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Emily was a thirty-one-year-old marketing manager who was fed up with feeling depressed on a daily basis and fed up with her excessive and hazardous drinking behavior. Stated briefly, she was tired of going through failed relationship after failed relationship due to her careless drinking, she was mad at herself for spending her hard-earned money on a worthless habit, she missed her old drive for doing various things she enjoyed, she was sick of feeling lethargic every morning, and she hated the hangovers she went through on a regular basis.

Besides the obvious alcohol-related health issues she now experienced, perhaps the most regretful part of her drinking regimen was the untrustworthy and dishonest individual she had turned into. In her heart of hearts she realized that she had been lying about her drinking behavior to her relatives, family, and friends and she also knew she had been less than honest with herself about the "positive" consequences of drinking. Not only this but she rationalized wolfing down three or four drinks before going to social events and she also justified needing one or two drinks as soon as she got up so that she could cope with the "tension" at her place of employment. In short, Emily got to a key moment in her life during which she understood that she hit rock bottom and was now prepared to start the gradual and slow road that leads to health.

One of the primary ways that Emily initiated her "plan" was by requesting a transfer at work. When her request was approved by top management, she moved 750 miles away to a new state. If nothing else, this without a doubt made making new buddies and disconnecting herself from her old buddies easier. Then she contacted a physician in her new city and made an appointment for a thorough physical examination.

After meeting with the doctor and taking several lab tests, it became quite clear that Emily had made the regrettable transition from alcohol abuse to alcohol addiction and as a consequence, was in need of alcohol detox and alcohol rehabilitation. At this time, her doctor made it a point to underscore the different alcoholic symptoms and the general symptoms of alcoholism. In addition to taking a lot of time focusing on Emily's alcoholism symptoms, the doctor also told Emily that her mental health assessment revealed that she was clinically depressed and in need of counseling for this medical situation.

Due to her enthusiasm for following through with the therapy program, after ten weeks of inpatient treatment, Emily was ready to start counseling on an outpatient basis. At this time, she started working at her new job and over a period of several weeks began building up her body by exercising, taking vitamins and minerals, living an alcohol-free lifestyle, drinking spring water, and eating nutritious foods.

After around thirteen weeks of outpatient treatment during which time she never suffered through an alcohol relapse, Emily quit going to alcohol treatment and instead began going twice every week to local AA meetings. Attending these meetings helped Emily continue her alcohol-free lifestyle, they gave her the support she sought after, and they served as a faithful reminder of the negative results that are associated with excessive and abusive drinking. Compared with her life just a few short months ago, life was now pleasant and full of possibilities that she could have never hoped for or made real while she was involved in excessive and unhealthy drinking behavior.