Last Updated:
August 21st, 2024
Alcohol is a symbol of socialising and celebration, yet also a serious danger for those with addictive personalities.
Just as a mixologist takes time to select and balance ingredients to create a drink that tastes “correct”, individuals in recovery must equally take great care to balance various parts of their own lives to achieve lasting sobriety.
Recovering from addiction is more than a “challenge”. Every single human being has to overcome struggle, great or small. Therefore the intricacies, care and uniqueness with which one chooses to tackle these difficulties mark the difference between a person merely surviving, and an artist who has created his or her own means of defeating internal demons.
A mixologist and a person in recovery shouldn’t be seen all that differently. Both should take pride in their progress!
Alcohol as a symbol
The purpose of alcohol is not just to numb the pain. We’re deluding ourselves by calling it a drug and ending the debate there. It holds ritualistic value, and this has been the case throughout most of history. But the ritual is no longer as formal as the Eucharist. We drink alcohol on birthdays, graduations, weddings, Christmas, and even just to make having a laugh on a casual Friday night just that tiny bit easier. It’s a toxin, sure, but in many cases, there’s no doubt it can also be a gift.
If you’ve got underlying emotional issues, though, alcohol can easily become a tool for your escapist tendencies. Since it loosens your sense of self-control, alcohol can cause you to lose sight of its true purpose: It’s not medication. The joy it can bring has to be earned. Social experiences and spiritual practices. When you use it for purposes that go beyond these two things, when you start to lean on it, it starts to control you like the devil in your ear: “Just one more”, “you’ll be more confident”, or “you’ll be less scared”. But it’s not until the hangover kicks in the next day like a lash on your back, reminding you of the consequences of your actions, that you realise you were never in control. Actions–even ones that seem innocuous–have consequences. It can be hard to spot, but flick his fingers off if you sense the devil tickling your shoulder on your next night out. It’s better to do things voluntarily, out of a sense of enjoyment, rather than because you feel like you need to.
Metaphors from mixology
Creating a cocktail is not all as easy as it looks. Every concoction needs a foundation and a base, it needs mixers and garnishes, bitters and unexpected twists. They all blend into and support each other. If crafted well, they result in a successful drink.
Recipe
This isn’t dissimilar to the process of addiction recovery. Let’s have a crack at drawing parallels:
- The base: Genetics are very much the foundation of your recovery’s initial blank canvas. Does your family history make you predisposed to addiction? Or is it other factors, such as stunted childhood development?
- Mixers and garnishes: These add complexity to your recovery journey and ultimately shape the final outcome. Not unlike environmental influences: the people around you and the emotional effects of your immediate surrounding influences.
- Bitters and unexpected twists: Like stress and trauma, these intensify your experience and worsen any side effects.
Ingredients
A cocktail recipe requires you to follow specific steps. You normally have to undertake precise measurements and methods if you want it to work out well. Recovery, in a similar way, demands structured steps such as detox, therapy, and support systems. Each “ingredient” in the recovery process is super important, and omitting any step can result in an incomplete recovery. These “ingredients” could be:
- Medical interventions
- Psychological counselling
- Social support
- Lifestyle changes
Cocktails
Different cocktails can symbolise the varied experiences individuals have with addiction. A “hard-hitting” cocktail, like a strong whiskey-based drink, might represent someone with a severe and immediate struggle with addiction, where the impact is intense and apparent. On the other hand, a “smooth but deceptive” cocktail, such as a fruity mixed drink that masks the alcohol’s potency, could symbolise an addiction that creeps up subtly, with the individual initially unaware of the growing dependency.
Mirroring Stages of Recovery
The early stages of recovery are similar to preparing a cocktail, where meticulous measurement and mixing are crucial.
Preparing: This phase corresponds to the contemplation and preparation stages of recovery, where people acknowledge the need for change and begin to plan their approach. Just as a well-crafted cocktail requires selecting the right ingredients and combining them in precise proportions, the preparation stage involves gathering information, setting goals, and seeking support systems that will be essential for the recovery journey.
Shaking and stirring: The shaking and stirring of a cocktail symbolise the turbulent phases of recovery, where emotions and challenges are vigorously mixed. This phase parallels the action stage, where individuals actively work to implement their recovery plans. During this period, they confront and manage withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and the restructuring of their daily lives.
Garnishing: The final touches of garnishing a cocktail mirror the later stages of recovery, where individuals regain control and add personal touches to their new lives. This stage corresponds to the maintenance and termination phases of recovery, where the focus shifts to sustaining long-term change, preventing relapse, and continuing personal growth. Just as a garnish completes a cocktail, adding personal elements such as hobbies, healthy routines, and supportive relationships helps individuals solidify their new identity and lifestyle in recovery.
Challenges and triggers
Triggers can stem from various sources, such as emotional stress, environmental cues, social situations, and sensory stimuli like the sight or smell of alcohol. These elements can evoke powerful memories and cravings, making recovery particularly challenging for individuals who have strong associations with alcohol in certain contexts.
Self-awareness and strategies like journaling, mindfulness, and setting boundaries can help identify and mitigate the impact of triggers.
A supportive community is paramount in maintaining sobriety, and Sanctuary Lodge emphasises this through its extended care programmes. The involvement of skilled professionals, such as addiction specialists, therapists, and counsellors, further ensures that individuals receive personalised and evidence-based care, addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction.
In summary, the holistic support systems at Sanctuary Lodge, encompassing professional rehab, community support, and continuous care, are key to achieving and maintaining sobriety.