| Making the decision to never drink alcohol again can be | | | | set yourself. Enjoy the feeling. Relish in the success. |
| made for a number of reasons. Previous history of | | | | Crave more of this feeling. Slowly but surely extend |
| alcohol abuse can have seriously damaged the internal | | | | the challenges a little, and you will find that the effect |
| organs, particularly the liver, to the point at which its | | | | of keeping your mind active, and continually boosting |
| performance is reduced. And that by restarting a | | | | your self worth, is the foundation to strengthening your |
| regime of alcohol intake would put indue strain on it, to | | | | resolve. |
| potentially fatal results, with therefore complete | | | | PHASE 2: CURIOSITY:- This can occur when after a |
| abstinence the only way of giving you the longest | | | | period of successful abstinence you start to wonder if |
| potential lifespan. Maybe refraining from drink is a more | | | | you are clear of its power. Free from its control, so |
| voluntary choice, taken because of people around | | | | that you can, maybe, go back to odd occasional |
| who have been given an ultimatum, and they need a | | | | sociable drink. Beware!. This is an new tactic to try to |
| sober support network. | | | | affect your behaviour, as the "blunt" process of |
| Whatever the reason, there are distinct phases that | | | | side-effects has been overcome by will-power. Any |
| occur throughout the future days, months and years of | | | | thoughts, ideas, feeling about now being able to just try |
| non-drinking, each one bringing different challenges and | | | | it, should be met with an immediate rejection on the |
| obstacles to overcome. Recognising these in advance | | | | basis of "you dont need it, and have built up the mental |
| give you the ability to prepare your defenses and | | | | strength to feel happy about not drinking.". There are |
| actions, to continue the total tee-total lifestyle. Each | | | | risks in everything we do every day. There is no |
| phase is personal to the individual, but destined to | | | | benefit in having another drink, only a massive |
| occur. | | | | increased risk of reverting back to old, destructive |
| PHASE 1: COLD TURKEY:- The period immediately | | | | habits. Kill that risk, by refusing the temptation. By now |
| after the momentous decision. After an initial feeling of | | | | others know and accept your alcohol-free lifestyle, so |
| relief, determination, and stubbornness, the inevitable | | | | they don't mind you sipping soft-drinks. Don't take the |
| chemical changes give rise to withdrawal symptoms. | | | | first, and the second can never follow! |
| Having conditioned the body to relying on alcohol; to | | | | PHASE 3: ACCEPTANCE:- Once reaching this phase, |
| need it as if it were water, to suddenly denying it an | | | | there should be no more challenges you cannot face. |
| essential ingredient to function. The body doesnt | | | | No more reasons, thoughts or situations where drinking |
| accept this willingly and starts to create side effects | | | | is even an option. You are happy with your new |
| as to make life as difficult as possible, to try to reverse | | | | regime. You may have taken up other "addictions" as |
| the decision. This stage is key to building your will | | | | compensation, such as eating mints, or drinking coffee |
| power, and level of self-esteem and pride. | | | | more than others, or becoming a fitness freak to |
| Try to set yourself very, very small targets. Make | | | | excess. Acknowledge those too, if they exist, and |
| them small, and make them achievable. It could be as | | | | address those if they become a dependency. |
| small as "not drinking for an hour" or setting a goal | | | | They say that you never ever completely rid yourself |
| such as "walking to the shop to only buy a | | | | of alcoholism. The disease never truly leaves your |
| newspaper". The aim of making them small is to build | | | | system. Now and again, it flares up, and tries to bring |
| up the self-confidence about being able to achieve. | | | | you down and depressed. |
| The task may seem small, but the reward for success | | | | Don't take the old medicine, and it will soon pass. |
| is huge. Pride. Pride in being able to do what you have | | | | |