Steps of alcoholism recovery

SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA

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SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Also visit the online treatment locator.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.

The service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

English and Spanish are available if you select the option to speak with a national representative. Currently, the 435748 (HELP4U) text messaging service is only available in English.

In 2020, the Helpline received 833,598 calls. This is a 27 percent increase from 2019, when the Helpline received a total of 656,953 calls for the year.

The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.

The service is confidential. We will not ask you for any personal information. We may ask for your zip code or other pertinent geographic information in order to track calls being routed to other offices or to accurately identify the local resources appropriate to your needs.

No, we do not provide counseling. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.

Suggested Resources
What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families
Created for family members of people with alcohol abuse or drug abuse problems. Answers questions about substance abuse, its symptoms, different types of treatment, and recovery. Addresses concerns of children of parents with substance use/abuse problems.
It's Not Your Fault (NACoA) (PDF | 12 KB)
Assures teens with parents who abuse alcohol or drugs that, "It's not your fault!" and that they are not alone. Encourages teens to seek emotional support from other adults, school counselors, and youth support groups such as Alateen, and provides a resource list.

After an Attempt: A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department
Aids family members in coping with the aftermath of a relative's suicide attempt. Describes the emergency department treatment process, lists questions to ask about follow-up treatment, and describes how to reduce risk and ensure safety at home.
Family Therapy Can Help: For People in Recovery From Mental Illness or Addiction
Explores the role of family therapy in recovery from mental illness or substance abuse. Explains how family therapy sessions are run and who conducts them, describes a typical session, and provides information on its effectiveness in recovery.
For additional resources, please visit the SAMHSA Store.

Last Updated: 08/30/2022

Recovery and Recovery Support | SAMHSA

Recovery and Resilience

Resilience refers to an individual’s ability to cope with change and adversity. Resilience develops over time and gives an individual the capacity not only to cope with life’s challenges but also to be better prepared for the next stressful situation. Psychological resilience, the ability to cope with adversity and to adapt to stressful life events, varies widely from person to person and depends on environmental as well as personal factors. It refers to positive adaptation, or the ability to maintain mental and physical health despite participating in stressful situations. Resilience is playing up those protective factors so they can outweigh the risk factors. Optimism and the ability to remain hopeful are essential to resilience and the process of recovery.

Because recovery is a highly individualized process, recovery services and supports must be age appropriate and offered over the life course and flexible enough to ensure cultural relevancy. What may work for adults in recovery may be very different for youth or older adults in recovery. For example, the promotion of resiliency in young people, and the nature of social supports, peer mentors, and recovery coaching for adolescents and transitional age youth are different than recovery support services for adults and older adults.

Recovery and Relationships

The process of recovery is supported through relationships and social networks. This often involves family members who become the champions of their loved one’s recovery. They provide essential support to their family member’s journey of recovery and similarly experience the moments of positive healing as well as the difficult challenges. Families of people in recovery may experience adversities in their social, occupational, and financial lives, as well as in their overall quality of family life.

These experiences can lead to increased family stress, guilt, shame, anger, fear, anxiety, loss, grief, and isolation. The concept of resilience in recovery is also vital for family members who need access to intentional supports that promote their health and well-being. The support of peers and friends is also crucial in engaging and supporting individuals in recovery.

Peer support assists individuals to engage or stay connected to the recovery process through a shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment. Peer support extends beyond the reach of clinical treatment into the everyday environment providing non-clinical, strengths-based support. This relationship can help lay the foundation for SAMHSA’s four dimensions of recovery.

Recovery Support

SAMHSA advanced recovery support systems to promote partnering with people in recovery from mental and substance use disorders and their family members to guide the behavioral health system and promote individual, program, and system-level approaches that foster health and resilience; increase housing to support recovery; reduce barriers to employment, education, and other life goals; and secure necessary social supports in their chosen community.

Recovery support is provided in various settings. Recovery support services help people enter into and navigate systems of care, remove barriers to recovery, stay engaged in the recovery process, and live full lives in communities of their choice.

Recovery support services include culturally and linguistically appropriate services that assist individuals and families working toward recovery from mental and/or substance use problems. They incorporate a full range of social, legal, and other services (PDF | 409 KB). that facilitate recovery, wellness, and linkage to and coordination among service providers, and other supports shown to improve quality of life for people (and their families) in and seeking recovery.

Recovery support services may be provided before, during, or after clinical treatment, or may be provided to individuals who are not in treatment but seek support services.

