Sober Resources

Virtually every man wonders about where they came from and how we got here. The eternal search for a greater power than ourselves is one aspect of spirituality that is highly beneficial when used properly for addiction recovery. Whether you believe in a greater power or not, the universe and its energy are a wonderful source of recovery. You can tap into that energy with some practice.

The first step in doing so is to begin to explore this world of spirituality. Nobody can do this for you, but a good place to start is to head out into the woods, beaches and mountains of your choice. If this is not practical, then head into the local woods nearby or by a nice lake. Wherever you feel the most relaxed in nature will do just fine. The reason this is so important is because it gives you the chance to relax your mind and become closer to nature.
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If you are reading this, then chances are you are somehow connected to alcoholism. Either you, your family, or someone you care about drinks to much, and can not seem to help themselves. For those of you that are dealing with this problem in a parent, you are particularly torn. You do not want to be the person that turns them in, and you do not want to live with their alcoholic ways any longer either. It is a double edged sword. Fortunately, there are some solutions to your problem. Here are some helpful tips on how to deal with an alcoholic parent:

Recognize The Problem For What It Is – The hardest part of being a child of an alcoholic is getting over the shame. You surely have dealt with this on some level, and it may even be a secret within your home. That said, you need to understand that alcoholism is a disease. It is not much different than cancer, or any other disease. The biggest difference is that it is a disease that affects the mind and the decisions that a person makes. It does not mean that your mom or dad is bad, or that they are somehow rotten. It means they are sick. It is not your fault, nor is it your burden to carry. This is the first step to dealing with a parent who is an alcoholic. Realize that they have a problem, and that you can not fix it. They must take that step themselves.

Make Yourself Better First - Before you can do anything at all for your parent, you must realize that you are at risk. Not only are you at risk to their alcoholic behavior, but you are at risk of going down the same road. It is common knowledge that alcoholism runs in the family sometimes. You must make a commitment that you will not continue the chain. This is vital to your being able to get through the addiction cycle that your mom or dad is in.

Have a Support System - It is absolutely vital that you have an adult that you can rely on and trust in your life. Being a kid is tough enough without an alcoholic parent. When you add in the stress of that, you can easily reach a critical overload of emotions. Your pastor, your uncle, your aunt, your teacher, your counselor, your coach at school, or anyone else that is older that you trust should be made aware of your situation. You are not turning your back on your parents in doing this. You are actually doing something your parents would want if they were clearly thinking.

Ultimately, someone with an alcohol problem has to face the music. Make sure that you have this person available to you in an emergency, and that they are willing to support you if possible. If you have nobody, then you should contact your domestic hot line at (800) 799 – SAFE. This is a great resource to get you the help you need.

Your safety is the most important thing, and making sure that you have a safe place to go in an emergency is not a bad thing. It does not mean that you love your parents any less, or that you are turning your back on them. This is a problem that only they can solve, and sometimes it takes help they are not at first willing to accept. Always be willing to call 911 in an emergency situation, and never hesitate if you feel that you are in danger.

With time, your parent may end up getting the help that they need. Always keep your own mind and conscious clear, as you are not at fault. Nothing that you do or do not do can make them better. Only they can do that. You can, however, make certain that they chain ends with you.

Learn about Getting Sober

There are a number of problems that an alcoholic will face in their lifetime if they continue to drink and refuse to seek help. Alcoholism is a progressive disease and amount of alcohol consumed by a person will eventually cause mental and physical problems. The alcoholic will face problems in their social, professional, and family life if the issues are not dealt with. Because alcoholics often do not realize that they need help, it is important for their loved ones to recognize the symptoms of alcoholism and be the ones to seek help if it is needed.

Regularly consuming excess alcohol can lead to a number of long term health problems. The person who drinks too much will have both physical and mental problems because of how alcohol affects their mind and bodies. Because of this, alcoholics show physical symptoms that serve as warning signs.

The first problem that might be noted is a liver inflammation. This will cause yellowing of the eyes, skin and an abnormal yellowing of the urine. The person with liver inflammation will also suffer from a constant fever. Furthermore, the excessive alcohol consumed by alcoholics will eventually destroy the liver’s ability to create and regenerate new cells.

Cirrhosis of the liver is a condition that a number of alcoholics face as their drinking progresses. The symptoms of cirrhosis include tiredness, weight loss, nausea, and loss of sexual drive. Other symptoms can be quite painful and debilitating.

Malnutrition is also another health risk that most alcoholics suffer from. When this occurs, the alcoholic will observe that their immune system has become weaker therefore becoming unable to fight off diseases. Tiredness and weight loss can also be caused by malnutrition.

An alcoholic may also suffer from high blood pressure. This rise in blood pressure can leave the alcoholic likely to suffer from a heart attack. The symptoms of high blood pressure include dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, and nausea.

The pancreas can also be affected by alcoholism. The pancreas in an alcoholic can become inflamed. This inflammation is called pancreatitis. The pancreas plays a significant role in digesting food within the body. When the pancreas is damaged, there will be pain in the abdominal area as well as weight loss.

Insomnia is also a common problem among alcoholics. There are even times when alcoholics suffer from the inability to sleep for weeks at a time.

Alcoholic men also tend to suffer from erectile dysfunction. When a man drinks too much, it will negatively impact his ability to enjoy a satisfying sex life. Women who are addicted to alcohol, on the other hand, are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer from their addiction.

There are a number of other symptoms of alcoholism that can be observed over a long period of time. There can be damage caused to the brain and nerves. Depression and stress are also a symptom of alcoholism.

It is imperative that alcoholics seek help to control their drinking problem. There are many programs and institutions that can help the alcoholic stop their destructive behavior and begin enjoying a healthy and happy life once again.