Doubtless, the greatest scourge humanity has ever brought on itself is the use of alcohol, which has ruined and killed more people than all the wars humanity has ever conducted.
Alcohol is a killer. It destroys the body as well as the mind. Directly affected by drinking are the blood, heart, liver, stomach, kidneys, the nerves, and the brain. A long list of chronic diseases can result from heavy drinking. Mentally the heavy drinker becomes unstable, irritable, unreliable, brutal, and finally insane. The majority of inmates in our hospitals, jails, and insane asylums are alcoholics. The use of narcotics is often a follow-up on heavy drinking due to an abnormally increased craving for powerful stimulants developed by the use of alcohol.
There are various causes responsible for people’s forming the habit of drinking. The first and most usual one is taking a drink in company with the object of being sociable. This, as a rule, begins at an early age when youngsters are looking for a good time and trying to show off as being worldly-wise and sophisticated. We must guard our children against such sentiments by proper bringing up and by setting an example of decency in our own behavior.
Then there is the one who drinks to perk himself up after a hard day’s work, or nervous tension. The bottle in this case is the wrong answer, because it perks one up only for a few minutes; then depresses one again in a more exaggerated manner; there is an ever-greater demand for the stimulant. The best help in bracing one up is a glass of water, a few minutes of complete relaxation with deep breathing in a reclining position, and a mental repetition of affirmations like, “I am full of pep and energy; I am strong and healthy,” et cetera.
The majority of alcoholics are driven to drinking by an unconscious desire to forget something unpleasant from their present or past. Such disturbances are usually of two types — those that originate from outer influences, and those originating from inner frustrations. The former may be a nagging wife or mother-in-law or a combination of both, an insolent employer or co-workers, unemployment, dislike of one’s occupation or surroundings; the latter — disappointments, self-reproach, various feelings of inferiority and shortcomings.
Where heavy drinking is caused by such emotional disturbances the first thing to do is to remove once and for all the source of the trouble. The outer causes should be handled by a thorough and objective analysis of the situation, a conclusion should be reached, and a possible solution one way or another worked out and put into practice. The inner negative emotions should also be analyzed and set aside; better yet — written out and marked off as past and to be forgotten. The afflicted person should affirm to himself at all possible moments of the day, particularly before falling asleep at night and upon awakening in the morning, as follows. “I am a different person now; all the past is forgotten; I am forgiven; I am master of my destiny.”
Where one has a keen desire and some will power left to get rid of the alcoholic habit through his own efforts the use of alcohol must be discontinued entirely as well as further association with other drinkers. Joining Alcoholics Anonymous or other constructive organizations will help greatly in building morale. Affirmations for the purpose of re-educating and influencing the subconscious mind are very helpful. One should use the following: “I am going to keep away from drinking from now on; I have a strong will power; I will never touch another drink.”
Drinking copious quantities of water and fruit juices will help in cleansing the blood of toxins and irritating substances. This will alleviate the craving and will also clear up the brain and relax the nerves. Good, nourishing, natural foods rich in vitamins and minerals will build up the afflicted one and increase his powers of resistance.
One of the surest ways of getting rid of the alcoholic habit is a complete fast of twelve to fifteen days’ duration. During this procedure all cells of the body are cleaned of all traces of alcohol, as well as most of the body toxins, which usually irritate the brain and nerve centers ,and our mucous membranes, thus causing a craving for the stimulant. As a result of this cleansing of the blood through fasting the afflicted person has an excellent chance for quick recovery.
In cases where the afflicted is unable or unwilling to help himself in getting rid of the habit through his own efforts, those near him should prevail upon him to seek the aid of a psychiatrist with whose assistance his problems could be solved and peace of mind with a more optimistic outlook could be attained. Expert and honest psychologists and psychiatrists may be found through a local library, college, or school information service.
Where the afflicted is too far advanced and more severe measures must be resorted to, the method we are going to outline here will prove very efficient in ridding one of the habit. However, first, a few words to clarify the matter.
Acquiring a habit is usually accomplished through the conscious mind impressing the subconscious by repetition until the action stays permanently in the subconscious and then works automatically. Conversely, when you desire to get rid of a habit you must impress the subconscious mind (yours as well as someone else’s) with your conscious mind so strongly that the habit will be abandoned in due time.
Here is how it should be worked: when the afflicted person is asleep in bed enter his room quietly, sit down near him. take his left (receiving) hand into your right (giving) one, and in an audible whisper affirm the following—”John, dear,” (call him by his name) “from now on for the rest of your life everytime you take a drink straight or mixed of whiskey” (specify the particular drink he is addicted to) “you must vomit it out immediately.” Do this for ten to fifteen minutes at a time. Ten to twelve sittings of this kind should be sufficient to break the habit.
Work this scheme without the knowledge of the afflicted. Be sure to mention the particular drink so that the afflicted will not vomit anything else he drinks except liquor. If he is a light sleeper train him in the beginning not to wake up in your presence by starting with—”Sleep well, John, do not wake up.” If the afflicted one is your husband and you both sleep in the same room or bed your task will be that much easier.
Although there is no severe objection to taking an occasional drink in company, habitual drinking is a curse and should not be tolerated by humanity. A drunkard, while a pathological case by all standards, is nevertheless a disgusting nuisance to others and is more like an animal than a human being. Of late, drunk driving has become a national menace. Death and destruction are taking their daily toll on our highways due to drinking. Strict laws aiming at large fines, prolonged detention, and hospital treatment of those driving in an intoxicated condition should be a help in solving this troublesome problem.
In conclusion, we must emphasize the urgency o£ fighting alcoholism to the end, for there can be no happiness in life with this monstrous scourge abroad in our midst.
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