think, "how can I live without alcohol in my life when I have been so used to having it be a huge part of your life?"

Trust me, you can live without alcohol.  You will see a new you my friends!  Your spouse, family and friends will see a new you, and you will be so proud of yourself when you finally stop drinking alcohol forever.

You will start to feel back to your old self.  Your appearance will not look like you are an alcoholic anymore. Your health will improve each and everyday.  You will regain your self-esteem and start living with a positive attitude, and not be so down on yourself because of your addiction. You know how alcoholic may say, Why Me? why doesn't anything go right in my life?

To tell you the truth, nothing will go right in your life unless you do something to change it.  You have to help yourself before anyone or anything can help you.  If you are not willing to make that change and make something out of your life, then I guess you will continue to be a lonely alcoholic for the rest of your life.

You will start to lose things, one at a time, and before you know it, you will then hit rock bottom.  Speaking of rock bottom, sometimes it takes an alcoholic to hit rock bottom before he/she does something to change his/her life.  Don't Let This Happen To You!

How To get Your Life Back On Track After Leaving An Alcohol Rehabilitation Center

You have finally taken that step towards a new life and have entered a Rehab. Center for the treatment of your alcohol addiction.

You put your heart into getting well and listened to your counselors every words of advice and wisdom.  Now the time comes that you will be released from their care and back you go to the outside world with many temptations from your past and the friends you hung around during those times of drinking and abusing alcohol.

The questions in your mind are how to get your life back on track after leaving an Alcohol Rehabilitation Center?

There are unfortunately many things that you must avoid when entering back into society as a clean and sober person.  Some you may not like, but it is a must to listen to those words from your counselors, as they know best for your well being and your long term sobriety.

Number 1 - You just may have to say goodbye to your past drinking buddies for they will try to influence you to start drinking alcohol again.  They sure don't like drinking alone without you.  Many of them will not support you choice to become clean and sober for jealousy they don't have the willpower or the determination to get sober as you did.

Number 2 -  You may need to stay clear of any parties or functions that your family has until you feel comfortable being around alcohol again. (This is what I had to do in the beginning of my recovery)

Number 3 -  You MUST stay busy physically and mentally at all times so that your minds doesn't wonder to what you are trying to stay away from which is your past alcohol addiction.

Number 4 - Think of a hobby that you would really enjoy doing and be able to even share this hobby with your family.

Number 5 - Take walks alone or with your spouse or sober friends.

Number 6 -  Start a exercise regiment at home or join a gym to be around others that are trying to make their lives better as you are.

National Alcoholism And Substance Abuse INFORMATION CENTER

FIND A REHAB. CENTER IN YOUR AREA

How Can You Stop The Urge To Drink Alcohol

If you are addicted to alcohol and want to stop drinking alcohol and get clean and sober, you may want to know, "how can you stop the urge to drink alcohol," if you are trying to get sober.
If you are someone that has tried to stop drinking and you have made some headway, but on certain days in you life you get that urge to drink again.  You know for a fact that if you pickup a alcoholic drink you will be doomed and will be back in the rut of drinking alcohol everyday.

How can you stop that urge to drink alcohol you may ask?  Here is my opinion, and what I thought about when I got the urge to drink alcohol after three plus years of sobriety.

If you have found sobriety in your life after so many years of drinking and abusing alcohol, then a huge congrats to you for a job well done.

getting and staying sober is not a easy thing to do, especially with all the things going on in this world. So many people have problems in their lives, such as loss of employment, financial problems, marriage problems and so many other things that may trigger the sober person to go back to drinking alcohol.  The temptation is all around us everywhere we go in this world.

Bars are on almost every corner and even many restaurants serve the poison alone with a great meal.  You would go to a party, picnic, gathering of any sorts and there will be your friend, called alcohol ready to be served. Here comes that urge to drink, but how can you turn off that urge that will ruin your life once again?

**As I am writing this post, February 3, 2013 the Super Bowl is airing at this moment and people all over the world are parting and drinking their night away, as I am sitting here writing to help others get and stay sober. Let the game begin and the drinking of much alcohol begin as well.  Many people will be drinking and getting drunk as their team wins the Super Bowl, and then the other 50% of people will drinking in disgust and disappointment that their team lost the Super Bowl. (Any excuse to drink right?)

Don't get me wrong, I am not an anti-drinking person, I am just a person that didn't know when enough was enough when it came to drinking alcohol.  So, in that case, I must not drink at all, and that solved my problem of never enough booze.  If you want to get sober and stay sober, (just don't drink) it's that simple!

I got sober on October 27, 2009 and here is what I think about when I get that urge to drink, and alcohol is all around me at the function that I am at.