These services, provided by professionals and peers, are delivered through a variety of community and faith-based groups, treatment providers, schools, and other specialized services. The broad range of service delivery options ensures the life experiences of all people are valued and represented.

For example, in the United States there are 34 recovery high schools that help reduce the risk in high school environments for youth with substance use disorders. These schools typically have high retention rates and low rates of students returning to substance use.

Additionally, SAMHSA's Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS) advances effective recovery supports and services for people with mental or substance use disorders and their families.

Find more Publications and Resources on Recovery and Recovery Support.

90,000 ✔️ Stages of recovery on alcohol dependence - Alcoje

Read in the article:

How the recovery process
recovery
- Stabilization
- Previously recovery
- Average recovery 9,00099 Maintenance

The process of recovery from alcoholism is not an event, but a long and difficult journey. Only when the addict understands and realizes the presence of a problem, and then the consequence of his addiction, we can talk about the beginning of recovery. The purpose of which is to start living a full, comfortable and sober life. This path is long. In our article, we will look at the main stages of the journey and the difficulties that an alcoholic faces. nine0007

How is the recovery process going?

According to narcologists, it is impossible to get rid of cravings for alcohol forever. Therefore, an alcoholic will never drink a little. You will have to give up alcohol completely, and additionally carry out supportive activities. After accepting the problem, the recovery process is divided into 3 stages, if you do not take into account the subsequent maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. First you need to let the person understand the essence and scope of the problem - this is the first stage. In the last phase, the patient has already learned to cope with stress without alcohol, begins a normal life and gets rid of fear of society. nine0007

Stages of recovery

Transition is the first stage in which people are aware of the problem but are hesitant to start treatment. When chemical addiction begins to interfere with daily tasks, there is a desire to eliminate all problems without giving up strong drinks. As soon as the realization comes that a normal life is incompatible with the daily intake of alcohol, a person begins to act and proceeds to treatment.

Stabilization – in this phase comes the realization that it will not be possible to maintain a stable sobriety without the help of doctors. Due to social and psychological pressure, a person turns to a narcologist for help. Comprehensive treatment is better - visiting support groups and the attending physician. This allows you to better control emotions, behavior, feelings, thoughts. This period is difficult, because in chronic alcoholism sobriety becomes an unnatural state and causes withdrawal symptoms. Within 3-5 days after giving up alcohol, the condition worsens: the work of the brain and central nervous system is disturbed, insomnia and irritability appear. nine0007

Early recovery - this phase starts from the moment of changing inner beliefs. The patient is 100% sure that addiction is a physical and mental illness. A psychotherapist should teach a person to get rid of stress without alcohol and psychostimulants, to eliminate negative emotions with less stress on the central nervous system. It increases self-confidence and self-esteem. At the same time, the psychological state must be stabilized so that the patient does not quit his job due to severe stress and does not leave the family. Before moving on to the next stage, there is joy for every sober day and full awareness of the problem, I want to get rid of it forever as soon as possible. nine0007

Average recovery – after six months of sobriety, demoralization develops when the realization comes that you need to work hard on yourself. At this phase, a person re-integrates into society and builds healthy relationships with people. He needs to improve relationships in the family and at work, meet friends again and enjoy a normal life. In some cases life changes completely. For example, if marriage or work brings only frustration and stress, which was the cause of alcoholism. People change values, beliefs, develop new skills to deal with problems. Because the return to normal life and an active social life also lead to difficulties that you need to be able to cope without alcohol. nine0007

Late recovery - starts from the moment when the patient returned to society, communicates easily with people and visits support groups less often. At this time, acute problems may appear that are not directly related to alcohol addiction. These are chronic childhood traumas that provoke emotional, sexual, and physical disorders. A deep analysis by a psychotherapist determines which fragments from childhood influenced adult and sober life. Working with the past allows you to improve your life in the present, it is easier to cope with problems, discover your strengths and work on weaknesses. The behavior pattern changes, large-scale goals appear in life. nine0007

Maintenance – when a person has accepted himself as he is, and has got rid of alcohol addiction and learned to deal with problems, he moves on to the stage of maintenance. It lasts a lifetime. If the patient returns to the past environment or becomes mentally unbalanced due to stress, he will easily return to alcohol. It is important to never drink alcohol, even one glass of wine on New Year's Eve can lead to an aggravation. A person must grow spiritually every day, overcome stresses without nervous breakdowns, fight his weaknesses. Attention is directed not to the outside world, but inside oneself. Gradually, a person understands his actions and feelings, becomes responsible for his behavior. nine0007

Does alcohol poison your life, interfere with work and achieve goals? Call the hotline of the AlcoZdrav help center at 8 (800) 775-32-63 and sign up for an initial free consultation with specialists. We will help you understand the current situation and choose the best recovery plan.

