Work was starting to be too hectic for a young police officer named Gary. Even though he had only been on the police force for three years, he was already known as a hard worker who almost never declined working overtime. In truth, he was now working twenty to twenty-five hours of overtime each week and, as a consequence, he felt like he was losing his hold on his personal life. What made the situation more complex, however, was the fact that Gary began going out drinking with a bunch of his fellow officers after his shift was over.
What Began as a Good Time Soon Became Hazardous Drinking
What began as a good time very soon turned into unhealthy drinking and then into a negative cycle of feeling tired each morning when he awakened for work, working more long hours, and then going drinking with his friends after work.
Visibly Gary was in a emotional and health related rut and experiencing some negative alcohol effects on the body. Where Gary really observed drinking related problems and alcohol short term effects, however, was in his marriage and in his family life. His wife wasn’t really a complainer, but she frequently asked him to stay at home more with the family instead of going out and blowing all of his money while drinking with his pals.
Gary’s Careless and Irresponsible Drinking Negatively Affects His Personality
In a similar way, Gary’s careless and irresponsible drinking also adversely affected his personality. Stated briefly, the more heavily he drank, the less patience he had with any issues or problems that emerged concerning his wife or his children.
It Was Apparent to Gary That His Abusive Drinking Was Adversely Affecting His Pocketbook, Relationship With His Family, Work, and His Health
In his heart of hearts, it was clear to Gary that his careless and excessive drinking was negatively affecting his relationship with his family, health, pocketbook, and his work. So one Monday afternoon Gary arrived at a decision to talk to Jerry, a trusted old police officer friend that he greatly respected.
Gary told Jerry how excessive and irresponsible drinking was adversely affecting his work, health, relationship with his family, and his pocketbook. Jerry told Gary that he completely understood because approximately thirteen years ago, he too got involved in irresponsible and careless drinking. In fact, Jerry told Gary that unhealthy drinking can create so many problems in an individual’s life that just about everything of significance can be ruined. And finally, Jerry suggested that Gary make an appointment with an alcohol counselor at the work-affiliated alcohol abuse center.
Due to the fact that his employee’s assistance program was affiliated with this rehab facility, it was not only quite convenient but also very affordable to obtain treatment about his abusive and unhealthy drinking. And since the staff at the substance abuse rehabilitation facility was supportive, competent, and non-judgmental, Gary would be able to get alcohol rehabilitation that was doable and something he could follow through on.
After talking to his psychologist about how his drinking was adversely affecting his work, pocketbook, relationship with his family, and his health, Gary grasped the fact that he was burning the candle at both ends with his hectic work hours and his excessive and careless drinking. Once he comprehended that he was getting himself into a rut, with the help of his psychologist, and after ten weeks in therapy, he was at last able to quit drinking and stop working overtime.
Due to His Alcohol Rehabilitation Gary Felt More Healthy and Had Much More Energy
The result was that Gary saw life another way now that he was in alcohol recovery. More specifically, due to his alcohol treatment he not only was more patient when interacting with his wife and his children, but he actually had more money now even though he was working far fewer hours each week, he had more quality time to spend with his family, and he felt better and more healthy. Strangely enough, now that he quit drinking, Gary and his wife were not only starting to save some money for a new house but he also felt more alert and more energized than anytime since he and his wife got married.
