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Alcoholics Pass through several stages of recovery. This list compiled by a very experienced alcohol counsellor may help people through the program.

Initial Sobriety

• Surrenders to alcohol – accepts alcoholism
• Begins humble search for self
• Restoration of physical health begins
• Restoration of memory begins
• Restoration of mental functions begins
• Begins to practice self-honesty
• Is pre-occupied with sobriety
• Growth of open-mindedness
• Lessening of needless guilt
• Freely discusses alcohol and its problems
• Mild depression and anxiety lessens
• Mental functions are more alert

Learning Sobriety

• Accepts and owns their alcoholism
• Loss of freedom acknowledged and accepted
• Alibis replaced by sound reasons for sobriety
• Social pressures to quit, lessen – threats replaced by encouragement
• Grandiose behaviour begins to be replaced by the give and take of real personal relations
• Aggressive behaviour begins to be replaced by willingness to learn
• Persistent remorse disappears, peace initiated
• Abstinence graduates into sobriety
• Pattern of thinking begins to change
• Regains friends
• Job prospects improve
• Sobriety-centred behaviour improves
• Regains outside interests
• Acceptance of friends
• Sense of humour starts to replace self-pity
• Acceptance of environment improves
• Begins to regains family faith
• Resentment of others begins to be replaced by acceptance of others
• Loyalty and protection of family interests begins
• Sex relations improve
• Greater understanding of life partner
• Learns to enjoy a good breakfast

Accepting Sobriety

• Surrenders to life – accepts life on its terms
• Loss of desire to drink becomes profane and lasting
• Improved ethical and moral perception
• Improved thinking
• Improved feeling
• Keeps company with people one can respect of help
• Emotional ‘dips’ become fewer and shallower
• Emotions become easier to manage

Creative sobriety

• Loss of desire to drink becomes deeper and almost permanent
• Fears, anxieties and depressions are understood and managed in interpersonal relations
• Appreciates deeply freedom from alcohol
• Explores new freedom to use it in other activities without fear
• Single-minded sobriety; defines assurances that there is no compromise with sobriety
• Genuine spiritual desires centred on new way of life
• Alibi system replaced by deepening quality of intelligent sobriety
• Appreciates need for help, both for sobriety and as a guard against drinking in daily life

Pleasurable Sobriety

• Self-unity, at peace with oneself, knows serenity
• Socialises easily, at one with the world
• Little or no emotional hang-overs
• Rewards clearly exceed tough times
• Feels well, enjoys sobriety
• Anxiety, shyness, etc., disappear in genuine interpersonal relations

Adapted from Stewart DA. Thirst For Freedom. Hazeldene; Minnesota

Thirst for Freedom by David A. Stewart

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