A Young Male Hits The Bottom of the Barrel in Life, Rises Above His Depression, Gets Alcohol Therapy for His Excessive Drinking, and Enhances His Self Worth
Samuel was a forty-year-old accounts payable manager who was tired of feeling depressed on a daily basis and sick of his careless drinking behavior. In a word, he was angry with himself for spending his hard-earned money on a worthless habit, he was sick of feeling lethargic every morning, he was tired of going through broken relationship after broken relationship due to his abusive drinking, he missed his old enthusiasm for doing various things he enjoyed, and he hated the hangovers he went through on a recurring basis.
Furthermore he was irritated with the many times he failed an alcohol test at his place of employment, he was fed up with paying for alcohol-related attorney fees, he was disgusted with how out-of-shape he was, he was bored with his drinking buddies, and he detested the fact that he had to go to court for his first DUI.
As well as the obvious alcohol-related health difficulties he was going through, perhaps the nastiest part of his drinking behavior was the undependable and deceitful individual he had become. In his heart he realized that he had been untruthful about his drinking behavior to his relatives, friends, and family and he also knew he had been untruthful with himself about the “positive” consequences of drinking. What is more, he rationalized wolfing down four or five drinks before going to social events and he also justified needing two or three drinks as soon as he got up so that he could deal with the “tension” at work.
His Depression and His Hazardous and Excessive Drinking Lead to Significant Life Changes
Clearly Samuel was sick of putting up with the negative consequences of his depression and his excessive and unhealthy drinking and finally made up his mind that something important had to change in his life. So he determined that he would quit drinking, start focusing on becoming a more healthy person, develop a new circle of friends, start exercising, involve himself in some worthwhile hobbies, and get professional counseling.
In brief, Samuel got to a critical time in his life during which he understood that he hit a low point in life and was now prepared to begin the gradual and slow road that leads to recovery.
One of the ways that Samuel initiated his “plan” was by requesting a transfer at his workplace. When his request was granted, he moved 1,000 miles away to a new state. If nothing else, this absolutely made making new friends and pals and dissociating himself from his old friends and buddies much simpler. Then he contacted a physician in his new city and made an appointment for a comprehensive physical and psychological exam.
Samuel Meets With a Healthcare Professional About His Irresponsible Drinking and His Depression
After meeting with the physician and going through a number of laboratory tests, it was concluded that Samuel had crossed the line from alcohol abuse to alcoholism and therefore was in need of alcohol rehab and alcohol detoxification. At this time, the physician made it a point to review the various signs of alcoholism, the symptoms of alcoholism, and information about long term alcohol effects with Samuel.
The doctor then told Samuel that it was determined that he was clinically depressed and in need of counseling for this medical condition.
Samuel Decides to Fortify His Body by Exercising, Taking Vitamins and Minerals, Living an Alcohol-Free Lifestyle, Drinking Spring Water, and Eating Nutritious Foods
Due to his eagerness to follow through with the rehab program, after five weeks of residential treatment, Samuel was ready to begin treatment on an outpatient basis. At this point, he started working at his new job and over the weeks began building up his body by taking vitamins, living an alcohol-free way of life, drinking filtered water, working out, and eating healthy foods.
Samuel also tackled his spiritual yearnings by joining the local Lutheran church and attending the weekly services.
After just about four months of outpatient treatment during which time he never experienced an alcohol relapse, Samuel quit going to alcohol treatment and instead started going five times every week to local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Going to these meetings helped Samuel maintain his alcohol-free way of life, they gave him the support he wanted, and they served as a frequent reminder of the damaging consequences that are related to excessive and careless drinking.
After going to AA meetings nearly seven months Samuel felt that he was ready for a relationship and so he started dating Andrea, a young woman he met at church. It simply surprised Samuel how much more prepared he was for a dating relationship now that he had his abusive drinking under control. In fact it also surprised Samuel how much better life was now that he wasn’t under the control of his excessive and unhealthy drinking. Life was now worthwhile and full of possibilities that he could have never wished for or realized when he was involved in abusive drinking less than a year ago.
A Success Story That is a Tribute to the Value of Alcohol Treatment and the Power of Positive Change
Samuel’s success story is evidence of the importance of alcohol rehabilitation and the power of positive change. As Samuel thought about his newfound positive self image and motivation for involving himself in worthwhile, healthy activities, he was actually thankful that he decided to do something worth while about his abusive drinking instead of giving into his depression and into the lure of his dependency. The result: he enjoys his new job responsibilities, his life now has a positive direction, he is in command of his life rather than letting himself languish under the control of his alcohol addiction, he has more energy now compared with any time in his adult life, and he is involved in a loving relationship.