Old 06-29-2020, 06:27 AM
  # 9 (permalink)  
dandylion
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Join Date: Aug 2011
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ac------it does take years for the alcoholic to make real and lasting change. It requires that they change their thinking----and, then, changing their attitude toward life----and, then, channel all of thing into change in their behaviors. It takes about 6 months for the alcoholics brain to clear most of the "fog", so that they can even think. Then, it takes another one, or two, or, some say-----3,4, or 5 years to make the deep kinds of changes in life style that have brought them to the point of using alcohol to live, in the first place.
This takes intense work, with sobriety as their first priority, above ALL else. It means living by the principles of AA, every day, and putting in a lot of time into meetings, speaking with their sponsor, and meeting with a counselot/therapist, and doing outreach work to other alcoholics.

It takes much more than just a stint in rehab---which is just a start to point them in the right direction----or, sitting in a few meetings, or meeting with a counselor for a few times.
Getting "healthy". as you put it, takes a lot more work and time than most non--alcoholics assume. And, relapse, is always only one drink away.
I think it is important for you to know this.
I am not saying al of this to make you feel bad-----. It is to help you to understand the reality of it.
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