Work was becoming too chaotic for a young police officer named Gary. Although he had only been on the police force for two-and-a-half years, he was already known as a hard worker who almost never refused working overtime. Actually, he was now working twenty-five to thirty hours of overtime each week and, consequently, he felt like he was losing his hold on his personal life. What made the situation more complicated, however, was the fact that Gary started going out drinking with a gang of fellow officers after work.
What Began as Fun With The Guys Soon Became Unhealthy and Excessive Drinking
What began as fun soon turned into unhealthy and irresponsible drinking and then into a viscous cycle of feeling tired each morning when he got up for his shift, working more long hours, and then going drinking with his friends after work.
Obviously Gary was in a health related and psychological rut and going through some adverse alcohol effects on the body. Where Gary really observed drinking related issues and alcohol short term effects, conversely, was in his family life and in his marriage. His wife wasn’t really a complainer, but she often encouraged him to stay at home more with the family rather than going out and spending money while drinking with his fellow officers.
Gary’s Hazardous Drinking Negatively Affects His Personality
In a similar manner, Gary’s abusive drinking also adversely affected his personality. More to the point, the more abusively he drank, the less patience he had with any difficulties or issues that arose regarding his children or his wife.
It Was Obvious to Gary That His Unhealthy and Excessive Drinking Was Adversely Affecting His Pocketbook, Health, Work, and His Relationship With His Family
In his heart of hearts, it was apparent to Gary that his irresponsible drinking was adversely affecting his health, pocketbook, relationship with his family, and his work. So one Wednesday afternoon Gary came to a decision to talk to Jerry, a trusted old police officer buddy that he greatly admired.
Gary mentioned to Jerry how abusive drinking was adversely affecting his health, work, relationship with his family, and his pocketbook. Jerry told Gary that he totally understood because just around five years ago, he too got involved in hazardous and careless drinking. In fact, Jerry told Gary that excessive and irresponsible drinking can create so many issues in a person’s life that almost everything of importance can be destroyed. And lastly, Jerry suggested that Gary schedule an appointment with an alcohol therapist at the work-affiliated substance abuse rehab facility.
Since his employee’s assistance program was affiliated with this treatment clinic, it was not only convenient but also quite affordable to seek guidance about his careless and excessive drinking. And due to the fact that the staff at the alcohol abuse center was supportive, non-judgmental, and competent, 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 relationship with his family, work, pocketbook, and his health, Gary realized that he was burning the candle at both ends with his excessive work hours and his hazardous and abusive drinking. Once he comprehended that he was getting himself into a rut, with the help of his therapist, and after four months in therapy, he was at long last able to quit drinking and stop working overtime.
Due to His Alcohol Therapy Gary Felt More Healthy and Had Much More Energy
The result was that Gary viewed life differently now that he was in alcohol recovery. More precisely, due to his alcohol counseling he not only noticed that he actually had more money now even though he was working far fewer hours each week, but he was more patient when interacting with his wife and his children, he felt better and more healthy, and he had more quality time to spend with his family. 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.