“What we like to think of ourselves and what we

really are, rarely have much in common….”

– Stephen King, prolific U.S. writer and author of “The Drawing of the Three”

Here’s what’s been going on in the world – in case you missed it. Oh, and be warned – it sounds a lot like a Stephen King apocalyptic horror novel.

A global pandemic, caused by a strain of coronavirus and called COVID-19, has killed over 325,000 people worldwide, decimated national economies, virtually ended air travel as we know it, forced people to fear even stepping outside of their homes, and cast many already suffering into a future of abject poverty and hunger.

No vaccine for any of the existing coronaviruses, including this the most deadly, has been found – as yet.

Meanwhile, alcoholics still find a way to drink, drug addicts can still locate their local dealer to ensure the next fix, and many of those people locked down in their homes, scared to venture out, continue to abuse their prescriptions of opioid painkillers, a laboratory-manufactured derivative of heroin.

When those prescriptions run out, and their doctor feels they shouldn’t be renewed, some of these same people will turn to heroin itself. Ironically, on the streets of the U.S., heroin is cheaper and more readily available than those prescribed opioid tablets.

COVID-19 may be a pandemic, killing many, but it’s not the first the world has faced or the last. Another existed before, and it will continue to exist long after this coronavirus has been brought under control (should that happen), as the world itself moves into “a new normal.

The “other” pandemic refers to addiction – a continuing global killer that far surpasses COVID-19 in its deadliness, levels of destructive social and economic impact, and in the numbers of people made homeless, poor, and destitute because of it.

There’s no vaccine for this pandemic of addiction either. Just another “new normal” for those in recovery from their substance abuse – 100% abstinence from your drug or alcohol of choice.

You now maybe like I was over 6 years ago (and for many years before that). I didn’t have a particular alcoholic drink of choice – I’d drink anything. Just one proviso – it got me drunk. As I said, that was over 6 years ago now, before my addiction recovery in Philadelphia – 2 months of alcohol rehab, an outpatient program to continue treatment at a less intense level, and then numerous AA meetings, which I still attend regularly.

What follows is an important glimpse into how I achieved this recovery from alcohol addiction – your “4 Realistic Ways to Achieve Alcohol Addiction Recovery.”

Acceptance

Something that was drummed into me virtually every day of the early stages of this recovery was this: Accept your situation as it is now. If you don’t accept it, you can’t make the drastic changes you need to move on in your life.

Not accepting your new situation is called “denial” – a state that would eventually lead to a relapse, and then a return to the addicted days of your past. You may not like your new circumstances, but they are what they are – the only way to get better is to get clean and sober, and then maintain that sobriety.

Self-Care

As chronic alcoholics, we have little or no respect for our health, our appearance or our mood. However, once in recovery, you need to make self-care one of your #1 priorities. Eat nutritiously, get plenty of exercises, and learn relaxation techniques. The better you feel, the more capable you are of being successful in your recovery.

Support

Nobody achieves recovery from alcohol addiction alone – fact. Don’t even bother trying to attempt it. A great way of ensuring your sobriety is to build a support network that can help you in times when you need it the most.

These people can be close family members, good friends, sponsors, and others from AA meetings or other support groups, and, if possible, someone related to your care, a therapist or counselor.

Rehabilitation

Alcoholism is a dangerous disorder, and you don’t want to attempt to get sober without some form of medical supervision, such as a professional detox in a clinical setting. Furthermore, because of the high risk of relapse, you need to seek the best help available.

If it is recommended that you attend a rehab facility for this, then so be it. Any concerns you have, eg. family, work, cost, etc., pale into insignificance when you understand that without rehab, you have only a blighted future anyway.

Your New Journey

So, there you have them – 4 realistic ways to overcome and recover from your addiction to alcohol. By prioritizing these elements of a successful recovery, you stand a far better chance of achieving your goal – 100% abstinence:

• Acceptance
• Self-Care
• Support
• Rehabilitation

Have you ever had a serious problem with alcohol that required professional help? What advice would you give? If you have any experiences in this subject that you’d like to share, please do so with a comment below. Many thanks.

Best wishes on your new journey into sobriety.