Four Steps to Alcohol Addiction Recovery

Alcohol addiction and abuse is still the number one drug problem in the U.S. and since it's legal, acceptable, condoned and even expected in some circles, it will probably occupy that spot for quite some time. Nevertheless, more and more people are starting to realize that alcohol can ruin your health, and your life, and many are opting to quit. To quit drinking even for a short time is a challenge. But once that's accomplished, you have the problem of staying sober. And only if you master that will you be free of alcohol addiction.

For some people, staying sober means meetings - sometimes more than one a day - with others who are also battling alcohol addiction. And they swear that without those meetings, they'd be right back on the sauce.

But there are other options that many don't take advantage of that could get them closer to achieving life-long sobriety without life-long meetings.

Get a thorough physical exam. Alcohol is often used to relieve mental and emotional stress. However, your mental and emotional state can also be caused by an undetected physical condition. It may hormonal - thyroid or adrenal gland dysfunction cause mental and emotional symptoms - or it may be a vitamin or mineral deficiency or imbalance. Vitamin B12 deficiency, for example, can cause panic attacks. Deficiency in other B vitamins, folic acid, or zinc can make you feel depressed. Insufficient zinc can also lower your sex drive. Essential fatty acids have been linked to depression, mania and the symptoms of schizophrenia and attention disorders. And those are just a few of many examples. A normal blood or urine workup doesn't often test for these things - so make sure you go to a doctor who specializes in testing for, investigating and diagnosing these types of problems. Someone who specializes in nutritional biochemistry, for example. You may well find something going on that is driving you to alcohol addiction

Exercise. Not only does exercise make us feel better about ourselves, it also triggers the release of chemicals in the brain that help us feel happier and relieve pain and stress. The chemicals, called endorphins, serve the same function as opioid drugs - heroin, morphine, and prescription painkillers, for example. But getting that feeling through exercise is a natural process, and it won't cause alcohol addiction or drug problems. Since we are currently more inactive than at any other time in history, the lack of exercise, and lack of endorphins, may well be related to the desire for alcohol to make us feel better.

Good nutrition. The stores are loaded with packaged and processed foods that do little other than fill our stomachs. Even fresh foods are often loaded with chemicals - antibiotics and hormones for meat, pesticides and chemical fertilizers for fruits and vegetables. And many foods have been genetically altered (GMOs - genetically modified organisms) to grow faster, better, bigger, and so on. As no one understands the effects of GMOs, they should be avoided. Switching to fresh, organic foods will allow your body to extract the nourishment it needs.

Change your life. Hey, it's your life. If something is making you miserable, find a solution. People have overcome incredible barriers to making their life into something they want. If you want to be happy, you have to the same thing. If you think it's too hard, and it may be very hard, just think about the alternative - another 20, 30, 40, or 50 years like the last 5, 10 or 20. The old saying "where there's a will, there's a way" is always true. You have to find that way, and follow it. You don't have to sacrifice your own happiness.

Alcohol addiction is a tough nut to crack. Alcohol detox and alcohol rehab can get you through the worst of it. In fact, a good alcohol rehab center will ensure you also address the points above. But, unfortunately, most people with an alcohol addiction or abuse problem don't go to a program like that. Consequently, they need more help than others to get them on the track to permanent sober living. Work on the four points above, and you do it really thoroughly, and you may find the help you need.