Many believe alcoholics are intelligent, logical thinkers–except when it comes to consuming alcohol. Within the alcoholic brain the sequential and infallible logic that prevents an alcoholic from jumping in front of a bus because it will cause bodily harm fails to meaningfully comprehend the type and severity of consequences possible when consuming alcohol. Rationality, defined as “The state of having good sense and sound judgment”, is easily defeated when alcohol or the anticipation of alcohol crosses the blood-brain barrier.
Moreover, just ask an alcoholic to just stop drinking for a month or even a year and see what happens. That wonderfully logical and resourceful brain will find many reasons why forsaking alcohol is unnecessary, or would not prove a “thing”, or yes, they will stop, but today is not the right time. Or, as is often the case, the alcoholic delays treatment (and it is only a delay because all alcoholics will quit, either on their own, with help, by death, or by involuntary incarceration) because they do not believe in the 12-step or spiritual approaches to recovery.
Not a problem. Most 28-day treatment centers are non-secular and most advocate the patients maintain sobriety by attending a self-help group. The following organizations and methods are not based on 12-steps or spiritual awareness or growth methods. They are listed here not as endorsement but as more examples of resources to help the alcoholic who still suffers.
· A sobriety “pill”: See your doctor about topiramate. A recent U.S. News article reported positive results in reducing heavy drinking.
· Smart recovery: A self-help group that emphasizes a practical approach, and embraces members who also use A.A.’s approach.
· Secular Organizations for Sobriety A secular approach to recovery from addictions, including nicotine. They believe in the abstinence approach.
· Rational Recovery: They do not believe in the disease concept of alcoholism, and is critical of Alcoholics Anonymous. They claim that by reading their website and perhaps attending their treatment center people can stop drinking by following their rational thinking approach.
· Women for Sobriety is an organization on the East coast that follows a secular approach to alcoholism.
· Health Recovery System: This is a nutrition-based approach, “Health Recovery Center strives to uncover and treat the true physical underpinnings driving addictions.”
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For the alcoholic and the people affected by the alcoholic many approaches work. Belief in the disease concept is not important for the individual alcoholic. (See: Places to get treatment in the San Jose area.) Find a recovery program that works, because it may take many tries to find the right one. Do not give up a minute before the (secular, perhaps) miracle.
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