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Old 05-05-2013, 11:27 PM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Gottalife
12 Step Recovered Alcoholic
 
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 6,613
If you are an alcoholic, it's not a matter of weakness, it's a disease which some folks with incredible will power in other areas of their lives have been unable to overcome with the unaided will. AA is full of people who have achieved great things out in the world, but can't seem to beat alcohol. There are a few options you could try to see what's going on. If anyhting on the list works, then thats as far as you need to go. Least palatable option (for me) is left till last, when all else fails.

Talk with doctor
Refer to counsellor - controlled drinking
Continue with counsellor - harm minimisation
Continue with counsellor - total abstinance
Refer to treatment centre detox - not much therapy
Refer to treatment center detox and comprehensive program
Back to counsellor for relapse prevention strategies
Buy self help book and learn more about avoiding triggers
Consider lifestyle change through available long term recovery program
Maybe try something i haven't thought of.
Try AA - last resort.

A very helpful counsellor took me through a list like this and let me choose. I picked the least painful looking options, starting with controlled drinking. For me, nothing worked and some of the programs around today were not around then. Maybe something on the list will work for you.
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