First, I think of all the hard work it took me to ever decide to stop drinking alcohol and get clean and sober.  My wheels turned for a long time until I was certain I needed to quit drinking alcohol once and for all, not only for myself, but everyone that was in my life. 

Secondly, I always think what I put my body through by drinking and abusing alcohol, and what I put my family and friends through that loved and cared for me through all the years of drinking and abusing alcohol.  I knew I never wanted to put my body, family and friends though that ever again. It just isn't fair to take down your family along with yourself just because you are selfish, and you choose alcohol over people that loved and cared for you.

Third, You need to have a Positive Attitude at all times, before and after you stop drinking alcohol.  You need to keep reminding yourself that you are an alcoholic and if you touch that drink you will relapse and be right back where you started when you first decided to get sober. Trust me, it is not worth that drink or buzz you re urging to have.  Everything you have worked so hard for, (and that would be your sobriety and freedom of the alcohol demons) would be all in vein.

Forth, Think of how much happier and healthier you will feel, and we must not forget those horrible hangovers from over drinking right?  Unless hangovers don't bother you, but I find that getting sick and feeling like crap each morning you wake up is certainly NOT worth any buzz or drunk.

Fifth, Think of what you will look like again if you choose to start drinking alcohol again.  did you like the way you looked when you drank alcohol?  Over weight, tired looking, run down and just no energy whatsoever. 

Stop the urge to drink alcohol by thinking of some of the things above that help me each day to stay sober one more day in my life.  Another way that helps me to stay sober is by writing on HubPages and my other blog called Crushing Alcohol Addiction.  Check them out and some of those articles my help you if you are serious about stopping drinking and living with long term sobriety.

Do You Have Depression Knowing That You Are An Alcoholic

Many people that drink too much alcohol, or even abuse alcohol often have depression as I did when I drank too much alcohol.

The question is to all those folks is, "do you have depression knowing that you are an alcoholic?"

In my personal experience with drinking alcohol, and abusing it every single day was that I really thought by drinking alcohol I would be happier and all my problems would disappear by drinking those problems away. In fact, by drinking too much alcohol those once small problems began to seem larger and the more I drank the more depressed I would get. Does this sound familiar to you?  I bet for some it really does.

The photo above shows me just how life can be living it sober, meaning, we all live in a world that has beauty all around us and many of us that are alcoholics never even realize just how beautiful the world is looking at it through addicted eyes. Just looking at that photo, how could you and I be so depressed when we have beauty right in front of our eyes if we live that life clean and sober.  The alcohol that we drink thinking life will be so much better blinds us in seeing and feeling the beauty of life.

Depression is a horrible thing when you think your world is falling apart around you.  Drinking and abusing alcohol does not help the matter whatsoever.  I believe it just makes you more depressed knowing that you are an alcoholic and you don't know what to do to get out of the rut you are in, and start living a healthy and happy life.  You may want help to stop drinking alcohol, but may be ashamed or embarrassed to ask for the help you need.

So, what is your next step in finding your sobriety, that is if you are serious about getting and staying sober, and you want to get out of the depression you have and start living a happy life once again.

If you know you are an alcoholic, and you want to have sobriety back into your life you need to sit down with yourself (being sober) and ask yourself how bad do you want to get and stay sober.

Are you willing enough to say goodbye to alcohol and be able to promise yourself you will never pick up an alcoholic drink ever again?  If you can't make that promise to yourself then I think you are not ready to stop drinking alcohol just yet, but if you can say yes, I am ready to surrender once and for all (like I did over three years ago) then you are on the right track and have taken that very important first step to finally having peace in your life and will no longer feel depressed that you are an alcoholic.

I guess you can say you and I will always be an alcoholic, but we are both in recovery and leading a healthy and happy life.  Just remember the demons are just waiting for us to cheat, give in, or relapse so they (the alcohol demons) can take control over our bodies and minds once again.

Don't be weak and give in to them.  They are powerless without the feed of alcohol, so just don't give them what they are starving for.

• We need to have a positive attitude at ALL TIMES.
• We need to believe in ourselves.
• We need to love ourselves enough to not go back on our promise to never drink again.
• We need a strong desire, determination and the willingness to get and stay sober.
• We need to ask for the help we need to help us get and stay sober.
• We need not to be embarrassed of our addiction to alcohol.

Is Alcohol Ruining Your Life

Think about how your life was before you started drinking alcohol.  Is alcohol ruining your life or do you think you have a great life even being addicted to alcohol?

Many people would more than likely say that alcohol doesn't effect their life at all, but maybe they should take a closer look around them and see what is being effected by them being addicted to alcohol.

