Re: alcoholics have three choices...

I think it's two-fold; you have to deal with the spiritual and you have to deal with the physical. and if your off with either, you're at risk.
AA meetings help us deal with the spiritual/mental. we do the 12 steps, we share with others, listen to others, learn.
and for our physical health, which affects out mental health!, we have to get our chemisty back in balance. maybe that's nutrition or herbs, or medication for some......this is especially important if you've been a long time abuser, B/c it drains your system, throws everything off balance and somtimes just being sober doesn't give your body what it needs to recover. so maybe just eating right is enough for some but for others they'll need suppliments. maybe short-term? maybe long-term.
I have a friend who had to be on psyciatric meds for a year after he got sober, poor guy was a mess. then he got off of those and he's been complety sober now for 2 years. it's a process.
I didn't go that route. I don't use a specific anything to keep me sober. But I have to work hard at it. I gave up smoking and coffee too. I really warped my nervous system and can't handle caffiene at all.
I have to take calcium/magnesium two times a day to help calm me. I drink mint tea. I can't eat chocolate because it's too stimulating. I have panic attacks. sometimes I suffer from insomnia. and I'm sure everyone on this board suffers from they're own set of problems that stem from their abuse. Tweet