Samuel was a forty-six-year-old accounts receivable manager who was fed up with feeling depressed everyday of his life and fed up with his excessive and careless drinking behavior. Stated briefly, he hated the hangovers he went through on a regular basis, he was mad at himself for spending his hard-earned money on a worthless habit, he was tired of going through shattered relationship after shattered relationship due to his irresponsible drinking, he was sick of feeling weary every morning, and he missed his old drive for doing the things he enjoyed.

In addition he was irritated with the many times he failed an alcohol test at his workplace, he was upset with how physically unfit he was, he was fed up with paying for alcohol-related lawyer fees, he hated the fact that he had to go to court for his third DUI, and he was bored with his drinking pals.

In addition to the perceptible alcohol-related health problems he was going through, conceivably the most regretful part of his drinking routine was the untrustworthy and devious individual he had turned into. In his heart of hearts he realized that he had been deceitful about his drinking behavior to his relatives, family, and friends and he also knew he had been less than honest with himself about the “beneficial” outcomes of drinking. Not only this but he made excuses for guzzling three or four drinks before going to social events and he also justified needing a few drinks the first thing in the morning so that he could manage the “anxiety” at his place of employment.

His Depression and His Heavy and Hazardous Drinking Lead to Major Changes in His Life

Without a doubt Samuel was sick of putting up with the negative consequences of his depression and his careless and excessive drinking and finally decided that something major had to change in his life. So he determined that he would abstain from drinking, start focusing on becoming a more healthy person, get professional counseling, start exercising, involve himself in some worthwhile hobbies, and develop a new circle of friends.

Stated briefly, Samuel got to a special time in his life during which he comprehended that he hit rock bottom and was now ready to begin the gradual and slow road to health.

One of the ways that Samuel put his “plan” into action was by asking for a transfer at his workplace. When his request was approved, he moved 950 miles away to a new state. If nothing else, this positively made making new buddies and distancing himself from his old friends and buddies simpler. Then he contacted a healthcare professional in his new city and made an appointment for a thorough physical examination.

Samuel Meets With a Healthcare Professional About His Hazardous and Excessive Drinking and His Depression

After meeting with the healthcare practitioner and going through a number of laboratory tests, it was determined that Samuel had made the transition from alcohol abuse to alcohol addiction and consequently was in need of alcohol treatment and alcohol detox. At this time, the healthcare practitioner made it a point to discuss the diverse signs of alcoholism, the symptoms of alcoholism, and information about alcohol long term effects with Samuel.

The healthcare professional then told Samuel that it was concluded that he was clinically depressed and in need of therapy for this medical issue.

Samuel Decides to Revitalize His Body by Exercising, Taking Vitamins and Minerals, Living an Alcohol-Free Lifestyle, Drinking Spring Water, and Eating Nutritious Foods

Due to his enthusiasm for following through with the rehabilitation protocol, after ten weeks of inpatient rehab, Samuel was ready to begin rehab on an outpatient basis. At this time, he started working at his new job and over the weeks began fortifying his body by eating nutritious foods, drinking distilled water, going to the gym, living an alcohol-free lifestyle, and taking vitamins.

Samuel also dealt with his spiritual yearnings by joining the local Reformed church and participating in the weekly services.

After around five months of outpatient rehabilitation during which time he never suffered through a relapse, Samuel stopped going to alcohol therapy and instead began going five times every week to local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Going to these meetings helped Samuel continue his alcohol-free way of life, they provided him with the support he sought after, and they served as a unceasing reminder of the adverse outcomes that are associated with excessive and abusive drinking.

After going to AA meetings about eight-and-a-half months Samuel felt that he was ready for a relationship and so he started dating Celina, a young woman he met at church. It simply astonished Samuel how much more prepared he was for a dating relationship now that he had his careless and hazardous drinking under control. In fact it also amazed Samuel how much better life was now that he wasn’t under the control of his abusive and excessive drinking. Life was now rewarding and full of promise that he could have never yearned for or achieved when he was engaged in unhealthy and excessive drinking less than a year ago.

A Success Story That is Evidence of the Importance of Alcohol Therapy and the Power of Change

Samuel’s success story is a demonstration of the value of alcohol treatment and the power of positive thinking. As Samuel thought about his newfound lofty self concept and drive for involving himself in worthwhile, healthy activities, he was actually grateful that he made up his mind to do something constructive about his hazardous drinking rather than giving into his depression and into the lure of his addiction. The result: his life now has a positive direction, he is in command of his life rather than letting himself languish under the control of his addiction, he has more energy now compared with any time in his adult life, he is involved in a caring relationship, and he likes his new job responsibilities.

Nearly two weeks ago I heard about a twenty-two-year-old woman named Rachael who is manic depressive and who is also addicted to drugs and alcohol. I remember reading that under such circumstances, a person needs to get counseling for both medical problems and that mental health difficulties and dependency commonly occur in the same individual. Furthermore, I recall reading that a history of abusive and excessive drinking, drug addiction, and/or mental health concerns many times occur in the same family.