So many alcoholics live each day in denial and really don't see what is going on around them.  They can't see who is being effected by their addiction and who is crying inside that the alcoholic will not get out of denial and seek help.  They are basically blinded from their own addiction and don't have to willingness to surrender to the addiction that is slowly ruining their life, and I might add, slowly killing them self.

There is no one that can change an alcoholics life except the alcoholic them self.  If every person that is addicted to alcohol would stop and look at their life and those lives around them, they will realize that something is horribly going wrong.  Alcohol addiction not only ruins the addicted person's life, but their spouses, children, family and friends suffer right along with them.  The difference is that the alcoholic is slowly killing them self and making their families and friends start to become distant because of the lifestyle the alcoholic leads. So, the alcoholic is losing everything in their life ever so slowly and they don't see it coming until the bottom falls out completely and they hit rock bottom.  Then they may wake up and change their life. It's sad, but true.  Sometimes it takes a huge life upset in order for the alcoholic to realize there is no way to beat this addiction, except to surrender to it once and for all.

Alcohol will certainly ruin your life and others, but you have the power within to stop this poison from destroying everything you have.  All you need to do is admit that you have a problem and then DO SOMETHING about it to correct this addiction you have.

Once you step up to the plate and get out of the denial you are living with and take all the necessary steps to get and stay sober you will see how your life will begin to change in a positive way.  It's all up to you whether you want the life of addiction or a clean and healthy life of sobriety.  

What Is A Functioning Alcoholic

Can you handle your alcohol? How do you get along each day with or without alcohol in your life?
Do you miss work or late to work because of a hard night before "drinking alcohol?"

What is a functioning alcoholic, and do you think you are one?  For myself, I would certainly consider myself a functioning alcoholic.  I never missed worked because of my drinking.  I went to work and preformed my job just like the sober ones, but the difference with me was my head was in a fog for most of the day until evening when I was right back to the beer and the fog would disappear and I thought I was thinking straight again.

The booze really does tricks on your mind and body don't you think?  There are so many people that are addicted to alcohol and go about their everyday lives as if they didn't drink at all and many people may not even know that these people have an addiction or a problem at all.  Have you ever heard the old saying, "I never knew he/she drank till I saw them sober?"

That is so true, but we are only fooling our self and no one else.  Even though we can function in our everyday lives does not mean we are not an alcoholic.  It seems that many that are functioning everyday and drinking at night gives the impression to their self that they do not have an addiction to alcohol problem.  That is exactly what I thought and I was dead wrong for sure.  It took me many years, as it may for those that have an addiction to alcohol, but hide it well, to admit there is a huge problem with our drinking and something must be done before the days that you never miss at work because of drinking, turn into something totally different and start to go into a full addiction and may change your life forever.

It can only go on for so long until something happens to your health, your job, your family life and possibly your own life.

So if you think by being a functioning alcoholic gives you the permission to continue to drink alcohol, you are mistaking, exactly what I thought.  Now clean and sober for over two years now, and counting, I now realize alcohol means nothing to me and I don't need it to have a so called great life. Having a great life revolves around sobriety and the ability to think and act straight and clear minded. Out of site, out of mind.

As the months and years have passed I totally have forgotten about my past addiction to alcohol and have not looked back only forward to a more and more brighter future and a clean and sober life.

The only time I think about alcohol now, is when I am writing about it, and that's the extent of it. Goodbye forever my addiction, you will never be missed, but not forgotten of how you almost destroyed my life!!

Words From One Alcoholic To Another

Here are my words from one alcoholic to another and my questions to you.

Can you say that you love yourself?
Can you say you love your families and friends?
Can you say you put your addictions above all else?
Can you stop your alcohol or drug addiction?
Can you say you love your addiction more than anything else in your life?
Can you say you are happier being drunk or high?

These are just a few questions to think about if you are suffering from an addiction of any kind and don't know where to turn or how to get clean and sober.  My advice to you goes as follows, and this is only my personal experiences with drinking alcohol and not Medical advise to you.

Lets start with question number one shall we, regarding, do you love yourself.  I think anyone suffering from an addiction has a underlying problem deep down in them self and doesn't know how to express their feelings, so they keep this inside and possibly drink or use to get a release from whatever maybe bothering them deep down inside.  Many of us may not really know what the problem is, but know something is not right with their life.  I felt that something was bothering me inside, but couldn't pin point exactly what it was, so I drank alcohol to get that feeling of freedom from whatever problem was bugging me and before I knew it I was addicted. I now know that drinking alcohol never did answer that mysterious question of what was bothering me deep down and in fact, drinking alcohol will never fix or heal anything.  It will only mask the problem for a short time until you sober up and reality sets back in.

