The Blessing of Hitting Bottom

QUESTION: Dr. Remington, what is this thing called, "Hitting the Bottom?"

ANSWER: Sometimes I’m a slow learner. Unfortunately. Because by the time I “get it”, I’ve dug myself in a deep hole that usually keeps on getting deeper and deeper until I decide to make some corrections…hopefully, before it’s not too late. Perhaps this is the situation with you or someone you know.

Fortunately, there is a point where we can – and should, get it. That point is called "hitting the bottom". Let's look at just three of many issues where this idea applies. People becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol. The bottle takes increasing control so the dependent person loses friends, relatives, his or her spouse and children. Often the last thing to lose is the job. Obviously, because income must continue in order to purchase the alcohol. A second issue is continuing in a dysfunctional marriage. Emotional, physical and spiritual distance between the two increases, hostilities and conflicts become more serious. The couple moves from being mere "roommates" to intensely disliking each other. A third issue is staying in an abusing situation, the abuse being emotional or mental or physical, or some combination, or all three.

Hitting the bottom in alcohol dependence is when the bottle pushes away everyone and almost everything until the only thing remaining is employment, and that will likely end soon. Hitting the bottom in a marriage is when there is a dread and often avoidance in being with one's spouse. Hitting the bottom in an abusing situation is when the abuse will likely result in serious physical or emotional harm.

Hitting the bottom is a blessing when the realization is made, I must make a change! This is the blessing for a positive change.

A sad event is when people do not seek help before any situation becomes desperate. Hopelessness easily results. Sometimes people fall through the bottom. They pass the point where help could come to them.

An excellent Scriptural passage is Ecclesiastes, chapter three, beginning with verse one, "..a time for..a time for.." I especially like verse 10, "I have seen the business that God has given to everyone. God has made everything suitable for its time."

Let's add, "There is a time to seek professional mental health help when one even suspects, or knows, 'There is something not right with what is happening to me. I will get help right now!'"

The blessing of hitting the bottom is the desperate need and wonderful opportunity to make the critical God move.

READER: Submit questions to Ask-A-Counselor, obtain information, or make an appointment by calling 843-448-4820, Fax: 448-9875, send to the Coastal Samaritan Counseling Center, 901 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, or log on to http://coastalsamaritan.blogspot.com.