It can be on those days when we are suffering from a particularly bad hangover that it is easiest for us to see the reality of our situation. At these times, the walls of denial can come crashing down, and what is there in front of us is probably not what we want to see. It is common at these times to become full of remorse, and we may even make promises to anyone who will listen that we are going to change. The problem is that once the hangover symptoms disappear we can forget what all the fuss was about as we slip back into our denial. There is another option though; we can use this opportunity break away from addiction forever. This really could be your last hangover ever – it is completely up to you.
Importance of Taking Action Right Away
Ending our dependence will seem like the right thing to do when we are dealing with hangover symptoms, and we may feel highly motivated to change. The problem is that if they do not take action fast this determination can be wasted. The reasons for why it is so vital to take action right away would include:
- Some people may only rarely develop the determination to quit their addiction. If this opportunity to change is lost, it might be a long time before another opportunity arises – some people might never get another opportunity.
- The longer the person remains addicted the more they are going to suffer (and the longer their loved ones will suffer too), so it is vital that they take action right away.
- The sooner the person takes action to end their addiction problems, the sooner they will be able to begin living a better life.
How to Make This Your Last Hangover Ever
Here are a few ideas for how people can make this their last hangover ever:
- Make sobriety your number one priority in life and fully commit yourself to this change. This means taking responsibility for your future and understanding that you will likely need help in order to go about things most effectively.
- Take action right now to end the addiction while you have the willingness to do so. This could include things like making an appointment with an addiction therapist, arranging to go to rehab, or going to a recovery meeting. Just thinking about getting sober is not enough – you need to do something to make this a reality.
- You may find it helpful to write down your feelings now, so that you will be able to look back upon this when your determination begins to wane. List the reasons for why you want to escape alcohol abuse and your hopes for the future.
- There is plenty of great information available online that can help you break away from addiction. You can try things like recovery forums where you can contact people who will be able to offer you advice. It is probably best if you use a combination of face-to-face recovery resources as well as online resources.
- There is no reason to become too hung up on terminology at the moment. You do not need to believe that you are an alcoholic in order to benefit from give up alcohol. Once you get in contact with addiction recovery experts, these people will be able to help you decide if you are addicted to alcohol or if you have just fallen into the habit of abusing it.
- Write down a list of clear actions that you are going to take to end your addiction. Put a time limit on each of these actions. For example, you might write down, “Today I will arrange to see an addiction therapist.”
- It is important to feel excited about the new life that lies ahead of you because this will help to keep you motivated for longer. This really can be an opportunity for you to turn things around completely – this can be your second chance in life.
- Stop spending time with your hard drinking friends because they will undermine your determination and tempt you to return to your old habits. It can be a real challenge to cut these people from your life, but it may be what you need to do in order to achieve sobriety.
- It is also highly beneficial for you to begin spending time with the right type of people. In Alcoholics Anonymous they talk about sticking with the winners, and this is very good advice indeed. Humans are highly influenced by the people they spend their time with, and if you begin spending time with successful sober people this will rub off on you. This is one of the reasons for why joining a recovery fellowship can be such a good option, but there are other ways that you can get the help you need.
- One of the best things that you can do to end an addiction to alcohol is to enter rehab – this is especially true if you have been addicted for many years. The goal of this type of facility is not just to get you physically sober, but also to provide you with the tools you are going to need in order to build a new and better life. Rehab will provide you with a strong foundation for your recovery, and staying in this type of facility can magnify your determination.
- You need to know if you are going to require a supervised detox in order to safely pass through withdrawals. You may require medically advice to determine if this is required.
- It is a good idea that you immerse yourself in recovery material right away. At the moment your determination will be like a precious flame, but you can make this flame strong by reading all about recovery and getting involved in the recovery community.
Do You Need Detox?
If you have been drinking heavily for many years, you may be at risk of severe withdrawal symptoms. This can be life threatening in some cases, so it will be necessary to have your withdrawals medically supervised. Even people who are only likely to have mild symptoms can still benefit from detox because they can be kept more comfortable and supported through the process – this is important because so many individuals will relapse because they dislike the withdrawal process. Those people who have not become physically addicted to alcohol will not suffer physical withdrawals, so they do not require detox. If people are unsure about the likelihood that they will experience withdrawal symptoms, they should speak to a professional.
The Last Hangover
The only reason for why this will not be your last hangover is that you have allowed yourself to slip back into denial. If you are serious about ending this behaviour, you do have the power to make this a reality. It is up to you. The resources you need to break away from addiction are there waiting, and all that is needed is for you to make the first move. Wouldn’t it be great to never have to deal with hangover symptoms again?
