The Courage to Change

It takes courage to change your life in adulthood, especially when it comes to drinking alcohol. Our society has chosen alcohol as its drug of choice, so it seems natural and right to drink alcohol. Marijuana might one day be the second drug of choice, but it has a long way to go before gaining widespread acceptance. You see alcohol commercials on TV, neon signs flashing and advertising alcohol, magazine ads, signs and symbols at ball games, every party you attend, in restaurants, it’s everywhere. 

Most drinkers have made alcohol a part of their lives. They meet with friends and drink wine at lunch — they drink beer during their bowling league — they have a favorite bar where everyone knows their name — they have a bar at home with all the ingredients to mix a favorite drink just right around 6pm every evening — they have friends who come over about twice a month to play cards and drink. And for the most part it’s not a problem. Alcohol is a great social lubricant if you don’t have a problem with it.

If you have developed a problem with alcohol, and if you’re pressured to deal with it, it can be hard to change such a lifestyle of which alcohol is a major part. Most people who try to stop drinking have no idea how hard it is to quit. At first the person has a lot of gung-ho energy and plenty of support from family and friends, so the person stays sober and benefits from the positive attention — but, then, the family grows accustomed to the sobriety and simply expects it to continue. The friends don’t call as much because they know the person doesn’t drink and many of their get-togethers entail drinking. The person who’s quitting is not getting any support from people who’ve gone through recovery and are still sober, because it seemed easy at first and going to a support group was too drastic, so the person becomes restless, bored, aggravated at little things, left out of the social gatherings, taken for granted by his family.

This general discontent usually overwhelms the person and they start drinking again — then they’re faced with a harsh reality. After hitting another bottom, they realize they’re faced with a choice — continue drinking and face the consequences, or gather the courage to do what’s necessary to recover and change their lifestyle. It does take courage to change, to honestly face your problem and change even when you have to fight against pressures to give up. The good news is that although it takes courage and it’s difficult, there are people who can help — no one has to do it alone. Also, more good news is that it’s worth it. Not drinking alcohol is a valid and very healthy option.