 |
Alcohol Abuse, Abstinence and Moderation - Aa and 12 Step Alternatives
Author: Mary Barnes  | Posted: 05-10-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 21 | Rating: (209)  (?) 
No single idea keeps people from seeking help with their alcohol related problems as much as the mistaken belief that alcohol abuse, dependence, and addiction are always the symptoms of an actual "disease" and that there is only one "cure." However, just as everyone knows someone who currently has problems with alcohol, we also know someone whose problems seemed to disappear. How can a supposedly life-long, progressive, and fatal disease simply evaporate and not just occasionally, but often enough for remission to be more the rule than the exception?
Clearly something doesn't add up and, not surprisingly, misleading impressions can be directly traced to the treatment industry's advertising. Not that it's totally false, just as self-serving as most ads. Unhappily, the hype has also been so successful that nearly everyone has come to believe it, no matter how much the research and their own experience suggests otherwise.
As is often the case, the reality is more complex than the advertising. There are, of course, people who need to stop drinking permanently and for whom moderation or a return to "social drinking" is impossible. They are much like most ex-smokers. Yet the need to abstain is not the same as being sentenced to a lifetime of meetings, medallions, rituals, and an alcohol focused life. That prescription works for a few, perhaps five to ten percent of those who try it voluntarily, and fewer of those who are coerced into it.
If the AA/12-Step model is ineffective for most, and a counterproductive dead end for some, what is someone whose alcohol use is slipping out of control to do? Mostly they should take a deep breath, exhale, relax, and consider all their options. As with smoking, there are a number of possibilities and none of them work for everyone. A few possibilities work for some people and others for still more and it’s rare to get it right on the first try. You may be able to sort it out on your own or with the help of a few books, and your research should at least help you decide what counselor, program, or facility to enlist if you decide professional assistance is called for or desirable.
To start the process as objectively as possible, first decide what outcome you’d like best: abstinence or moderation? Outside of the U.S. moderation, also called Harm Reduction, is usually the first option to be suggested and explored. Here in America, with a mammoth industry founded on promoting disease, abstinence, and lifelong relapse, the focus is different, though there are options available from a few organizations like Moderation Management as well as educational sites like Addiction Information and Alcohol Problems and Solutions. Recognize that your choice at this point is a starting point. Don’t limit your potential outcomes unnecessarily if you want real lasting solutions to your alcohol problems - ones more satisfactory than drinking your way to oblivion.
Going through changing a major element in one's life is unsettling, both for the person who's changing and for those around them. It is one of the reasons 12-Step formats work for some people - they are the least disruptive. The "problem" person and the designated "problem" remain comfortably identified. "I'm an alcoholic; I'm powerless; I have a disease; I'm working my program." Not a lot changes. Alcohol remains the focus, sponsors fill in for bartenders, meetings replace bars, and everyone is a bit safer on the streets. Drama at home is probably reduced too, though the drunk's relationship with alcohol continues to override intimacy with his or her family.
Most other options will probably be more disruptive because they involve transforming your life into one that focuses on things other than alcohol. It means getting a life, accepting responsibility for your past, assuming responsibility for your future, and acting on it. With that kind of change a lot of uncertainty appears and the anxiety that goes along with it. It's the time when a lot of people, not just the designated drunk, discover that they prefer the "security of familiar miseries" to an unpredictable future. It is one of those times that may require real support as multiple challenges appear that need to be sorted, prioritized, and dealt with. Platitudes, tokens, and bumper stickers aren’t going to take care of it and some professional guidance may be called for. Still, that's no different than when you hire a coach, trainer, accountant or other specialist to see you through a rough transition or complicated problem and it certainly isn't a lifelong, thrice-weekly, commitment to self-flagellation.
The rewards of an examined and reconstructed life are many and varied. They usually surpass adherence to depressing powerlessness, endless alcohol fixation, periodic relapse, and victim-hood. It is more difficult to manage in the short run, but so is stopping smoking, altering your diet, controlling Type II diabetes, and most anything else worth doing. The choice is yours, of course, and there are no guaranteed outcomes, except, perhaps, life will be different.