Plainly, Rachael is so overcome by both of her medical conditions that she basically has no drive to do much of anything. What is particularly unfortunate about this is that earlier in her life, Rachael finished three years of college. Rachael’s situation makes me wonder if she is an example of a person who has to hit life’s bottom before he or she gets alcohol and drug dependency counseling that results in long lasting recovery.

The Need For a Doctor She Trusts and a Counseling Program She Can Believe In

If I were in communication with Rachael I could recommend a number of websites that could possibly help her learn more about addiction and alcoholic behavior, significant substance abuse information, facts about alcoholism and drugs, and more info about addiction symptoms and alcoholism warning signs. In my opinion, nonetheless, Rachael needs to locate a healthcare practitioner she trusts and a rehab protocol she can believe in and follow through over the long haul. I could be wrong but it seems logical to conclude that Rachael probably needs to acknowledge the fact that she cannot drink responsibly or use drugs if she wants to get sober, remain sober, and start on the route to lasting sobriety.

I am aware that there are a number of newly developed physician-prescribed drugs that can help Rachael through the drug and alcohol detoxification process, through her withdrawal symptoms, and help her avoid a drug or an alcohol relapse. Obviously it would be in Rachael’s best interests if she knew about these drugs.

It is fairly obvious that Rachael needs to understand the fact that there is entirely nothing affirmative about careless and abusive drinking and drug abuse and that involving herself in one or both situations is the route to shattered relationships, deteriorating health, financial difficulties, a premature death, poor work and school performance, and legal problems.

The Importance of Recovery Groups Such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous

There are possibly quite a few persons such as family members, other individuals, and friends who would want to help Rachael but she probably would experience greater tolerance from a recovery group such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous rather than listening to people who do not drink or who have never abused drugs.

When People Accomplish Things They Love and About Which They Are Passionate

There’s a school of thought in life that emphasizes that people who do things they love and something about which they are fervent arrive at a breathtaking place in life. Stated another way, when people do what they love, they rarely if ever experience boredom or an uneventful life. If they involve themselves in something that is satisfying, what is more, they become more complete and experience more pleasure and delight in life.

To me, this sounds quite a bit different from a life that is centered in drug and alcohol addiction because such a lifestyle removes the gratification and joy that life has to offer.

Due to the fact that Rachael lacks the grit to accomplish much of anything in her life, it is obvious that she desperately needs a little hope for a better lifestyle. And the unfortunate thing is that hope is virtually everywhere around Rachael if she could only get to the place in life to get the therapy she needs for her mental illness and drug addiction and alcohol dependency and stick with her treatment program.

A Wonderful Life, Self Respect, and Beneficial Change Are Possibilities

Rachael is simply too young to be beaten in life. She doesn’t comprehend this right now but if she can learn how to remove herself from alcohol and drugs via drug and alcohol therapy and get the treatment she needs for her bipolar issue, she can reorient her life and start living with direction, passion, and with self-respect.

Beneficial change, self respect, and a wonderful life are certainly a reality for Rachael if only she could get inspired to seek the professional rehab she requires, follow through with her therapy regimen, live her life in a healthy and sober way, and acquire a more positive attitude about her existence.

Jesse had a very difficult time keeping a job. If truth be told, due to his languor and lack of motivation, he was out of work far more regularly than he was in a job situation. And when he did get a job, he had a particularly hard time getting to work when his shift started, he typically received less than great performance appraisals, and he called off sick so regularly that he commonly got fired a few weeks after he started working. To no one’s disbelief, one of the outcomes of Jesse’s appalling work track record was the fact that he was virtually broke almost on a daily basis.

Regardless of Jesse’s irresponsible work record and financial negligence, conversely, by some means he made it his business to drink in a hazardous and irresponsible manner most of the time.

So it came as no big jolt when Jesse got a fifth DUI. When he went to court, the magistrate explained to Jesse that his alcohol-related behavior was irresponsible and, as a result, he was going to sentence Jesse to spend twelve months in the local jail.

Time Behind Bars To Think About The Harmful Outcomes of Irresponsible Drinking

During his time in jail, Jesse was expected to learn more about alcohol facts, about the hurtful results of hazardous and excessive drinking, and he was expected to get alcohol rehab. The magistrate emphasized the fact that unless Jesse receives professional alcohol counseling and discovers how to live a life of abstinence, he will most likely be spending quite a bit of his time in the municipal jail.

Jesse said that he understood what the magistrate was uttering but he still claimed that placement in the local jail was not the most effective sentence. The judge saw things in an entirely different Manner and proclaimed that it was his job to keep alcohol dependent individuals off the streets who drive under the influence and who receive one or more DUIs. To support this perspective, the magistrate outlined some honored, highly researched alcohol statistics that stressed some of the hurtful effects that are associated with irresponsible drinking.