Question number two is in regards to loving your families and friends so do you really love them and have unconditional love?  We all say "I love you" but do you really mean it or just saying it to save face?  Can you honestly say you love your families and friends enough to stop drinking or using drugs?  I bet not only because your addiction has taken over your life and is first and for most number one in your life and everything else is secondary and above all, you really don't love them because you are hurting all of them deeply by your actions and behaviors regarding your addictions.

Question number three is in regards to putting your addiction above all else and I can honestly say that I did put my addiction before anything and never thought once about who I hurt by doing so.  There are some tell tail signs that I can tell you regarding my actions and putting my alcohol addiction first above all.  I will never go anywhere unless there was alcohol being served and if it wasn't served I would bring and hide my own stash.  It is like having a broken leg and you need to bring your crutch with you to help you deal with your broken leg and help you walk.  Well alcohol was my crutch and I didn't feel comfortable going anywhere without it.  I am sure just about any alcoholic can and will agree with me by their actions and the way their life is without their own crutch. Addiction come first for the alcoholic and everything else is next in line.

Question number four is about stopping drinking and using of drugs.  Do you think you can walk away from your addiction and never look back.  Of course you can, But you really don't want to for the fear that lies inside of you and your fear of how you will survive without you addiction in your life.  When I quit drinking alcohol, I was scared to death and I fear of how my body would react with the absence of the alcohol I learned to love and what was a huge part of my life.  Any of us can quit drinking or using if and only if you have made your mind up that you have had enough and what your old life of sobriety back.  When you have finally made your mind up to surrender to your addiction and have admitted you have a problem and need help is when you life will begin to turn around all for the better, but you must be determined and willing to do what it takes to make this huge change in your life..

Question number five is loving your addiction more than anything else in life and I can say for myself, I loved to drink alcohol and treasured the feeling it gave me and the confidence and so called strength it gave me, so I thought.  I would be mingling with the best of the drinking and felt so in with the other alcoholic. I felt like I really fit in with all that were in the same boat as I was saying to myself that this is a great life and the hip thing to do.  I would say that anyone that didn't drink alcohol didn't know what life was really about and just to have fun.  Man was I dead wrong on that one.  Now sober I feel so sorry for those that are still addicted to this horrible disease of alcoholism and this is exactly why I write every night in hopes I will hit home to someone in need of a clean and sober life.

Question number six is all about being happy and if you think you are a happier person being drunk or high.  Many people that are addicted to drugs or alcohol really forget what true happiness is in their life.  Many of the addicted think by drinking or using will make them a happy person, but in fact they are getting more and more depressed as each drink is drank and each drug is used.  Sure in the beginning you think, wow this crap is good and I feel like I am on the top of the world and nothing is bothering me now as long as I continue to stay buzzed.  Yeah right, what about when the buzz wears off?  How do you feel then?  I bet you felt like crap, and this is exactly why we drink and use again, to get that feeling of so called happiness back into our life.  In fact, we are all drinking our life away.  As each day passes, you will never be able to regain that day back again.  It is gone forever.  If you really want to experience true happiness in your life, try changing it and stop drinking alcohol and work on getting and staying clean and sober.  Remember, we all are here on earth but one time so why not be happy in a natural way and clean way. 

I am not a Doctor or a Therapist by no means, but I can tell you a few things about drinking alcohol and how to ruin your life if you let your addiction get the best of you.  I am here to say that I am clean and sober for over two years and my life couldn't be better, so why can't you at least give sobriety a shot and give your one and only life you have a second chance and let yourself experience true happiness in the light of being Clean and Sober.

Man Verses Addiction

Man verses addiction has been around for hundreds and even thousands of years and will remain in our lives for thousands of years more and till the end of time.  There is nothing we can do to make it ever go away except to stand up to the addiction and surrender to the demons that can and will ruin your life. These addictions will cause health problems and death if action is not taken promptly.

Many people with an addiction have been overcome by it and many have lost lives because of their addiction, but then there are those that have beat their addiction and became clean and sober once again and hopefully forever.  An addiction is nothing to laugh about and must be taken serious or people will lose everything they had worked so hard to get throughout their life, including, spouses, homes, jobs, families and friends as well.

Wouldn't it be nice to cure all addictions with a wave of a wand?  We all know that is not possible, although we, the sober ones can try our hardest to help those that are having a tough time in life with their addictions and offer as much help as we can through writing our own experiences with drinking alcohol or using drugs via the Internet, ebooks and just word of mouth to let every addicted person in the world know that there is always hope and to never give up trying to have sobriety be a part of your life again.

