It almost seems too easy to be true but to accept that alcoholism is a chronic diseaseIf youand no personal failure is the key to lasting recovery.
In other words, giving up control, realizing your limits, and facing the reality (that you have a drinking problem) is the most important step in recovery.
After accepting your fainting, you can change what you can (what is in your control panel).
Acceptance of alcoholism
This short passage about acceptance can be one of the most widely cited passages in the recovery literature. It’s from the 4th edition of Anonymous alcoholics or The Big Book as it is commonly known.If youIf you
The chapter was written by Dr. Paul Ohliger, who died on Friday, May 19, 2000 at the age of 83 in Mission Viejo, California.
“And acceptance is the answer to all of my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find a person, place, thing or situation – a fact of my life – unacceptable to me and cannot find serenity, until I accept that person, place, thing or situation is exactly as it should be in this moment. “
“Nothing, absolutely nothing happened accidentally in God’s world. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I couldn’t stay sober; if I don’t fully accept life on the terms of life, I cannot be happy. I don’t have to bother myself so much focus on what needs to be changed in the world, how needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes. “
Emotional (not just logical) acceptance of one’s own alcoholism is essential to getting well and preventing relapse.
Non-acceptance
On the other hand, the emotional non-acceptance of alcoholism, supported by denial, feelings of guilt, fighting or fleeing the disease, carries a high risk of relapse for a person even if a person can rationally accept the disease.If youOther signs of emotional non-acceptance may include feelings of anger or shame about developing alcoholism. Fear and self-pity are two other emotions that prevent acceptance and peace of mind.
Through professional counseling or therapy (either individual, group, or both), a person can learn to recognize these poorly adapted emotional coping strategies and where they came from (for example, through exploring unconscious childhood memories). Then he or she can develop healthy strategies that encourage acceptance, such as developing a positive mindset.
Peer support is also an important part of adoption.
According to one study, participating in an alcohol addiction support group had a strong impact on whether or not a person could achieve emotional acceptance of their alcohol addiction. In the same study, positive attitudes also greatly influenced disease acceptance.
Gaining acceptance through treatment
Once you understand the importance of accepting your alcoholism, it is important to seek help if you haven’t already. There are a number of treatment options that can help you recover from your drinking problem. Your first step should be to speak to your family doctor. He or she can refer you for treatment and determine if medication is an option for you.
In addition to medications that can help you stop drinking or reduce it, there are behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy or motivational therapy. Because strong family support increases a person’s chance of remaining abstinent, marriage and family counseling is often included in treatment.If youIf you
Finally, mutual support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or other 12-step programs offer peer support, which can be very useful in preventing relapse and maintaining abstinence.If youIf you
A word from Verywell
In the end, it’s important to remember that accepting illness doesn’t mean liking, condoning, or even ignoring it. What it means is that you admit your powerlessness and limitations – you let go so you can begin to recover and heal.
