Alcohol addiction isn't easy to recover from. Unlike other addictive substances, alcohol is promoted everywhere – television commercials, magazine and internet ads, convenience stores, the grocery store – it is everywhere! If you're struggling with alcohol addiction, you can win the war. Here, you'll find a few tips to help you get through the first stages of addiction and take back the life that you were meant to have.

Start With Detox

If you've been drinking steadily for quite some time, detox is your first step. Trying to quit drinking on your own when your body and mind are accustomed to having a steady flow of alcohol flowing through it will make you sick and could possibly cause seizures and other serious medical issues.

Lots of alcoholics have tried tapering off their consumption levels in an attempt to quit on their own, but this just causes the struggle to last longer and postpones the next step of recovery. Detox takes about a week under the care of medical professionals, and at the end of that week, you'll feel completely different – you'll feel better. Your nutritional needs will be met as well as your mental health needs.

Continue With Recovery Therapy

Recovery therapy is available through inpatient and outpatient services. Many recovery centers suggest that you stay for 3 weeks of treatment following the detox treatment. This is because your struggle not to drink will be strongest during those first few weeks of living alcohol-free. During those three weeks, you'll learn tools to help you not drink, as well as identify reasons why you want to drink.

Following the three weeks, your recovery isn't complete – you will continue to remain in recovery for years – if not forever. It is at this point that outpatient care will help. You'll continue to discuss your struggles and get the professional help that you need to stay strong against the temptation to pick up another bottle and begin the cycle again.

Alcoholic recovery is a battle that can be won – you may take a few losses along the way, but if you stick with it, your body and mind will begin to recover, and the rest of your life will begin to fall into place. You'll find people who you can better relate to and your friends and family will see a difference in your behavior. Those who may have written you off in the past may open their arms and welcome you back once you've proven your sobriety.

To learn more about addiction recovery, consult a resource in your area.