Although Jesse realized that he drank heavily, he never felt that he was alcohol dependent. So it was a real shocker when Jesse began experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms around eight hours after after getting locked up in the city jail.

To deal with his alcohol withdrawal symptoms in a harm free manner, Jesse was life flighted to a rehabilitation center for alcohol detox and then brought back to the city jail. While locked up in the local jail Jesse was given alcohol rehabilitation but since he got this rehab as something that was forced upon him, he did not take ownership of his hazardous drinking.

When his time in jail was finished, the judge without hesitation told Jesse that he would be under careful observation and would be required to take random alcohol tests.

Jessie’s Irresponsible and Abusive Drinking Prevents Him From Living in an Effective and Productive Manner

After hearing how Jesse failed to take ownership of his drinking circumstances and how he reluctantly followed the therapy policy and procedures while in the municipal jail, the magistrate knew that it was just a matter of time before he would be seeing Jesse once again in court about his thoughtless drinking behavior. As the magistrate thought about Jesse’s circumstance, he couldn’t help but think about how some people never use their brain and discover how to live in an accountable and effective manner.

Heather is a forty-five-year-old woman who is the top administrator in the human resources department at a large silver plating company. In order to lower the costs associated with excessive sick days, poor employee work performance, employee alcohol abuse and alcoholism, increasing absenteeism, and work related injuries, Heather and the other VIPs launched several programs that made the work atmosphere substantially more safe, more productive, and healthy.

As an example, fifteen years ago Heather and the other VIPs established an Employee’s Assistance Program so that all the employees had access to professional therapy for their personal problems that could adversely influence their health, personal well-being, and their work performance.

The Company Administrators Build An Avant-Garde Workout and Exercise Room Complete With Weights, Mirrors, a Personal Trainer During Business Hours, Scales, Exercise Charts, and Exercise Equipment

As another example, about seven years ago Heather and the other company leaders erected an avant-garde exercise and workout room complete with mirrors, scales, weights, exercise charts, a professional trainer during business hours, and many different types of exercise equipment.

In addition, nearly five years ago Heather and the other company leaders invested in a purification system that filters all the water that is obtainable throughout the main building. In a similar manner, two-and-a-half years ago, Heather and the other company leaders started a “walking club” that is essentially intended for workers who want to learn how to boost their cardiovascular system.

The Company Executives Establish a Weight-Watchers Class and Employ a Weight-Loss Trainer to Supervise the Program

As another example, roughly two-and-a-half years ago, Heather and the other company leaders developed a “Weight-Watchers” class that at present meets every weekday at noon until 1:00 PM. In addition, the company executives signed up a weight-loss nurse to manage the program.

In a similar manner, a year-and-a-half ago Heather and the other company administrators instituted a “Stop Smoking Club” for employers who want to learn how to stop or reduce their smoking.

In the last nine months, in combination with the Employee’s Assistance Program, Heather and the other members of upper management put into operation an “Anger Management” class for employees who want to control their anger.

The Company Leaders Put Into Operation a Drug and Alcohol Testing Program

In the last four-and-a-half months, Heather and the other company executives instituted a alcohol and drug testing program that is tied into their drug and alcohol abuse prevention program. In actual fact, Heather is the key person in the company responsible for getting the message out to all the workers about the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program as well as the drug and alcohol testing program.

One of the fundamental elements of the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program is a class entitled “Alcoholism and Depression” that meets every Friday after work. The primary idea with this class is informing workers that abusive drinking and depression regularly happen in the same individual. It is hoped that realizing this information will be able to help an individual address both medical problems and get the alcohol rehabilitation and mental health therapy he or she requires.

The Company Administrators Initiate an Alcohol Statistics and Facts Class

Another fairly recent enhancement to the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program is a class entitled “Alcohol Statistics and Facts.” The rationale behind this alcohol statistics facts class is the reality that quite a few people fail to grasp the total impact of the effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism without first learning about some of the alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse statistics and facts that are available. Consequently, one of the goals of this class is to provide a variety of alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse statistics and facts to help employees gain a better understanding of the large number of issues that are correlated with irresponsible and excessive drinking and how they can prevent these issues from occurring.

Most recently, Heather and the other members of upper management, via feedback from employees, initiated a class that focuses directly on acute drinking entitled “What is Alcoholism”? This class meets every Friday morning an hour before work and focuses chiefly on the differences between alcoholism and alcohol abuse, on the stages of alcoholism, and on the different kinds of therapy that are available for people who have alcohol drinking problems such as individuals who drink in an irresponsible manner.

Although every single one of these health and preventative maintenance programs was anything but easy on the pocketbook, upper management reasons that they are several thousands of dollars ahead by providing all of their workers with a safe, healthy, and more productive work atmosphere.