So in short, addictions to whatever it may be will be in our society and in our world forever, so the best thing we can do is to help those in need of help and make them understand that sobriety is waiting for them.  Addictions will never go away, but all of us that are sober or have recently got sober have to team together and help all those that have the same problems or addiction as what we have beaten. Let them know they are not alone and there is help waiting for them.  All they must do is to ask for it and we will be there with open arms to help them get and stay sober.

Ways To Help You Stay Sober During The Holidays

The Holiday season is upon us and with the giving of gifts, having Christmas and New Years parties become somewhat difficult for those that are in recovery from their past addictions.

There are many ways to help you stay sober during the Holidays such as your thinking and your mental attitude.

In the beginning of your recovery you are really fighting to stay sober.  Your body that has been so used to alcohol in your system and then to have nothing alcoholic is a bit of a shock to your your system.  You go to that Holiday party and watch as those that are drinking and thinking they are having a wonderful time, and I am sure they are, at that moment.

You mouth starts to water and wishing you can have just one beer, a glass of wine or a nice mixed drink.  The problem with that is you have made a pack with yourself, (I hope) to never pick up a alcoholic drink again.  This pack or promise to yourself to never drink again should have been made when you finally surrendered to your addiction.

You took the right steps in getting clean and sober, and now the huge job is to stay clean and sober. The Holiday seasons are full of temptations to the alcoholic. I know for myself when I quit drinking alcohol, the first few months were torture to me. I surrendered to my addiction in October of 2009 just two months before the Holiday party were to begin.  I thought to myself, " how in the world will I ever be able to go to these holidays and parties and watch people drink while I remain sober?"

The way I handled those temptations to drink are as follows and I hope they will help you through this Holiday and many days and years to come, not just Holidays.

• I began to prepare my mind and my feelings of what would happen to me if I were to break and relapse.
• I thought  to myself if I were to drink at these Holiday parties what I would be ruining and all the hard work I did to get where I was at that moment and sober.
• I said to myself that every minute I remain sober at these parties I will be closer to leaving the the temptation to drink.
• I stay strong and determined not to drink and keeping that promise to myself that I made some two years ago.
• I mad sure I had enough coffee to hold in my hand as I sipped it slowly as I was having conversations with all that were drinking alcohol.
• Before I knew it the end of the night was near and I remained clean and sober.
• Ever since those couple of parties I went to it has become so much easier to be around those that drink alcohol and my urge to drink has passed and it doesn't bother me one bit now to go to parties and watch other drink their brains out.  In fact, I watch them now and just how they change with each drink that was drank.  I often wonder to myself, "was that me two years ago?"  If so, I was a mess as those that are pounding them down and thinking they are having a blast.
• I go home sober and awake with a clear head with no hangovers.  I wonder how they felt after their night out drinking?  I bet not like me!
• I continue to tell myself just how proud of I am of my own self and I should be, just as every person that had an addiction and surrendered to it and now living a life of sobriety.

So make your Holidays safe, sober and fun.  Remember, you don't need to drink alcohol in order to enjoy this time of the season with Christmas and New Years right around the corner. In fact, I can truly say for myself, it is much more fun being clean and sober and the best part of it is that you will remember the night to be remember.  Don't blow it and take that one drink for if you are like me, you will be back right your started at day number one and I know I don't want to start all over again after working so hard to get where I am today and you should feel the same way if your were smart.

Don't drink and don't give in EVER!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE AND ENJOY THIS SPECIAL TIME OF THE YEAR BEING CLEAN AND SOBER!!!

Understanding What An Alcoholic Goes Through Each Day

Do you think being an alcoholic is fun?  None of us set out on a giving day and just decide to start destroying ourselves with alcohol.

Understanding what an alcoholic goes through each day is what I have to try and explain in my own words, and possibly speaking for all those that are addicted to alcohol as I was over two years ago.

Life isn't easy being an alcoholic.  You can ask anyone that has or had any kind of addiction, whether it be drugs or alcohol.  We fear not having alcohol in our system for any length of time.  We constantly worry what people think about our addiction to the alcohol.  We fear if we stop drinking, will something happen that will harm us such as the DTs, shakes, tremors and anything that would effect the body by the absence of alcohol, or should we continue on our path to self destruction to avoid any health problems as such.  But, we know deep down we are doing wrong and sooner or later our addiction will catch up with us and it won't be a pretty thing for sure.  We are planing our own death in a sense and really on our own terms.  We know we are killing our self slow but sure, BUT it still isn't enough to make us stop drinking alcohol.  Sad, but true.