Symptoms of recovery from alcoholism

Common recovery symptoms often experienced by recovering alcoholics.

Summary: Recovery from alcoholism has previously been described as a model of denervation hypersensitivity. In a similar way, and apparently on the same basis, a recovering alcoholic may experience a wide variety of physical and emotional symptoms and symptom complexes ranging from annoying to frightening. They are usually accompanied by considerable anxiety: the recovering alcoholic fears the onset of a serious illness. All of these symptoms should be evaluated medically to rule out other disease processes, but sometimes a case of pathology is established. The realization that these symptoms are normal in the process of recovery and are not associated with another disease has led many patients to great relief: anxiety and fear have disappeared. In particular, as it became known to the author, impotence, so often experienced by men, causes great anxiety, which led in two cases to suicide. nine0007

Men who are aware that this symptom can be treated quickly, effectively, overcome their anxiety about this. Unfortunately, the knowledge that the usual symptoms of recovery exist is virtually non-existent in recovering alcoholics, and in medical professionals and health recovery programs that exist to help the former.

As you know, recovery from alcoholism does not end after the patient is discharged from a medical institution: it is a long process of adaptation and development, and usually the emergence of a new and positive lifestyle. The beauty of this development, although painful, has been experienced and witnessed by many. While these social and psychological changes are fairly well known, there are a number of physical changes, or symptoms experienced by the recovering alcoholic, that are not as well identified. Some of these symptoms are pleasant, but most are distressing to the patient, his loved ones and friends. nine0007

For example, one of the symptoms of recovery is highly troubling and causes some recovering alcoholics to commit suicide even though the situation they are in is common and can be dealt with relatively easily. During my three years as a physician in the Department of Alcoholism at the Naval Hospital and at the San Diego Alcoholism Treatment Center, I first noticed the recurrence of symptoms and symptom complexes in former patients. nine0007

In my search for means to understand the meaning of these symptoms and to treat the sick accordingly, I found no material on these symptoms in the literature on alcoholism. I believe that knowledge of the prevalence of these symptoms is a necessary part of the scientific "baggage" of professionals involved in the treatment of alcoholism; this will allow them to alert their patients to the existence of these symptoms, which will eliminate, or at least reduce, the anxiety that accompanies these symptoms in patients. Moreover, it is important to note that a recovering alcoholic may experience these symptoms a considerable time later in the course of recovery; they do not occur during the detox period, but may appear for several months and even up to two years after the start of the sobriety period. nine0007

These symptoms may be the result of a slow return of the body to a normal physiological state after suffering for months or years from the effects of alcohol, but they may also be associated with serious disease states, not necessarily caused by alcoholism, and which need to be competently assessed from a medical point of view, not just ignore.

Appropriate treatment of concomitant diseases can thus be started immediately. Moreover, if the medical examination does not show the presence of processes associated with other diseases, the patient can be convinced that the symptoms he is experiencing are the result of the return of the body to a normal state and that with the appropriate diet and the use of the right vitamins and minerals, they will immediately disappear. As far as I know, there is no way to hasten the recovery and thus relieve the symptoms; the only correct treatment seems to be time combined with sedation and support. nine0007

Central nervous system sedatives relieve symptoms, but the dangers of using these drugs in recovering alcoholics have been established and symptoms recur after a period of absence.

Since the central nervous system is one of the body systems most affected by alcohol, the symptoms of recovery are most pronounced in this system.

