At a point, after about 3 months, when the sober alcoholic reaches some level of comfort with the new state of affairs, the focus can shift. The attention has been virtually at the level of the mechanics of daily living. With that out of the way, or reasonably under control, the focus can move on to sorting out the alcoholic’s stance in the world, feelings, and relationships. Though 3 months is a somewhat arbitrary designation, it is not wholly so. Recall the subacute withdrawal syndrome. The alcoholic may pass through the acute withdrawal period within 5 days, but a longer period is required to regain the ability to concentrate, for example. Thus, there is a physical basis for what the alcoholic can focus on productively. This does not mean that all the problems previously discussed are totally overcome, or that work is not proceeding along some of the above paths. It simply means that other problems may now be surfacing. It is also at this point that some assessment should be made as to whether to refer the client to other professionals if the present caregiver is not equipped to handle this next phase. Some problems are fairly common and counselors must be alert to them. Most of these basically require finding a balance point between two extremes of behavior that are equally dangerous. John Wallace, a psychologist who has had long experience working with alcoholics, has neatly described his observations. He compares these extremes to rocks and whirlpools that must be avoided in the recovery “voyage.”*103\331\2*
