Recovery from alcoholism (Alcohol Use Disorder or AUD) is very possible but often is a long journey and typically does include slip-ups or relapses as part of the learning process. Maintaining sobriety has many elements. Over time, it does get easier but requires constant commitment. Read on to learn more about achieving sobriety and staying healthy without alcohol.
Recovery From Alcoholism and the Long Road Ahead
The first step in recovery is acknowledging you have a problem. Then sharing that with important people in your life and making a commitment to sober up. The next step is to go into detox to begin the acute phase of withdrawal. Ideally this will be in a medically assisted detox center where you will have healthcare professionals looking after and supporting you.
Physical symptoms of withdrawal normally peak about 48 to 72 hours after having your last drink. Many stop having withdrawal symptoms 4 to 5 days after the last drink with symptoms being the worst around the third day. However, symptoms can last up to two weeks. Nonetheless, they typically will not last at this level of intensity.
But detox is not recovery, and you don’t achieve recovery by just not using. So it’s best to enter a residential treatment center, where there is a full range of support, including counseling and therapy, a stable routine, supportive community, nutritious food, and interesting activities. These provide strength and knowledge to deal with the post-acute withdrawal phase (PAWS), where the challenge is less physical and more psychological.
Residential treatment programs may last 30-90 days, followed by aftercare and an alumni program to help you with recovery. Making a recovery plan with your therapists to guide you once you are back home is a critical part of the process.
You may ask how do I know when I’m in recovery? Here are four signs [1] :
- I can address problems as they happen, without using alcohol or drugs and without getting stressed out
- I have at least one person I can be completely honest with.
- I have personal boundaries and know which issues are mine and which ones belong to other people.
- I take the time to restore my energy—physical and emotional—when I am tired.
What Does “Easy” Mean in Recovery?
Let’s face it, recovery is not easy, especially if you’ve been misusing alcohol for some time. It takes courage and discipline to continue the recovery journey. But there are many benefits to being sober, including improved:
- Stress levels
- Relationships
- Work performance
- Self-confidence
Recovery can be seen as a process of personal growth with three stages as shown below, adapted from Melemis and others [2] [3]. While these are not the same length for each person, they are a helpful way to understand recovery. And each stage of recovery has its own risks of relapse.
| Stage | Length | Primary Focus | Main Objectives/Comments |
| Abstinence | 1-2 years from detox | Dealing with cravings Not using | Improved physical self-careImproved emotional self-care. |
| Repair | 2-3 years after abstinence | Catching up Repair the damage caused by addiction | Overcome the guilt and negative self-labeling that evolved during addiction Try to avoid common causes of relapse in this stage are poor self-care and not going to self-help groups Participants usually start to feel progressively better, but as they begin to address past trauma or adverse life events associated with their use, they may feel worse at times |
| Growth | 3-5 years after repair | Moving forward Develop skills that individuals may have never learned, and that predisposed them to addiction | Identify and repair negative thinking and self-destructive patterns Understand how negative familial patterns have been passed down, which will help individuals let go of resentments and move forward The individual’s growth often includes experiences and developing skills they missed due to the addiction, particularly if the addiction started at a young age |
So it’s not easy, but with help, relapses can be minimized and recovery can be achieved.
Melemis observes that the most important rule of recovery is that a person does not achieve recovery by just not using. Recovery involves creating a new life in which it is easier to not use. Otherwise all the factors that contributed to their addiction will eventually catch up with them.
Early Sobriety Challenges
The primary challenges in the abstinence phase of early sobriety are related to improving physical and emotional self-care. Those in recovery often want to skip past this and get to what they consider are the real issues of recovery. However they need to be reminded that continued lack of self-care may lead back to relapse.
A commonly used guide to increased awareness of poor self-care is the acronym HALT: hungry, angry, lonely, tired. Those in recovery can use this to note triggers that may happen for those reasons and take steps to avoid drinking in those moments.
When Can You Be Considered “Sober”?
Some consider sober to mean abstinence from drinking alcohol. While this is a critical first step, sobriety has a far broader meaning. It means changing your life. That involves changing your relationship with yourself, your family, your friends, and other important people in your life.
It also means developing new habits and learning to cope with challenges in new, healthier ways. And most of all, it means creating new meaning in your life that does not depend on or involve drinking alcohol.
How to Properly Quit Drinking Alcohol
Some people can quit drinking “cold turkey” with no support. However, this is not recommended and can be dangerous. Depending on how much you have been drinking, there may be critical medical and psychological side effects during withdrawal that require assistance from a healthcare professional and therapist. So, participating in a medically supervised detox is the recommended approach.
But that’s just the beginning. Enrolling in a residential treatment program (rehab) can help provide the emotional support needed to avoid relapse as you go into the abstinence phase. And participating regularly in support groups is a key element of this process. You are now embarking on changing your life, and the dangers of relapse are ever present. It’s rarely possible to do this alone.
Recovering from Alcohol Addiction in Los Angeles
If you or a loved one is seeking a way out of substance abuse, private, confidential help is just a call away. Reach out to our Admissions team at The Encino now.
At the Encino Recovery & Detox Center in Los Angeles we don’t just treat addiction. We nurture the spirit, heal the mind and help you to regain your life. All in a safe space.
We provide medically supervised detox. After detoxing, you may enter our residential treatment center. Trained staff are equipped to offer clinical care. They will provide the support, guidance and interventions necessary for you to reach your treatment goals. Participating in residential care greatly enhances your success rate at avoiding relapses.
Sources
[1] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2015. The Next Step…Towards a Better Life.
[2] Melemis SM. Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery. Yale J Biol Med. 2015 Sep 3;88(3):325-32.
[3] Guenzel N, McChargue D. Addiction Relapse Prevention. [Updated 2023 Jul 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan
