For successful alcoholism recovery, there must be a convergence of 3 factors. Recovery from alcoholism can be made very complex, but ironically, is best understood in simple terms. Here are the three crucial factors that should come together to have a reasonable chance of success and lifelong abstinence from alcohol:
1. Strong motivation – If the drinker is not aware or can’t see that drinking has become problematic, the logic becomes why fix something that isn’t broken?. This is a huge problem because the denial of a problem is one of the defining characteristics of alcohol addiction. Now, even if the drinker does believe that they have a problem, there’s a question of whether they’re willing to do something about it, and what are they willing to do? Often they may concede that there’s a problem with their drinking, but are not motivated to “do what ever it takes” to become completely abstinent. They will spin around in circles in futile efforts to maintain ‘control’ over their drinking.
2. Timing – If the drinker concedes that they have a problem with alcohol addiction or it is causing problems in their life, that’s great, but it’s not enough. Many drinkers are fully aware that they have a problem but not ready to do anything about it. Timing and motivation are frequently brought about by personal crisis that is close to home and personal. Getting whooped in the head with a figurative 2 x 4, such as narrowly escaping death, or losing a job, or losing somebody close to them. Motivation and timing generally do not come together as a result of nagging, finger-pointing or educating the alcoholic on the evils of addiction. I knew I had a problem with drinking for 20 years, and said I could quit any time I wanted to, but the time was never quite right. If a drinker has admitted that they have a problem with alcohol and states that want to quit the next question to be asked to simply… now? If the timing is right we move onto the next piece of the puzzle.
3. Persistence – If the motivation and timing are in place and a drinker has actually stopped drinking and achieved abstinence, the question now is how they stay stopped drinking for the long run? The only solution is to keep abstinence and growing in sobriety the primary alcohol addiction recovery goal. The way that is done is through persistence. It’s crucial to keep a high level of daily awareness that no matter what twists of fate life has in store for us, returning to alcohol use is not a solution. The vast majority of people who have relapsed back into alcohol use have stated that sobriety lost its priority. They did not persistently maintain their awareness of their alcoholism; actively pursue relapse prevention, and life skills. Many people returned to drink because their life is going so well they forget they have a problem with alcohol and believe they can once again return to its use and control it.
There are many ways to look at alcoholism and recovery. There is no one definite view or methodology that has been proven to be more successful than another, so there are many theories and opinions out there. It is simply my experience as a professional working with people and alcohol addiction recovery that the confluence, or coming together, of motivation, correct timing, and persistence, are necessary pieces of the puzzle for long-term sobriety.
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I agree that these 3 factors are essential for lasting recovery, but I believe that other factors are needed. Daily exercise to relieve stress and promote health is one. Improved nutrition to help the body recover from vitamin deficiencies is another. Most importantly, the alcoholic needs to replace his isolated alcohol-focused life with strong social relationships which means mending fences with alienated friends or making new friends AND he needs real purpose and meaning in his life. This could come from renewed commitment to his existing job, from spiritual activities, from volunteer work or building a new career. The recovering alcoholic needs people to care about and a mission in life to care about.