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One of the most widespread and menacing evils of the modern world is none other than the devastating disease named Alcoholism. Often dismissed as a lack of self-control, it is only now that many individuals and societies are rising to the urgent need to curb this devastating disease which has destroyed many lives and shattered several homes. And yet, there are still those among us who continue to don the blinkers of oblivion, disregarding alcoholism as just one of those things which happen to "other people". It is this very reasoning that plummets several individuals, who are just like you and me, into the bottomless pit called alcoholism.

One of the major factors which make alcohol abuse such a difficult disorder to diagnose and cure, is that the victim himself is often unwilling to come to terms with his addiction. He is in, what is referred to as the phase of denial. The most objective method to ascertain if you are indeed, in the throes of addiction is to count the number of drinks you consume. If you find yourself consuming more than 4 drinks a day and 17 drinks a week, you need to pay heed to your consumption patterns. Also, if you drink more as a way to escape your depression or simply because you can't think of any other way to spend an entertaining evening, you are well on your way to becoming a victim of addiction. The best thing to do at this point would be to talk to a doctor about your drinking, as your analysis may not always be the most objective and the most unbiased one. You may defend your addiction with a number of excuses and justifications, or even think that every one else around you is blowing the matter out of proportion.

But if you find that your drinking is causing your friends and family members to be concerned about your well being, take this as a much needed wake-up call. Don't cast their warnings away as baseless fears, but set up an appointment with your physician as soon as possible. Remember, it is you who are worst affected by your addiction. From physical maladies like liver cirrhosis, to renal disorders, gastrointestinal aliments and even cardiovascular failure, there is barely a part of your body that alcohol does not attack. Drinking as a recourse from the pressures and tensions of day-to-day life is unlikely relieve you of any stress. This is because alcohol is, in itself, a depressant. Hence, the temporary high that you feel after a strong drink or two rapidly concede to feelings of severe depression, which in turn encourage you to reach out for another round of drinks.

Once you have made the decision to quit, reinforce your resolve in every possible way. Firstly, draw up a list of all the reasons why you want to give up on your habit. This could be your physical health, the estranged ties that have developed with those who were once dearest to you, and even the negative impact your addiction has on your performance at work. Then, put up this list somewhere you can see it often to remind yourself of what prompted you to make the decision to quit. The second most important thing to do is talk. Draw your family and your friends into your confidence and let them talk you through the toughest phases of your de-addiction. If your problem lies, not in alcohol per se, but in other deeper rooted psychological concerns, availing of the guidance of a trained therapist may also prove immensely beneficial. You can also attend group therapy sessions to interact with others like you who are also struggling to overcome similar demons.

Set milestones for yourself in your de-addiction program. For every milestone that you accomplish, reward yourself. This could involve a simple dinner with the family, an evening out at the theater, or even gifting yourself something you've always coveted. When you cut down on your intake of alcohol, you'll find that you're also saving all the money that once funded your drinking habit. Use this money to motivate you to stay clean, until it becomes a way of life for you. You can also try alternative techniques like hypnosis, or acupuncture, or just a relaxing massage if your need to break your resolve for 'Just a tiny drink' becomes too overwhelming.

The first month of your de-addiction program is bound to be the most difficult. However, once you've eased through that crucial phase, make it a point to redesign your social and personal interactions to avoid any circumstances which may prompt relapses. This could involve avoiding those weekend "Let's get sloshed" sessions with your colleagues from work, or even keeping away from all the people you associated with, during your addiction. Many of these associates may be in the denial phase themselves, and hence not recognize the need for you to take the drastic step to curtail your drinking habits at all. What's more, they may even try, in all innocence, to coerce you to break your program "Just once," assuring you that a single drink will not do you any harm. And before you know it, the one drink multiplies into two and then four and before you know it, you're back right where you began.

Although the difficulties and obstacles, which crop up when you take that first step towards de-addiction, seem overwhelming at first, don't let them weaken your resolve. As they say, perseverance pays and yours will too keep moving towards your goal relentlessly and you will discover the many beautiful facets of life which your addiction blocks out.