The first thing that people think when they hear that I’m an “alcoholic” is “poor guy, he must have it really bad.” or “I wonder what makes him alcoholic?” The best one is “Why cant you just have one beer? Surely, one beer wont do anything?! That must be TERRIBLE!” The reality is that most of these reactions come from people with little no knowledge on alcoholism and sobriety.
It comes as no surprise when people say those things, it is simply a lack of knowledge on their part. They don’t know what it is like to be an “alcoholic”.
The thing that they don’t realize is, being an “alcoholic” is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
I know, I know it sounds CRAZY! But it is true.
I am not ashamed to say that I am an alcoholic. The things that I have learned through this journey I could only wish others would get to experience in theirs.
Here it goes: what’s true and what’s false about alcoholism and sobriety.
1. “I can’t have fun without drinking, that’s impossible”
FALSE! Who would have thought that I could actually go golfing, bowling, fishing, or hang out with friends without drinking? No beer? No shots? No Thanks! The truth is, being sober while doing these activities – the ones that I thought I would dread doing sober – has only enhanced the experiences. And the cool thing is, the people that I do these things with are all sober with me. Another plus: I remember everything!
2. “I have tried quitting numerous times, there is no hope”
FALSE! There is always hope! There are people every single day getting sober, from teenage years to senior citizens. If you have a pulse and you are breathing, you can get sober. How bad do you want it?
3. “I’ve heard that AA is a cult”
FALSE AGAIN! Alcoholics Anonymous is a group of men and women that gather and share their experience strength and hope with one another. That’s it! We don’t have any crazy sacrifices that we have to make or require you to do any initiations. Anyone is welcome to join us! Look at it this way: if you attend an AA meeting and all you get out of it is a free cup of coffee, you just saved $3.00 and a trip to Starbucks!
Granted, there are many ways to get sober, not just through Alcoholics Anonymous. If AA isn’t for you, that is ok. Do some research and find something that works for you. Sobriety is out there, you just have to find it.
4. “I have damaged all my relationships due to my drinking, can I get those back?”
TRUE! We have all caused a lot of damage as a direct result of our drinking. So much damage that it may seem irreparable at times. You can be sure that almost, if not all, of those relationships will be repaired and most likely the relationship will be enhanced.
If your friends and family loved you drunk, they are gonna love you even more sober! Active alcoholism and sobriety are two polar opposite ways of living, and those that are closest to you WILL see the change in your behavior when you make the decision to put down the drink.
5. “The damage that alcohol has done to me physically, emotionally and spiritually is almost to much to handle. Can someone help me through this?”
TRUE! There are so many people out there that have gone through the same things that you are going through, if not worse. As long as you can come to the realization that you need help and you are willing to get the help, the resources are there. No matter the person. In the end, it is very rewarding to help other alcoholics get sober. That is often how people stay sober themselves!
Read More: 10 Signs of Alcoholism
The bottom line is sobriety is worth going after.
There are so many things that this life has to offer and often times we are under the illusion of alcohol for so long that we do not get the chance to enjoy them. There is no better time than now to take the plunge.
It is going to be scary at first, and that is ok. In order to grow you have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations at times. In the end it will be worth it.
Get Help with Alcoholism and Sobriety
If you or someone close to you may be struggling with alcoholism, Rock Recovery Center is here to assist you. We provide our clients with the tools and resources needed to overcome alcohol dependence and recover. Contact us today to learn more.
