Welcome to the world again!
I’m hoping that you have gone through treatment and this website helped you as I intended it to.
If you are just returning home you will be re-entering the world in a different frame of mind from when you entered treatment.
You may have found that some underlying problems helped to spur on the problem you had with alcohol. You may need counseling to help ease those problems and maybe a medication has been prescribed that will allow you to not depend on the alcohol to hide what the true problem was any longer.
You may have found out that you are one of the people that do not have a tolerance for alcohol. Now that you are aware of it, will avoid it like anyone else would that experiences an allergic reaction to certain types of food, penicillin, metals, etc.
You need to set your resolve. I’m sure that you do not want to go through detox again.
One of the hardest things that you may have to do is face the people that had contact with you before you entered treatment. But you must understand that they are not sure who is returning to them. They were dealing with a desperate alcoholic that was seeking treatment when forced to. You may not remember all that happened during that time frame, but make no mistake they do. Adult or child they will have to “retrain” themselves to think of you differently. It all depends on the person (and possibly their age) on how well they are able to handle your arrival back. They may need counseling too. You will need to be patient with them. They may have a hard time believing that you can be trusted or function on your own.
There is, of course Alcohol Anonymous meetings that can be attended, if you choose. There are several types of meetings, but the open meetings can be like a huge support group. Your treatment may have been based on the 12-step program which is rooted in AA. The "Big Book" is the text form of the principles of AA and the stories given by former alcoholics are filled with the same support you receive at open meetings. It is there for you to read with or with out a meeting. Kind of a support book to carry with you and pick it up when or where you need it.
AA is not a "cure all" and some of it's "Big Book" is very out dated. So much has been discovered since the book was originally written. The stories in the back have been added to every once and a while. A 13th step needs to be added. It is responsibility to your family and loved ones. This step seems to be missing and really needs to be added, as their needs seem to be left behind in the 12 steps. I hope you will take it upon yourself to make it an addition to your recovery. You may not remember all that was given up, taken away or put off because of what had to be dealt with when you were not at your best. Just because you don't have memory of it doesn't mean that it didn't happen. I'm sure there were sacrifices that were made during that time frame, but even if there weren't, showing that you can be a responsible parent, spouse, child, sibling or friend will show them how far you have progressed in your recovery. It will also help you earn back their trust.
( This is from my observation and my opinion and hope that you take it in stride. I know that they would argue but, AA also needs to come into the present and realize that there are underlying conditions that cause a form of alcoholism called self-medication. Not everything is as clear cut as they indicate.)
One thing every person needs to know is that we are all God’s children, sober or not and he is always there for you, but it is you that must use his gift of choice. God has given you free will. Choice is always there, how you use it is the gift you give yourself. I hope that sobriety is that gift.
