Alcohol Detox

The decision to stop drinking alcohol is a big one and most of us rarely come to that decision easily. Often it’s fraught with jail time, drunk-driving charges, alienation of family and friends, job loss, and even significant health problems. It’s either we stop drinking or we die. The choice, although seemingly simple, is not easy. Addiction is elusive.

Life should really come with a safety instruction card. Why the hell not? Shampoo comes with instructions, why not life? I’m sitting on a plane going back to face reality in Tennessee so I figure I would tell you a story from my flying drunk days. Sit back, relax, and enjoy! I’ve mentioned it before and I’ll mention it again, I was a flight attendant for 8 years. The reason why I bring it up is because it’s where I really perfected my drinking.

In the spirit of keeping up with this series about sober conventions, and the like, we are posting an AA celebration that's happening next weekend, starting on Friday, June 10, 2011. This celebration happens in Akron, Ohio, the Birth Place of AA.

76 Years. Amazing.

Here are some of the details:

Anger is one of the many pitfalls we, as sober persons, fall prey to on a repeated basis. Feelings of anger, although a common emotion are more challenging to recovering alcoholics and addicts than to others who are not addicted. In many of us, it is the direct road to relapse if we don’t catch it in time, and it’s not just to a new-comer either. Old-timers can fall prey to mismanaged anger and relapse and just as easily find themselves in an alcohol and drug detox.

I was watching television the other night and saw a commercial that made me stop and think. Although I've got some sober time under my belt, there are times when a commercial about drinking or drugging can cause me to stop and wonder. The commercial's tag line is "Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving." As to what the drug of choice is, I don't really know. Buzzed is Buzzed, right?

Binge drinking is considered one of the most serious problems on college campuses today, and although the rates of intoxication vary from college to college, binge drinking remains a steady dilemma for college presidents, dean of students, faculty members and other students.

"We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable"

Although I learned in alcohol detox and rehab that hitting meetings is very important, I have to admit going to meetings is something I don't care to do. Of course once I get there I find a sense of relief and inner joy. I think for me it's about the commitment of getting off the couch and going, or leaving the house early before work, or even leaving work and going to a meeting before heading home. It's about being responsible to me.

Again, as I approached the end of my 30 days of this drug and alcohol detox and rehab, I was at a loss. I didn't know what I was going to do with my exit plan, but I knew I'd get some help. My counselor recommended that I go to sober living and thought it would be good for me to get away from everything and suggested a sober living home in Florida. I don't think I was happy about having to do this, and I'd surely have to think about it.

Let Go and Let God can be some of the easiest words to say, but they can also be the hardest to follow sometimes. As a recovering addict, I need to be sure to keep my ego in check. I need to accept I am not in charge of everything, nor anyone. Some days, I can barely keep my head about myself, but the best thing about this is that I am reminded daily that my addiction is just one drink away.