Question:
I’ve had a problem with alcohol for years, and now it’s severely impacting my family and even my work. I doubt that I’ll be able to stop drinking without professional assistance. Can you point me in the right direction?
Answer: You’ve already taken the most important step toward change by admitting that you need help. No one sets a goal of becoming addicted to a substance. Addiction is powerful and deceptive in its nature. It’s a non-discriminatory, progressive disorder of the body, mind and spirit – therefore, it isolates people spiritually, emotionally and socially. If you’re ever to move beyond this stifling isolation, it will be because you intentionally choose to do so.
We encourage you to begin your recovery journey by identifying the nearest support group that deals with alcoholism or addictive behaviours. In addition to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), there are many alcohol rehab centres that can offer encouragement.
If you’re unsure what level of care you need, you may want to contact a licensed chemical dependency treatment program near you to schedule an evaluation. The outcome will help you determine the next step. While the thought of taking that step may seem intimidating, we strongly encourage you to follow through on their recommendations. Your life is too precious to gamble with, and trying to overcome addiction without outside help is extremely difficult.
Getting treatment is a crucial decision, but it’s just the beginning. After treatment, the stresses of living sober can quickly lead to a relapse. You’ll want to connect with a strong aftercare program where relapse prevention techniques and skills are taught.
Finally, for support, we invite your family to call our Family Support Services at 03-3310 0792 or write to support@family.org.my.
© 2018 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