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/psychology-articles/alcohol-abuse-abstinence-and-moderation-aa-and-12-step-alternatives-590145.html
About the Author:Mary Ellen Barnes, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist in private practice in Rolling Hills Estates who approach all clients as unique individuals capable of overcoming difficulties through the development and redirection of their strengths, abilities, and interests Mary can be contacted through Good Therapy or Therapist Minneapolis
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means to drive traffic to your website and promote yourself and your business. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Allah Does not Love (19) Those Who Exult in Riches (qaroun, Moses' Cousin -c)
By: Safaa Abdel-Aziz | 15/02/2008 | Religion
Verses 28:76-83 of the Noble Quran are talking about "Qaroun", Moses' cousin, who was very rich man. He was corrupter in the earth in the earth through his disdain, haughtiness and great wealth.
Verse 28:80 is talking about what the people who had been given the knowledge of abstinence and trust in Allah said when Qaroun went forth before his people in his great finery. Verse 28:81 is talking about what happened to Qaroun and his house all of a sudden!
Meth Mouth - A Side Effect of Methamphetamine Use
By: Minh Nguyen, D.d.s. | 26/09/2006 | Non-Fiction
While other drugs, smoking, and sugar cause oral damage, none can compare with the trauma inflicted by methamphetamine use.
Suggestions for Leaving an Abusive Partner by One Who's Been There
By: Carolyn McFann | 03/04/2007 | Women's Issues
Do you feel trapped in an obviously unpleasant and possibly dangerous relationship? You can take control of your life and find peace. It takes time and planning, but it can be done. Here are some ideas on how to regain your life, and remove yourself from a harmful situation.
Red Ribbon Week Origin
By: caroline mackay | 07/08/2007 | K-12 Education
When Red Ribbon Week started back in 1988 it was to honor a young DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) Agent by the name of Enrique Camarena. His friends knew him by the name of “Kiki” . He was kidnapped and killed in Mexico back in 1985. He had uncovered a multi-billion dollar drug scam which might have involved the Mexican Army, police force and government. When he left his office one day, five men kidnapped him. He was found about a month later buried in a shallow grave. He had been tortured and beaten.
Set Healthy Boundaries
By: Helene Rothschild | 02/01/2008 | Self Improvement
Do you allow others to do and say things to you that do not feel good? Would you like to establish new patterns to deal with the problem? Everyone needs to set healthy boundaries. This is a gift to others and you. By allowing people to act in ways that are not appropriate, you actually hurt them too because they are stuck in their unhealthy behavior. Therefore, it is important to learn how to establish boundaries for all involved.
Addiction Really is All in You're Head
By: Excel Treatment / Tamea Sisco | 25/03/2008 | Wellness
Traditionally, much discussion about addiction causes and the treatments has centered on the mind. However, research has lead to the conclusion that the brain has much more to do with addiction than previously thought.
Trafficking: Issues and Framework of Laws
By: Dr Vinayakam | 16/07/2008 | College & University
Trafficking in human beings is a global issue, but a lack of systematic research means that reliable data on the trafficking of human beings that would allow comparative analyses and the design of countermeasures is scarce. There is a need to strengthen the criminal justice response to trafficking through legislative reform, awareness raising and training, as well as through national and international cooperation.
Alcoholism And Its Causes-From Dundee, Carpentersville And Island Lake
By: Mike Shery | 04/09/2008 | Health
Have you had damaging effects caused your own or a family members alcoholism? Read this article now. It explains how alcoholism starts and why it is hard to stop.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
What the bible says about child sexual abuse
By: mare | 07-10-2008
what the bible says about child sexual abuse
I am on public assistance in Washington, I moved ...
By: sublimegreenpatton | 04-10-2008
I am on public assistance in Washington, I moved from Oregon and Family services in Oregon has my ODL held, I recently got my support permanently suspended, (I don't have to pay anything), but I owe for 4 years, even though I had open disability claims, about 9,900$, How do I get Oregon release the hold so I can get a Washington License?
