If somebody is able to stop drinking it isn’t uncommon for their
family and friends to breathe a sigh of relief and consider them “cured,” but
the problem is normally far from over and a cessation of drinking can actually
be the start of a very tumultuous road which is laden with unpredictable
behaviour and sudden emotional outbursts.
One of the reasons that many recovering alcoholics are
encouraged to continue with some kind of alcohol treatment aftercare programme is
that it gives them the ability to explore and treat the underlying causes of
their drinking problem, rather than being focused on just getting rid of the
symptom, the drinking itself. In fact, many alcohol treatment clinics will
point out that many of the behaviours associated with alcoholism, such as
restlessness, irritability and bad moods, can continue after their “treatment”
with alcohol drops because the root cause has not yet been addressed.
Those who have been drinking excessively for very long
periods are often experiencing a sense of confusion about themselves and their role
in the world, so may need a lot of support as they explore what made them turn
to drink in the first place as well as what kind of healthier habit can replace
their drinking behaviour. Gradually, many alcoholics will begin to take responsibility
for what they have done in the past under the influence of drink and often
develop a very deep feeling of shame. This can produce a type of fear which is
similar to that which sent them to the bottle originally, based on the
suspicion that they will be somehow unable to cope with the stress of everyday
life – let alone the new challenges they may face – without the crutch of drink
to help and support them.
This makes it extremely important for friends and family to continue
supporting a recovering alcoholic by stopping any enabling behaviour, supporting
the recovery by participating in it and avoiding the consumption of alcohol in
the presence of the former alcoholic – having a sober environment can really
help a drinker stay on the wagon and work towards a healthy, long life which is
free of alcohol.