Recovery from alcoholism is described as a model of denervation hypersensitivity in relation to overactivity and hypersensitivity of both motor and sensory aspects of the nervous tissue during the period of recovery from alcoholism. A similar process seems to continue for months after appropriate detoxification, and manifests itself in the form of various incoming and outgoing nerve impulses. The most commonly reported symptom of recovery in this area is extreme fatigue. Alcohol significantly impairs normal dreaming sleep, so that after months or years of drinking, the brain is very tired. Therefore, recovering alcoholics often feel excessively tired at various times of the day, especially at noon after lunch and at the end of the day. It may be necessary to advise recovering alcoholics to take part of the midday time for short sleep. nine0007

Many patients find this therapy extremely helpful in maintaining their daily activities. Many spouses are concerned that their convalescent spouse, coming home, lies down on the couch and sleeps until late in the evening, then goes to bed and sleeps until morning, and thus does not participate in family affairs. Therefore, it is important for patients, as well as their families and employers, to know that this level of fatigue is normal, and after a few months the state of increasing alertness and activity will resume. nine0007

Similarly, in the early stages of recovery, patients have vivid dreams, usually brightly colored and exciting. These dreams are very diverse: from beautiful and detailed to terrible nightmares. Some patients experience daytime nightmares in the form of a nap or trance-like state between periods of normal activity. Memory lapses are also common and disturb and confuse patients who cannot understand why, without taking medication, they forget appointments, commitments and promises. These memory lapses are usually limited and relatively short in duration. Incoming or sensory nerve stimuli also increase over long periods of time. As the middle ear heals, dizziness is common. It can be gradual or sudden in the beginning and also extremely unpleasant and annoying. Deviations can be stimulated by activities such as being in a moving elevator and the like. or occur spontaneously. nine0007

As has been pointed out, it may take several weeks or months of sobriety before these symptoms appear, causing discomfort in the patient, who may imagine that he has a brain tumor or some other disease.

If these symptoms are due to recovery from alcoholism, they will also spontaneously improve without significant treatment. Hearing becomes more acute in the first few months of recovery. Patients do not tolerate the annoying and ordinary sounds of traffic and the crying of children. It could also be the opposite:

"I thought they bought me a new stereo receiver. I hear new sounds. " In one case, the patient did not hear mid and high frequencies, which was noted on his audiograms during years of heavy drinking. However, in the last four years of sobriety, his audiograms show normal sound perception.

As with hearing, visual acuity improves during recovery from long periods of drug depression. Many patients note the unusual beauty and brightness of light and color, being fascinated by the spectrum visible in photographs, paintings, at sunset, emanating from flowers, etc. Driving at night is a problem for some people because the lights of an approaching car are often very annoying due to hypersensitivity of the optic nerve tissues or visual centers. A number of patients report that while drinking alcohol they had difficulty fitting spectacle lenses, but in the course of recovery their vision generally improved and the difficulty with spectacles disappeared. The taste becomes more and more pleasant, but sometimes unpleasant. The sensitivity of the skin also increases, and severe itching in the calves and ankles can be very disturbing, often disturbing sleep. To alleviate this condition, small doses of Thorazine can be used, however, in this case, time is a decisive factor, and after 3-6 months the itching stops abruptly. nine0007

Old wounds that were relatively infrequent during drunkenness now cause severe pain that does not improve with mild painkillers. In particular, old fractures can be very painful, interfering with daytime activities and sleep. Back pain is a common symptom that can be explained relatively easily. During drinking, the sensitive nerves that protect the back were anesthetized, resulting in small injuries, and now the bones begin to ache in the process of treatment. Muscle pain and abdominal cramps are also common complaints. One of the more common symptoms associated with the release of nerve energy is muscle spasms. They most often occur during rest and relaxation. nine0007

Cramps usually occur in the legs. Sharp spasmodic twitching of the calf or thigh muscles can cause confusion and embarrassment at receptions, at parties, etc. , also when the patient falls asleep, the convulsions bring him anxiety. When going to sleep, there is usually a slight spasmodic twitching of the whole body. In a stronger form it occurs in the recovering alcoholic and often brings him into a state of full wakefulness, it often occurs several times during the night and even early in the morning. Here the danger lies in the fact that the patient may resort to the use of sleeping pills in order to prevent this condition, which leads to the risk of acquiring an addiction. Instead of these medicines, you can drink warm milk. nine0007

I am not a psychiatrist, but I think that some of the symptoms are emotional or psychiatric, and they can also be caused by physiological changes in the brain or endocrine glands that cause so-called emotional or behavioral problems. For example, intense sleep cravings and bursts of activity are common.

