Changing Alcoholic Behaviors For Good
Success at modifying or eliminating a behavior is best approached by studying those who have managed it on their own and emulating their accomplishments. That was the reasoning of researchers James Prochaska, John Norcross, and Carlo DiClemente who did just that, not with alcoholism specifically, but with all types of change.
The result of their work was the mapping of the change process through a series of steps: Pre-contemplation (denial); Contemplation (thinking about it); Preparation (researching and planning); Action (making the change); Maintenance (developing the supportive activities); and Termination (when the behavior is no longer a concern). The steps remain the same, regardless of the behavior to be modified or eliminated, whether it is weight loss, smoking cessation, physical conditioning, financial improvement, vocational redirection, or escaping alcohol abuse.
Simply recognizing the process, however, does not accomplish the desired end. Everyone denies certain behaviors that are obvious to others; most of us camp out in Contemplation and Preparation for years before actually doing anything, if we ever do. Even Action is no guarantee that we won't revert to the comfort of familiar old behaviors when change becomes uncomfortable. Soon enough most of us find ourselves longing for the "security of familiar miseries."
Yet once the change process is started it is also hard to forget. Those who quit smoking and then resume the habit are never quite able to forget the freedom from cigarettes and eventually they usually quit again. So too with ex-drinkers and others who have experienced the satisfaction of overcoming a very tough condition.
In planning your own change strategy be careful to consider all possible avenues to success. Many alcohol treatment programs are based on only one model - AA/12 Step - which does not support permanent change but leaves people stuck in the Maintenance stage of permanent Recovery. While this is, if successful, certainly an improvement, it is not the only, or most desirable, possibility. Allow yourself to think about having a life that isn't focused on alcohol at not, neither consuming it nor talking about consuming it. Think about becoming an ex-drinker in the same sense as those most hardcore of all addicts, smokers, think of themselves, ex-smokers. Give yourself the same edge they have, knowing that, having defeated nicotine, they can change anything.
Yes, it is possible to move through "Maintenance" to "Termination," for those addicted to alcohol, too. Decide what end you wish to achieve, plan the steps, seek good help if you need to, and quietly construct a different life. It is possible, desirable, exciting, and rewarding. Don't sell yourself short.
Related Tags: alternative, alcohol, moderation, 12 step
Dr. Edward Wilson has been developing and providing alternative alcohol counseling, including moderation, sincve 1990. He is the co-founder and Clinical Director of Your Empowering Solutions, Inc, located in S. California. http://www.non12.step.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- The Beginning of the Cataloging Code
The first significant cataloging code was published in 1841. The realization that cooperation and s - In the Lap of the Gods 24
Life moved on. Lily became well liked by both students and staff because of her cheerful outlook on - In the Lap of the Gods 23
Does fate decide the future? Is it all mapped out for us, predestined, or can we influence what com - Write Your Memoir: How to Write About What Troubles You the Most
Everyone has a story to tell, and unfortunately those stories aren't always pleasant. What makes me - How Crafty Word Order Can Instantly Improve Your Writing
by Philip Yaffe I am usually very reticent about offering writing tips. Unless they are linked to - You Say Grandpa, I Say Deda
I was born with two grandmothers but only one grandfather. In nature's rules of familial supply and - My Russian American Dichotomy
I was a Russian girl and an American teenager. I had no choice about the first but I tried very har - In the Lap of the Gods 22
This is just an explanation for those who have read some of the other Chapters of, "In the Lap of t - Write a Book: 8 Reasons You Should Do it
Studies have shown that 82% of people want to write a book, but few of these actually ever achieve - Book Review: the Book of Common Prayer
Book Review: The Book of Common Prayer, "My carry-with-me copy is this size, and I recommend it for
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Real Estate Investment - Investing In Commercial Properties
As in any other type of investment, its obviously advisable to do your research well so that the pro - Taking Care Of Acne Prone Skin With Proper Skin Care Products
Although acne has been largely associated with teeners and puberty, the condition is not only confin - Do I Really Need Eight Hours Of Sleep Each Night?
What if you were told that there is no definitive answer for why we need to sleep? Your initial reac - How to Improve Your FICO Credit Score
If you didn't know this already, having a good credit score is more important than having a lot of c - 10 Tips for a Magnificent Memory
"Where did I leave my keys?" "What did I come in here for?" "Your glasses are on top of your head!" - Things You Might Like To Know About Card Companies
If you have a regular income and are 18 or over then you may be able to get a credit card. You will - Bad Breath in Babies and Toddlers
If your baby or toddler has had bad breath lately, not to worry. There are plenty of things you can - Starving College Students No More
The majority of today's college students are extremely Internet savvy. In fact, many of those studen - Cosmetic Surgery Financing: How Can You Get It?
Cosmetic surgery, a branch of plastic surgery, can be quite expensive, especially if you are plannin - Article Marketing, Improve Your Ranking With Links
Article Marketing, without a doubt remains the best free formula for attracting website traffic. At