Alcohol Addiction Help
When Drinking Becomes a Problem

We live in a society in which alcohol is deeply embedded in everyday life. It is considered normal to have a pint or a glass of wine to wind down. Many people say that they drink alcohol because they like the taste, want to treat themselves, or simply see it as part and parcel of a good meal.

Very few people admit to themselves that they can no longer do without it. Many try to convince themselves that they are not addicted.

Some people try to control their drinking by setting their own rules: they might not drink throughout the day, only after work, or they might only have wine (“no hard stuff”). Others tell themselves that they only drink because their partner has been unfriendly to them.

They might argue that everyone indulges in some sort of vice and that theirs is simply to drink a little more than is good for them from time to time. They might say that no one could possibly cope with all the stress otherwise. Or that once in a while, everyone wants to “have a bit of a binge”.

Bear in mind that with this attitude you are part of a very large group of successful, creative and sensitive people whose colleagues, friends and acquaintances might say:

“You have a drinking problem? Rubbish, you are no more affected than anybody else.”

At first, you may be unable to imagine a life without alcohol. You may fear that you will “have to” lead an alcohol-free life with no alternative and that abstinence will mean giving up enjoyment.

The sooner you start working on your alcohol problem, the greater your chance of avoiding serious long-term consequences.

Alcohol dependence can have serious consequences. But after a period of withdrawal and recovery, whose length depends on the individual circumstances, alcohol can gradually become a minor matter: something that is no longer interesting, necessary or desirable.

A lifelong battle against alcohol can, for some people, keep the substance constantly present in their thoughts. If every day revolves around the idea “Today I won’t have a drink”, the connection with alcohol may remain stronger than necessary.

Real freedom can begin when, instead of thinking:

“I almost fell for it again”,

you can say to yourself:

“Having a drink in this difficult situation? That is the last thing I need!”

or:

“Trying to top this fun night with alcohol? What a foolish idea!”

If you are looking for help quitting alcohol, the goal should therefore not simply be to remove alcohol, but to understand why it has become important in your life and how that role can be replaced.

After their time at Vida Libre, some people find support groups helpful for a while, while others prefer individual therapy or support from family and friends. Some stay in close contact with us by phone or email and manage well that way.

Everyone is different, and there is no single ideal solution for everybody.

Turning away from alcohol also does not necessarily mean – as is sometimes claimed – that you have to become particularly spiritual. This may be helpful for some people, but not for others.

The right form of alcohol addiction help should take your individual situation, personality and needs into account.

Check for yourself whether alcohol already plays a harmful role in your life.

To make this easier, we have put together a number of questions, some of which are based on the work of Prof. E. M. Jellinek and on earlier World Health Organisation research into alcohol dependence.

• Do you regularly try to relax with the help of alcohol?
• Is alcohol a way for you to suppress problems?
• Do you try to overcome feelings of loneliness by drinking?
• Do you have lapses of memory after drinking large amounts of alcohol?
• Do you sometimes hide your alcohol consumption?
• Has your alcohol tolerance changed?
• Do you often think about alcohol?
• Do you drink the first few glasses very quickly?
• Do you sometimes feel guilty about your drinking habits?
• Do you avoid talking about alcohol with other people?
• Do you have a strong desire to continue drinking after the first few glasses?
• Do you give special reasons for why you are having a drink?
• Do you sometimes feel sorry for yourself?
• Do you blame external circumstances or other people for your alcohol consumption?
• Have you noticed that you are becoming less interested in things other than alcohol?
• Do you try to abstain completely for certain periods of time?
• Have you tried to introduce rules for your drinking, for example not drinking before a certain time?
• Have there been changes in your family life or in your relationships with friends and relatives?
• Do you adapt your work or lifestyle to your alcohol consumption?
• Do you tend to stock up on alcohol?
• Do you neglect your diet?
• Do you sometimes start drinking in the morning?
• Have you noticed yourself shaking or sweating in the morning?
• Do you have trouble sleeping through the night?
• Have friends, colleagues or superiors spoken to you about your alcohol consumption?
• Do certain amounts of alcohol seem to help you think or work better?

Even if your honest self-assessment tells you that things are “not really that bad”, answering several of these questions with “yes” may indicate that alcohol is already becoming more important in your life than you would like.

Recognising this is not a reason for shame. It is a reason to take the situation seriously.

Give yourself credit for answering these questions honestly – and then be brave enough to take action.