The patient may indulge in a hobby or work for long periods of time in an avid manner. Like this, he can sleep through the whole weekend. As with other symptoms, these symptoms improve and disappear over time. Periods are also often observed, characterized by the manifestation of violent energy and great activity. They are often associated with significant mood swings, which is also normal. nine0007

The state of euphoria may last for days, weeks or months, which may be suddenly followed by shorter periods of depression. A long period of euphoria is very characteristic, beginning during sobriety and lasting three or more months, abruptly interrupted by several days of deep depression. This cyclic mood swing continues over the following months with gradually decreasing extremes, and mental balance is slowly restored. And again, this is the norm. nine0007

Here the danger is that the patient will take a well-intentioned physician or tranquilizers to bring him back to normal, or uplifting drugs to relieve depression.

Both of these methods are extremely harmful. The bad habit of tranquilizers is common, and for some reason, recovering alcoholics who take mood-enhancing drugs commit suicide. Again, these symptoms are bursts of emotional fluctuations for which time is the only known and safe cure. It is hoped that by this time the patient will have gained self-control and will receive support and strength from other people. A sober hangover and dry intoxication can also be based on this. Emotional outbursts are also common, and the patient and loved ones should be prepared for them if this symptom occurs. nine0007

Alcoholics Anonymous often mentions the "fifty yard rush syndrome" when the patient begins to engage in a hobby or activity with great enthusiasm and suddenly finds that his interest in it quickly drops and the attempt to do something stops. Sometimes this impulse of strong passion for something leads to a quick disappointment. Hopefully, familiarity with this symptom will prevent any serious side effects. Also common among recovering alcoholics are intense mental agitation and the desire for unexpected purchases. For example, one patient said he was going to buy a used car, but instead came home with a new Cadillac. It is hoped that the patient himself and his family will wait until such symptoms pass with time. nine0007

A number of related symptoms occur in the gastrointestinal system. The appetite often increases, and the patient finds that in addition to three meals a day, additional food is required to satisfy hunger. Sometimes excessive weight gain is associated with this. In this case, there is no need for sophisticated diets and no need to take pills, but it is recommended to follow a diet that provides the right amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Conversely, many recovering alcoholics lose weight despite significant increases in food intake. nine0007

I have no immediate explanation for this symptom, except that it is caused by an increased need for food in the body, and especially in the brain, as well as increased physical activity and some emotional instability. One patient I know lost about 35 feet of weight despite a large food intake. A thorough medical examination did not reveal any pathology.

The weight loss stopped abruptly after 6 months and the patient gradually gained weight to a level that would satisfy any insurance company. Along with this, many recovering alcoholics experience a redistribution of body weight. Some patients with a large belly find that their belly shrinks and their upper body becomes wider at the same time. Frequent food abuse. For some, this manifests itself in the desire to consume more sugar. Hypoglycemia is a common and long-term problem for many recovering alcoholics, and the condition can be exacerbated by eating regular sugar, while eating protein provides a slower release of sugar and prevents insulin and sugar imbalances. Again, an appropriate diet is recommended in this case. nine0007

Other eating disorders include increased consumption of vegetables and fruits. Many recovering alcoholics abuse carrots, consuming pounds of carrots in one week. Recovering alcoholics often bring home large quantities of oranges. Apparently, this also applies to other citrus fruits and potatoes. Many foods can fall into this category of overindulgence, and people seem to have different cravings for different types of food.

Undoubtedly, all this is due to the body's need for certain things that were absent from the diet during drunkenness, and also as a result of insufficient absorption, and are now required for recovery. Symptoms of pancreatitis in the initial stage may be noted for some time. They usually present as mild, dull toothache-like pains at the junction of the ribs and lower back.

As with all symptoms of recovery, these symptoms should be evaluated by a competent physician. If the examination is negative, the patient can usually be sure that these symptoms will stop with time. The increased endurance to work is probably due to the recovery of the cardiovascular system, as well as the bone and muscle systems. nine0007

The heart, which during the period of drunkenness beat unevenly, intermittently, now returns to its normal rhythm. Blood pressure becomes normal. Chest pain, which may not necessarily be associated with heart disease, also subsides. Skin condition reflects a large number of physiological changes. Some of them are pleasant, others are painful. For example, acne often appears in many people recovering from alcoholism, and is obviously unpleasant for thirty-year-old men and women. This is probably due to the fact that the gastrointestinal tract can now absorb dietary fat in normal amounts, while during the period of drunkenness it passed relatively unabsorbed. The skin cannot deal with this fat, hence the appearance of acne. Treatment with appropriate soaps and lotions helps, but the skin becomes normal over time. The positive side of this symptom is that the skin becomes softer and more pleasant with time. The quality of the hair is also improved. Body hair may also increase. Men with previously hairless breasts may develop some chest hair. Becomes normal and pubic hair. Oily hair is often less troublesome, while dry and brittle hair is more attractive and pliable. nine0007

Many people complain about various types of contact allergies when they are drunk. The most common of these is wool allergy. Many of my acquaintances were able to wear woolen suits and clothes again, and the allergy to them disappeared.