We wait for the right moment until we can have that first of many drinks of the day.  The minute we awake from our restless nights sleep, if we sleep at all, and if we do sleep, I would call it passed out instead, when we can open that can of beer or take that cap off our bottle and start the process all over again.

Many of us are great in hiding our addiction, so we think.  We want in the worse way to live a normal life and not be drunk each and everyday, but the addiction and the demons inside us grabbed us for good.   We are trapped in our own bodies and don't know how to get out.  We suffer each day with our addiction and many times wonder where we will get the money to support our everyday addiction to alcohol.

When we go out on a drunken evening of fun and morning comes, we often wonder to our self if we said anything bad to anyone that would offend them or did we do anything that might of hurt someone the night before.  We wonder these things because of being so drunk and not caring what we said or did until we sober up the next morning and try in the worse way to remember the evening before, but many of us just can't remember anything.  So, we may ask some of the people we were with that evening and hope and pray they don't tell us anything bad that we may have done.  Some of us are even afraid to ask that question for fear inside our self that we may have said or did something that wasn't right, but really didn't want to know the true answer, so we ask nothing.  we figure if we did do or say anything someone would most likely say something to us right?

We wake up in the morning feeling like crap and swear we will never drink alcohol again, until a little bit later in the day when we get our senses together and start feeling somewhat back to normal, if that's what you call it.  We wonder to our self, "should I have a drink or not after the night I had?"  Of course, it doesn't take long for the alcoholic to make up his/her mind to drink or not.  We take that first drink of the day in hopes it will help straighten us up and it does somewhat and guess what, we are right back in the same boat we were in hours before and drinking the day and night away.  A constant cycle, day after day, week after week, month after month.

If you never had the experience of being addicted to alcohol, then you are one lucky person, and saying that, clean and sober people should not down those that have this addiction and in fact they should try to comfort them and help them realize that there is a better life out there being sober.

For anyone that hasn't experienced an addiction in their lives I would suggest watching the TV show on A&E called "Intervention" and you will see first hand what a person that has an addiction goes through each and everyday of their life and how the families suffer right along with the addicted person and how they, the families try there hardest to get their son, daughter, spouse, friend, etc. the help they need to get their lives back on track and surrender to their addiction.



I have heard so many people stating that, " this guy or gal is an alcoholic and is worth nothing in life."  They are a total mess and a menace to society. If you could only walk in an alcoholics shoes for one day you will then realize that being an alcoholic is a horrible thing and anyone that is one can tell you that their life is for crap.  They don't know how to get out of the addiction that has grown to love them.  Their demons are very well settled in their bodies and it will take a lot to get rid of them once and for all.

Clean and sober people have to understand what the alcoholic is going through in order to feel their pain.  As far as anyone that is addicted to alcohol, we the alcoholics certainly understand, and always remember your not alone.

If we all decide to quit drinking alcohol we will see that there is a real life out there to enjoy.  So, let all of us that have this horrible addiction start to prepare for a life of sobriety.  I did it, although it was tough, but not as bad as I thought it might be. I did it and so can you. 

Get focused, get determined and get positive for the new life that you are about to start.  Never let anyone or anything stand in your way of getting clean and sober.  Be stronger than your addiction and get sober once and for all.

How To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone Of Drinking Alcohol

Do you feel comfortable while drinking alcohol?  Do you live each day waiting for that first drink of the day?  Do you think you could survive outside your comfort zone without alcohol in your life?


How to get out of your comfort zone of drinking alcohol depends only on you.  Are you able and willing to make a change in your life and go outside the box and the life of addiction?  Do you feel as if you can surrender to drinking alcohol and live a normal life again?

Yes, this article is full of questions that you must ask yourself if you want to leave that comfort zone that you feel so good living in, and that is living with an addiction to alcohol.

We all get so used to doing the same thing over and over again and forget what it feels like to just live a normal and happy life.  Addictions, no matter it be drugs or alcohol captures you and takes from you.  You may not see it coming because you are very happy in the comfort zone you live and really never want to leave that zone for the fear of what you think may happen.

You are afraid of change and rather just stay where you feel comfortable and never mind anything else in life.  Well my friends, by staying in that comfort zone you are missing out on a whole new life.  You are living with everything the same, day after day and missing out on what life really has to offer.

Drinking alcohol CAN be lots of fun if doing it responsibly and not abusing it, like I did.  Don't get me wrong, I loved to drink and if I could, I would, but that is not possible by no means. 

Many people in the world can have one or two drinks and called it quits for the night and are completely satisfied, and then there are those, like myself, that can't just have one or two drinks.  No, we need more and more until we hit that high that our body needs to be content.  Get drunk, get sick and go to bed, day after day until one day you may see the light and surrender to your addiction as I did and start the recovery process to find your sobriety again.

