Samuel was a forty-eight-year-old graphic designer who was tired of feeling depressed everyday of his life and fed up with his unhealthy drinking behavior. Stated simply, he was tired of going through failed relationship after failed relationship due to his immature drinking, he hated the hangovers he experienced on a regular basis, he missed his old enthusiasm for doing the things he liked, he was sick of feeling tired every morning, and he was annoyed with himself for spending his hard-earned money on a useless habit.
In addition he was disgusted with how out-of-shape he was, he was bored with his drinking pals, he was annoyed with the many times he failed to pass an alcohol test at his workplace, he detested the fact that he had to go to court for his third DUI, and he was fed up with paying for alcohol-related attorney fees.
Besides the perceptible alcohol-related health problems he was going through, almost certainly the nastiest part of his drinking regimen was the untrustworthy and dishonest person he had turned into. In his heart he realized that he had been less than truthful about his drinking behavior to his relatives, family, and friends and he also knew he had been untruthful with himself about the “beneficial” effects of drinking. Not only this but he rationalized wolfing down two or three drinks before going to social events and he also rationalized needing two or three drinks the first thing in the morning so that he could cope with the “stress” at his job.
His Depression and His Hazardous and Heavy Drinking Lead to Major Changes in His Life
Clearly Samuel was sick of putting up with the adverse effects of his depression and his hazardous and excessive drinking and finally determined that something significant had to change in his life. So he decided that he would refrain from drinking, develop a new circle of friends, start exercising, start focusing on becoming a more healthy person, get professional counseling, and involve himself in some worthwhile hobbies. Simply put, Samuel got to a pivotal time in his life during which he understood that he hit a low point in life and was now ready to commence the gradual and slow road to health.
One of the ways that Samuel operationalized his “plan” was by asking for a transfer at work. When his request was approved, he moved 300 miles away to a new state. If nothing else, this definitely made making new friends and pals and separating himself from his old pals much easier. Then he phoned a doctor in his new city and made an appointment for a thorough psychological and physical exam.
Samuel Meets With a Doctor About His Hazardous and Abusive Drinking and His Depression
After meeting with the physician and going through a number of lab tests, it was concluded that Samuel had crossed the line from alcohol abuse to alcohol addiction and therefore was in need of alcohol detox and alcohol rehabilitation. At this time, the healthcare practitioner made it a point to review the different signs of alcoholism, the symptoms of alcoholism, and information about alcohol long term effects with Samuel. The healthcare professional then told Samuel that it was concluded that he was clinically depressed and in need of therapy for this medical condition.
Samuel Decides to Build Up His Body by Drinking Filtered Water, Taking Vitamins, Eating Healthy Foods, Living an Alcohol-Free Lifestyle, and Working Out
Due to his enthusiasm for following through with the treatment program, after nine weeks of residential rehabilitation, Samuel was ready to start treatment on an outpatient basis. At this time, he began working at his new job and over the weeks began fortifying his body by taking vitamins and minerals, working out, eating nutritious foods, drinking distilled water, and living an alcohol-free lifestyle. Samuel also addressed his spiritual side of life by joining the local Lutheran church and participating in regular services.
After roughly seven months of outpatient therapy during which time he never experienced a relapse, Samuel quit going to alcohol therapy and instead began going four times every week to local AA meetings. Going to these meetings helped Samuel maintain his alcohol-free style of life, they provided him with the support he sought after, and they served as a persistent reminder of the adverse outcomes that are correlated with hazardous drinking.
After going to AA meetings about four months Samuel felt that he was ready for a relationship and so he started going out with Jane, a young lady he met at church. It simply surprised Samuel how much more prepared he was for a dating relationship now that he had his unhealthy and excessive drinking under control. In actual fact it also astonished Samuel how much better life was now that he wasn’t under the control of his careless drinking. Life was now joyful and loaded with promise that he could have never hoped for or accomplished when he was engaged in abusive and excessive drinking less than a year ago.
A Success Story That is a Demonstration of the Importance of Alcohol Treatment and the Power of Change
Samuel’s success story is a demonstration of the significance of alcohol rehabilitation and the power of change. As Samuel thought about his newfound lofty self concept and drive for involving himself in worthwhile, healthy activities, he was actually thankful that he decided to do something worth while about his abusive and excessive drinking instead of giving into his depression and into the lure of his alcoholism. The result: his life now has a positive direction, he is in command of his life rather than letting himself languish under the control of his addiction, he has more energy now compared with any time in his adult life, he is involved in a caring relationship, and he likes his new job responsibilities.