The feeling of intense cold in the calves, feet and hands, which may be caused by neurological, skin or vascular reactions during drunkenness, passes, and the hands become warm and moist, and the legs return to normal temperature. The purple hue of the feet, so often seen in people who drink, takes on a normal pink coloration. Hair on the fingers and toes also begins to grow back. This is probably due to both the increased blood circulation in these peripheral structures and the increased metabolism in the tissues. Women who had miscarriages and other fertility problems while drinking can now have a normal baby. nine0007

Similarly, frequent menstrual irregularities disappear and menstruation becomes normal. Alcohol has a negative effect on the physiology of sperm; many men suffering from infertility during drunkenness came to me about this after a year and a half of sobriety.

The most important and sometimes life-threatening symptom of recovery is impotence, although this is usually temporary and, with appropriate help, may not be much of a threat. Many men, in order to establish a connection with women, resort to alcohol, which eliminates prohibitions, taboos, acquired either by themselves or imposed on them by society. And now, when this drug is absent, prohibitions and taboos begin to operate. This period of time is very difficult for many men to endure. nine0007

Many men have told me about their inability to achieve an erection, despite the attractiveness of the partner or the desire of both partners. A person without prejudice endures this situation with humor, the opposite subject is seized by panic. I know a man who, thinking that he would have impotence permanently, decided to deal with it by self-destruction. This is a very difficult case. However, it is hoped that men who find themselves in such a situation will have an understanding partner who will treat them with sympathy and empathy and help them both through this difficult period of time. nine0007

In more severe cases, advice can be given, although none of my patients needed this. Also, small periods of relative impotence can occur for no apparent reason. With a loving, caring partner, this symptom subsides over time.

Most of the recovering alcoholics I know have successfully dealt with this symptom and now feel that their sex life has become incredibly wonderful, and they now experience much more pleasure from intercourse than when they resorted to alcohol. Their partners were also very pleased with the significant increase in their male power. If this issue is approached wisely, increased potency can be one of the most significant incentives for a recovering male alcoholic. Increased sexuality enhances his masculine essence, which is manifested in an increase in business activity and sociability. All this is extremely conducive to the emergence of self-esteem, so vital for any person. nine0007

The opposite of an understanding partner is one who is unwilling to help. Especially if the convalescent is in the early stages of impotence, latent or overt ill will can be extremely detrimental and increase natural restlessness to incredible proportions, as well as increase impotence in future contacts. I should equally note the importance of both the loving and caring partner and the opposite, whose behavior is detrimental to the person in recovery. nine0007

It is believed that many recovering alcoholics do not suffer from this symptom, but this does not mean that this situation is common. The appearance of impotence is often noted, and it can cause emotional distress, to which special attention should be paid. I have also had several recovering female alcoholics complain that they experience a similar symptom, but the nature of my professional association with mostly male patients does not allow me to explore this side of sexual problems. nine0007

It takes at least one year for the body to return to its normal physiological state. Even if laboratory tests, physical examination and other studies do not show any abnormality after a period of six weeks to two months after detoxification, it cannot be considered that the body systems have returned to a completely normal state after this period.

Also, it takes at least two years to return to such a normal emotional and psychological state, provided that the recovery program is completed. These emotional changes do not happen completely spontaneously, they require the help of other people - the society of Alcoholics Anonymous, doctors and caring, loving people and household members. nine0007

The great patience of a spouse, children, and co-workers is needed and, I repeat, comfort, support, and encouragement are the key factors in a strengthening, recovering alcoholic reaching his or her full potential over a period of time.

Older members of Alcoholics Anonymous state that as they continue with their program of recovery, they still remember times in their lives when they experienced continuous growth, emotional maturity, and physical improvement that continue into during their long years of sobriety. This is one of the most beautiful aspects of recovering from alcoholism. It is not necessary to become an alcoholic to experience these wonderful aspects of life, but for many, the crisis in life caused by alcohol abuse has become an incentive to engage in an ongoing and constant process of growth; Unfortunately, the average person does not have such an incentive.

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