Hitting rock bottom with alcohol can be an overwhelming and isolating experience. It’s a moment when the consequences of your alcohol abuse become undeniable, and life can feel impossible to manage. However, reaching this low point can also be powerful motivation for change.
Understanding what rock bottom means, recognizing the signs, and knowing what steps to take next can pave the way for recovery. This article will help walk you through the low point of hitting rock bottom and how you can start to rebuild your life.
If you need immediate help, reach out to SAMHSA’s free, confidential hotline or call 911.
What is Rock Bottom?
“Rock bottom” usually refers to a life-changing moment of despair brought on by addiction. It’s the point at which an individual feels they have reached their lowest point due to their alcohol abuse and/or mental health issues. While this moment can be extremely upsetting, it can also be a pivotal turning point. In this moment, you may realize that the only way forward is to seek change and recovery.
Signs You’ve Hit Rock Bottom
Admitting that alcohol has greatly impacted your life can be difficult. Common signs you’ve hit rock bottom include:
- Broken Relationships: You’ve hurt or destroyed relationships with family, friends, or partners.
- Job Loss: Your drinking has affected your job performance or you’ve lost your job completely.
- Health Problems: Your alcohol use has caused serious health issues or hospitalization, or you’ve physically harmed other people.
- Financial Strain: You’ve spent significant amounts of money on alcohol or on purchases while inebriated.
- Legal Issues: You’ve had run-ins with law enforcement while intoxicated or been issued tickets or D.U.I.s.
- Deep Despair: You’re having persistent feelings of hopelessness, depression, and isolation from your drinking.
- Loss of Interest: You no longer care about hobbies or passions that once brought you joy.
- Neglecting Responsibilities: You’re no longer caring for yourself or your family, keeping your home clean, or paying bills.
Keep in mind, it’s not necessary to hit rock bottom before seeking help for addiction. No matter where you are in your journey, reducing your alcohol use can greatly improve your relationships, health, and overall quality of life.
What to Do Next
If you’ve hit rock bottom, it’s important to take things one step at a time. Take a moment to breathe deeply and relax. Once you’ve calmed down a bit, it’s crucial that you reach out for support.
Breathe
Take a moment to breathe deeply and simply relax. You might try following a guided meditation or simply sit in a quiet room and focus on your breath. If you can, try to accept the reality of the situation without passing judgment on yourself. Overthinking things will only lead you into a spiral of guilt and despair. Instead, recognize that you’re in a bad place, but you have a choice about how to move forward.
Connect with Others
Isolation can make the feeling of hitting rock bottom even worse. Instead of dealing with this on your own, reach out to a supportive friend, family member, or recovery hotline. It may be difficult, but reaching out is the first step towards healing.
You may feel as if no one can relate to your situation, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are plenty of people who have been through similar experiences and survived. Talking about your problems can make you feel less alone and more empowered to seek help. It can also give you a new perspective on how to move forward.
Find Treatment
Once you’ve accepted your situation and sought support, it’s time to get professional help for your alcohol use. This can mean a detox program, therapy, or joining a recovery support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Professional treatment centers provide the tools and resources necessary for effective recovery, including coping strategies, relapse prevention, and therapeutic support. Seeking this type of support can make a big difference in your ability to remain sober in the long term.
Find Sober Support at Drew Horowitz & Associates
At Drew Horowitz & Associates, we know how tough it can be to struggle with alcohol use and mental health issues. Our team is ready to provide the sober support you need to start your recovery journey. We provide interventions, individualized treatment consults, sober coaching, and sober companionship to help you recover and stay sober for the long term.
