When a person has made the decision to stop drinking there are many places to find the help that is needed.

Some people decide to stop drinking on their own. This is a choice that can work well but many people need the assistance of a doctor, treatment program, or support group.

The first step is to accept the fact that there is a problem and that alcohol is affecting your life in ways that are not good.

It may be that you have been arrested for drinking and driving, that your relationships with family and friends are being affectd in a negative way or that your job or school performance is not what it should be because of alcohol.

This is not an easy step to take but the sooner you are able to do it, the sooner you will be on your way to recovery.

There are so many misconceptions about alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Some people still are under the misguided notion that alcohol problems are a sign of moral weakness. This is not true and this is an area where a trained health care provider will be able to help you.

Someone who is trained in this area will be able to give you a better understanding of alcohol-related diseases and problems.

Believing that alcoholism is because of the lack of willpower is the same thing as believing that a person who has asthma is sick because they lack willpower.

When you are ready to get help and stop drinking you will begin to see alcoholism as the disease that it is and you will also see that you are on your way to a life that includes a healthier way to live both emotionally and physically.

You can talk to a health care professional about the type of treatments that will be best for you.

The choices may differ depending on the seriousness of your drinking problem and the resources available where you live.

There may be the need for detoxification where you will slowly and safely get the alcohol out of your system. Sometimes medications will be prescribed that can help prevent a relapse once you have stopped drinking.

Group or individual therapy is often suggested and can be very helpful. Therapy is used to teach alcoholics to learn how to identify situations and feelings that may trigger the urge to drink.

Counseling can also help a person discover new ways to cope instead of drinking. Many of these treatments are on an out-patient basis.

Family support is an important part of recovery and you may want to find a program that offers family therapy or counseling for couples.

There are programs that network people with community resources as part of the treatment process. This can be beneficial if you need help with job training, childcare, legal representation or parenting classes.

Stop drinking and get the help you need. It's out there and will give you the chance to change your life for the better.