License suspended in ky, needs to get them back now that ive moved to florida
By: niki | 28-09-2008
i got my drivers license suspended in kentucky, and moved to florida. how do i get them back down here, because i live here now
Why a man starts beating a woman
By: u2joshuadesireu | 11-09-2008
what it should tell you when your man starts whipping your ass
He is an abuser
By: michaeldana2004 | 09-09-2008
I live a small county I am looking for help for my husband he is abuser I have done what I need to. Too protect my self but he still need help we have great insurance so that's not the issue. every place I called said they wont treat him because of the issuse involed. Now what?
I filled out a criminal background check (for ...
By: allison | 04-09-2008
I filled out a criminal background check (for sports coach). How do I obtain a copy of that report?
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Psychology Articles
What Do You Do When Your Spouse Goes to Jail?
By: Jennifer Baxt | 11/11/2008
Are you dealing with your spouse going to jail? How do you cope? Find out how to get help through online counseling if you are struggling with this issue.
Everybody Can Turn Into a Monster
By: David Evangelisti | 11/11/2008
Good people make bad things. We have learnt it by the studies of Zimbardo, Milgram, Bandura and Staub
Viewing Aura Colors Through Biofeedback
By: Temp | 10/11/2008
Many people hear the term "aura cameras" and assume that the technology is false. After all, for years, auras were relegated to the visions of psychics who claimed to be able to see auras around people. This was subject to much criticism from skeptics who were quick to ask for scientific proof that could not be provided by those who had this ability.
Got Persuasion?
By: H. Bernard Wechsler | 10/11/2008
If you discover the difference between Negative and
Positive Feedback, you will double the number of folks
you persuade, influence and convince.
Adolescent Childbearing Factors as Determinant of Safe Motherhood in Abeokuta Metropolis of Ogun State, Nigeria
By: OLADEJI DAVID | 09/11/2008
This study examined the influence of adolescent childbearing factors and safe motherhood in Abeokuta Metropolis, Nigeria.
What the Egyptian Sorcerers Said to Pharaoh Before He Has Killed Them?
By: Safaa Abdel-Aziz | 06/11/2008
the Egyptian sorcerers said to Pharaoh just before he has killed them:
You are vindictive, spiteful, towards us, you are censuring and punishing us, only because we have believed in the signs of Allah, Our Lord, when they came to us.
A Blind Doctor?
By: Thomas Greenslade | 04/11/2008
Even the most brilliant or practical of men make many grave errors because they are in spiritual darkness. They cannot see what is right in front of them. They make fundamental errors and go in completely the wrong direction because they are in darkness. Few people are really helped by their psychological or spiritual counsel. They may be helped just a little, just enough to keep them trusting, and be misled, and even be destroyed because the person they trusted was blind.
The Power of not Accepting What You Experience as Reality
By: Broderick Boyd | 02/11/2008
Not accepting what you are experiencing as reality is a valuable tool because it will help you to discover what you really want in your life and how to get it, it will boost your faith in perusing your goal, and lastly it will make it more difficult for other people and external circumstances to influence you against your will.
More from Mary Barnes
Alcohol Use, Abuse, Dependence, and Addiction
By: Mary Barnes | 05/10/2008 | Psychology
There are many types of alcohol consumption ranging from the healthy to the deadly. Some people of the prohibitionist persuasion will ague that any use is destructive, but neither medical research nor personal experience supports that conclusion. Unhappily, most "screening" protocols are heavily weighted towards a diagnosis of addiction justifying punitive treatment approaches and "abstinence only" outcomes
Freeing the Parents of Adult Alcoholics and Addicts
By: Mary Barnes | 05/10/2008 | Psychology
It's not an uncommon condition to see parents paretning adults as if they cannot take care of themselves Parents are living longer, some adult children make childishness a career, and it isn't easy to say no to a son or daughter, regardless of their age.
He Quit Drinking so Why Don't I Have My Husband Back?
By: Mary Barnes | 05/10/2008 | Marriage
It's a common, if quiet, complaint heard over lunch, or at breaks in meetings, at the Chamber of Commerce mixer, or the League of Women Voters retreat. "My husband finally quit drinking, attends AA, and life is certainly calmer, but…" The "buts" are varied, but essentially come down to the fact that while one's spouse is no longer actively drinking little else has changed.
|
|
Self Improvement 