Don't wait until it's too late and something horrible happens to you or someone else, such as a innocent person or people to decide to quit drinking and abusing alcohol.

Get out of that comfort zone and start living life like it should be lived.  Never be afraid of living a clean and sober life.  Be afraid of what an addiction to alcohol CAN and WILL do to you and your family that is suffering right along with you and crying inside and out for you to see the light and get clean and sober and get out of that comfort zone you have been living in for so long.

Alcoholism In A Family

It is a wonderful thing to have a great family life with each person loving and caring for each other, but when you have alcoholism in a family it can be a horrible life for all involved.   No one wants to live where there is constant pressure and worry of what the alcoholic may do next.

Is the alcoholic a Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in your family?  Do you still love them the same when drunk verses sober?  Can the alcoholic in your family see that they are causing harm not only to them self, but the entire family that loves and cares for he/she?

When you have an alcoholic in a family many people tend to walk on egg shells while being around the person that is addicted to alcohol. Some people are scared to death that they might say something wrong when around the alcoholic.  We have to watch every word said for the fear of upsetting the alcoholic and he/she may just may go from sociable to unbearable within minutes, just by saying one thing wrong or saying something that the alcoholic doesn't want to hear.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EFFECTS ALCOHOLISM HAS ON YOUR CHILDREN

What do you think our children are thinking when seeing their parent or parents drinking alcohol each and everyday?  What kind of role model are we to these innocent children?  Why do the alcoholics only seem to think of them self and not what the are showing and teaching these children?

By are children seeing the alcoholic drinking alcohol each day, they will in their later years think drinking alcohol is okay to do because after all, my parents did it everyday when I was young and still do to this day.  I have heard those words so many times in my life, and to think I was one of those alcoholics that did drink everyday in front of my own innocent children.

Thinking back over two years ago when I finally stopped drinking alcohol and got out of the denial in lived in for so long, I feel a shamed and embarrassed of the addiction I had all through the young years of my children growing up and watching daddy drink alcohol each and everyday.

I always wondered, and still do to this day what was going through their minds as young children.  Did they think it was okay to drink, just because they did look up to me and I was their father?  I guess being they didn't know any better they just went along and excepted the way I was being an alcoholic in their family.

Man, I wish so bad I could turn back the hands of time and live those young years of my children clean and sober.  Every alcoholic probably thinks the same way, but the addiction had got us and we were helpless to our demons.  The demons ran our lives the way they wanted us to live being addicted to their fuel, which is the alcohol.

I write these articles as many other people that were addicted to alcohol have in hopes to help those now addicted and need and want to get clean and sober.  Many ex-drinkers have websites or blogs to help those in need of help to surrender to their addiction to alcohol.

When someone wants help to get sober and doesn't know where to turn they head to the computer and Google, alcohol addiction, sobriety, alcohol, quit drinking alcohol and so many other keywords in hopes that one website will help them get sober once and for all. 

As for myself, I did the exact thing when I wanted to get clean and sober and find my sobriety, so I search the web and found my savior and the big reason I am sober today.  The website was called Spiritual River and I have to tell you between what I had learned by the articles in that site and my pure determination and my positive attitude I was able to get sober and remain sober and I have to say, staying sober is the biggest challenge of all, but I you have in you and the willingness and desire to stay sober then you will stay sober no matter what life throws at you each day.

So the big thing here is, if you are a person that has alcoholism in your family then be supportive to the alcoholic and offer the help they need, but never enable them, only assist them in their quest to hopefully get clean and sober.

What Can Trigger A Relapse

Every person that has any kind of addiction, whether it be drugs or alcohol and want to get sober work very hard to get sober and stay sober, but there are many times these people that had good intentions to staying sober relapse.

From my own experience drinking alcohol I'll try to explain what can trigger a relapse, because it happened to me before, but not this time.  I learned the tricks to getting and staying sober with no urges for the drink.

My sobriety is for good this time and I want to help alcoholics realize that you can get sober and stay sober without the fear of relapse.

I have found out that many things can trigger a relapse, but there are some measures to take to avoid this horrible thing we call relapse.

Say for instance you have been clean and sober for a month or two and you are invited to a party were there will be alcohol served.  You are not sure if you can handle being around people that are drinking alcohol, but don't want to disappoint the person that invited you.  What should you do right?

Think to yourself, "what is more important, your sobriety and what you have been working so hard to keep, or hurting someone feelings?"

