There is a saying that can often be heard in the rooms of 12-Step recovery that goes, “The mind is a scary place; you should never go in there alone.” This is the crux of alcoholic thinking – many dangerous and devastating thoughts can eventually lead to a relapse if you are not in the right place to take the next right action.
Better Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder
Millions of people struggle with alcohol use disorder (AUD) every day. In fact, it is one of the most common addictions and diseases in the world.
Many people stigmatize addiction as some type of moral failing or “choice.” However, this simply is not the case. In fact, it is this type of stigma, combined with alcoholic thinking, that can cause someone to either avoid getting help or eventually relapse while in recovery. If you are struggling with addiction, it is important to understand that you have a chronic disease, and thus it is not something to bring blame down upon yourself. You are an individual who is struggling with a chronic health condition, and you deserve to get well.
Additionally, addiction has more in common with other chronic diseases than it does with a “choice.” According to the Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience (JPN), “As with type II diabetes, hypertension and many cancers, there are genetic, biological and environmental influences. As with Tourette syndrome, patients can inhibit their compulsive behaviours, yet sustaining these choices is difficult and contextually modulated. Finally, in this view, an addiction is only 1 possible expression of the pre-existing traits.” These expressions may also include alcoholic thinking.
What Is Alcoholic Thinking?
Many people don’t even realize that they have a problem with alcohol. One reason for this is that they struggle with alcoholic thinking. It has been said that AUD is a “disease that tells you that you don’t have a disease.” This is alcoholic thinking.
Ultimately, the addiction takes over any semblance of rational thought.. For example, you may wake up with a terrible hangover and a feeling of dread, or perhaps you even wake up facing some serious consequences. You then promise yourself that you are never going to drink again, only to find yourself doing so a few hours later and wondering why.
This is alcoholic thinking. Knowing the outcomes of taking that first drink and yet taking that drink anyway. As is said in 12-Step recovery, alcoholic thinking leads to the definition of insanity – “doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.”
What Are the Results of Alcoholic Thinking?
The results of alcoholic thinking are that it either keeps you from getting sober or stops you from staying sober. Yes, it can easily lead to a relapse.
Further, many people don’t realize just how common relapses can be. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Current Psychiatry Reports, “The chronic, relapsing nature of addictive disorders is a key factor contributing to high disease burden. Although we have US Food and Drug Administration – approved treatments for nicotine, alcohol, and opioid addiction, more than two-thirds of individuals are known to relapse after initiating treatment for substance use disorders. Furthermore, there are no validated biological markers to identify those at high risk of relapse.”
How to Manage Alcoholic Thinking
One of the best ways to manage alcoholic thinking is to connect to other people in recovery. This includes recovery professionals and recovery peers. Recovery professionals can help to create a healthy plan of action, and recovery peers can help to motivate and inspire you to get and stay sober. This also includes accountability.
12-Step recovery is also a great way to stay accountable. This is because you can get a service commitment at a home group, and that can keep you coming back to the same recovery meetings and building a healthy community and sober network. Also, this is a great way to connect to a sponsor who can help talk you through times when negative alcoholic thinking starts to become prevalent.
Working with others is also a great way to stay sober. In fact, it has been said that helping another person with AUD is the best way to stay sober yourself. It is impossible to think about your own problems when you are helping someone else with theirs. Also, being able to relate to other people who also have alcoholic thinking can make you feel less alone on your recovery journey.
A Focus on Long-Term Success at The Phoenix Recovery Center
Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” That is why all of our plans are individualized and comprehensive, with a focus on the future.
If you are sick and tired of letting alcoholic thinking rule your life, then the time to recover is now. You can do this! We can help.
It can be highly beneficial to learn about the thought patterns and mindsets that characterize alcoholic thinking, and how recognizing these patterns can be a crucial step toward recovery. If you feel like you are struggling with alcoholic thinking, don’t fret. Many effective means, methods, and modalities can help you get past that hurdle. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. To begin your healing journey complete this short form or call The Phoenix Recovery Center at (801) 438-3185.
