My Name Is …., and I’m an Alcoholic

Even if we’ve never been an alcoholic or known one, we’ve seen the Alcoholics Anonymous mantra over and over again in movies. This is the point at which someone with an alcohol addiction stands up in front of the group and admits they have a problem.

But they’re not just saying they have a problem now, they’re saying they will always have a problem, that they’ll never be able to overcome it, and only by the grace of God, their own will power and the help of their sponsor and other supporters, will they be able to keep it under control. Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.

While it’s undeniably true that Alcoholics Anonymous has helped thousands of people and continues to do so - many credit AA with still being alive – there are other ways to handle alcohol addiction so the person actually doesn’t want to and no longer needs to drink.

The trick is to successfully deal with the demons – not just hold them at bay through force, but actually learn what needs to be learned to change your life and take those steps.

For example, some people drink because work is stressful. Is it stressful simply because the person can’t deal with any pressure whatsoever, or is there a real reason for it? Take a salesman who is constantly worried if he’s going to make sales and, therefore, money. He probably doesn’t understand something about sales, no matter how he might protest otherwise. The fact is there are people who can sell ice to Eskimos. Sales has a technology and, as with anything, learning that technology will put the subject under your control. Also, as with most technologies, sales tech changes. Selling isn’t the same now as it was 20 or even 10 years ago.

Another problem salespeople frequently run into is their perception of the product or service they’re selling. Do they believe in it? Is it something they think has true value to the customer and will improve their lives? If not, they might sub-consciously keep themselves from being able to sell it in an attempt to be ethical. If they do believe in it, are passionate about it, and if they understand the product or service, and sales, they’ll be able to sell it.

Business owners is another group susceptible to stress and, especially in tough times like these, they might turn to alcohol because they’re worried about the economy. But there are plenty of companies still thriving. What’s the difference between the two – the one that’s thriving understands and applies an effective management technology, including marketing, public relations, sales, efficiency, finances, personnel, and so on. He also has handled his finances properly in the past so he has a little money stashed for a rainy day.

Others are caught up in relationship problems. But are they communicating with their spouse – really communicating, not screaming back and forth about what’s wrong with the other person – with the honest intention of resolving the problems? Are they clean – i.e. not lying to their spouse, not cheating on them or flirting at the office? Are they being responsible?

These things may seem simplistic but you can’t ignore the fact that the vast majority of people are not alcoholics. Is it because they don’t have the same situations in life? Sometimes. But as often as not, they do. Why don’t they drink to solve them? They have found other ways to address their problems and, for some, those ways involve directly addressing the issues honestly, responsibly, and with integrity. They don’t pull the wool over their own eyes.

Many of them also realize that if one approach to a problem isn’t working, it’s time for a change. The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting to get different results.

People suffering from alcohol addiction who continually relapse after drying out often say they’ve tried everything. Well, it’s just not true. They’ve tried some things, sure, but not everything.

A good drug or alcohol addiction treatment center, both addictions require similar rehab treatment, will have a program that gets down to the bottom of these types of issues and helps the person resolve them.

If you think ‘once and alcoholic, always an alcoholic’ is not acceptable, check out the programs that believe people can change, and have proven it in thousands upon thousands of cases.