Understanding the First Stage of Addiction Recovery
In many cases it is the first step toward alcohol addiction recovery is the hardest. It usually starts with awareness and acceptance. Many times, people are unwilling or unaware that they have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. They do not believe that they are at risk for Alcohol Use Disorder and do not know how their drinking affects those around them.
Many recovery centers refer to the first step as precontemplation. A person shows a willingness to learn more about alcohol addiction and the impact it has on their health and their relationships. Being successful in recovery usually requires the person to want to change their life. Alcohol recovery is much less effective if the person is doing it because someone else is making them.
For some people it takes hitting rock bottom before they are willing to make a change. This may come in the form of a job loss or the end of a relationship. In other cases, awareness comes after a drunk driving incident or other alcohol-related crime. Driving Under the Influence is a serious offense that could result in the loss of your license and your freedom, but for some it is the first true wake-up call.
There are a number of evaluations to determine whether you have an unhealthy reliance on alcohol. If you believe that alcohol is impacting any areas of your life, it may be best to consider scaling back or quitting drinking altogether. Committing to a life of sobriety is never easy, but with the help of licensed professionals it can be done.
For those committed to change, there are options. Treatment for alcohol addiction is no longer limited to AA meetings or unaffordable inpatient rehab. There are recovery options for every budget and every degree of addiction.