As hard as it might seem, you have to tell the person you can not attend, because you would feel tempted to drink being around those that are drinking alcohol.  If this person is any kind of friend he/she will realize and understand the position you are in and that you need to stay away from the temptation to drink until you feel that you are ready to be in the presence of people drinking if or ever.

You have to stay away from those bars you used to hang out in and for that matter, don't even drive around those bars or clubs at all.  Take the long route home if need be to stay clear of all temptation and the chance of relapse.

You don't want in any way to tease yourself or the inner demons inside you that are just waiting for you to relapse so that they, your demons, can begin to take over your life again. 

Continue every single day of your life to continually tell yourself that you will never drink again no matter what happens in your life, whether it be good or bad.

Stay clear of all the people and places that may trigger the urge to drink alcohol.  Continue to think just hard you have worked to get where you are today being clean and sober and if you relapse because of a foolish mistake, you will need to start all over at day number one.  How do you think you would feel by starting all over again at day one?

Would be disappointed in yourself?  I can tell you that you would very pissed at yourself that you were not stronger than your demons, I can  promise you that. 

You know, I am not a Doctor or a Therapist by any means, but I can tell one some stories and experiences of drinking alcohol, something that is not in a text book.  Sometimes you need to learn by your mistakes and others mistakes as well.  This is why I try to write and explain that your addiction to alcohol will sooner or later catch up with you and you might just lose everything you have including your family, friends and in some cases you own LIFE, and why, because you didn't have the power or the strength to stay sober.

Yes we all know how much fun we used to have while partying and drinking alcohol all the years ago, but when you really think about it was it really as much fun as you thought back then.  Remember all the times you got deathly sick from over drinking?  Was that fun?  I bet you said to yourself that you would never drink again after being so sick right?  Did you stay true that thought or did you start to feel better in a day or so and hit the bottle once again?

THINGS THAT MAY TRIGGER A RELAPSE

Problems in the household.
Break up with a boy/girl friend.
Divorce
A family member getting ill.
Loss of employment.
Over your head in debt.
Having problems with your children.

I could write hundreds of things that would make one relapse, but you get the idea right?  The thing is, that no matter what life throws at you one must never be too weak and relapse to their addiction.

There will be many road blocks and thing that make try to make you relapse, but you can't give in or give up.  Face any problem that may come about head on and never think that by going back to drinking alcohol is the fix all because it is NOT!

Remember no one needs to drink alcohol to be happy.  Life is beautiful living it clean and sober.

Stay focused on staying sober, stay strong, stay positive and if you believe you will continue to achieve.  Never Give Up !!

Enabling The Alcoholic

When there is am alcoholic in your family or any part of your life, many of us tend to feel sorry for them and their addiction to alcohol.  When we start to feel sorry for them we begin enabling the alcoholic and sometimes we don't know that we are in fact hurting them and not helping them.

Many of us think we are doing the alcoholic a favor by lending or giving them money to support their addiction, but in fact we are enabling them, and by doing so, they think what they are doing by drinking and abusing alcohol is okay.

I can realize that someone would feel sorry for the alcoholic because there was an alcoholic in my family and one time and it was myself.  I would ask he same questions to people,such as,do you have any money so I can get a six pack or can you lend me some money because I spent mine on alcohol.

Better yet, when the alcoholic begins drinking in the afternoon or anytime of the day really and then runs out of alcohol and needs more to continue drinking and getting more drunk they then ask if these people can buy more alcohol for them because they are too drunk to drive and get it them self.

All these things our families and our friends may do in enabling the alcohol, but instead these families and friends have to learn the word "NO" and not enable the alcoholic anymore.  Sooner or later the alcoholic may get the hint, although I have known many alcoholics that can get very nasty because what they have asked for as a favor the person or people refuse to do for them.

The main purpose of this article is just to say if there is an alcoholic in your family or in your life, do not enable them and give them what they want.  You are only making things worse by doing so.  You need to be strong and no how to tell the alcoholic, "No I can not help you kill yourself and I refuse to say it is okay to drink alcohol."  If you say no enough times and not enable the alcoholic in their time of need, they will have no choice but to figure it out on their own or simply start to think to them selves, maybe I do have an addiction and I should ask for the help I need to get clean and sober.

This is not to say that the alcoholic will do the above, but it certainly will make it harder for them to get the alcohol they need and when the start to realize they are losing the families and friends slow but sure all because of their addiction they may then see the light and get help.

You are not holding back the alcohol from them just to be a nasty and mean person, you are doing it to save their life and make them realize there is a beautiful life out there for them living it sober.  Be supportive and help them get sober, but not enable them to use you or try to take advantage of you as far as helping them in their addiction.