After work, you engage in a casual round of drinks at the bar together with your colleagues who simply want to unwind after finishing a major project. You look around and spot a guy who appears to be in his mid thirties, jovially engaging in lively chatter with the rest of his circle. He takes casual gulps from his glass of liquor, and looks a bit flushed even from where you are watching. From where you are watching, he seems okay. He’s apparently just someone who, like you and your colleagues, came to have a couple of rounds to celebrate the closing of a huge business deal, or simply to soothe stressed-out nerves. He could also be someone who, like millions of people around the world, is struggling with a drinking problem.
The point of the illustration above is that there can never really be a Herculean, brightly flashing distinguishing line between social drinking and alcoholism. Like the guy at the bar you saw, one of the colleagues in your own huddle could be suffering from the same drinking disorder. Drinking is a widely accepted activity in many parts of the world, making it generally and seemingly harmless.
Signs and symptoms
Nevertheless, there are guidelines by which you can trace the presence of a drinking problem. The following are the signs and symptoms of alcoholism:
- Increased tolerance.
- Craving alcohol at a specific time of the day regularly.
- Drinking to eliminate withdrawal symptoms from not having drunk anything alcoholic.
- Forgetting what has happened during the drinking session.
- Getting irked by the unavailability of alcohol, especially at specific drinking time.
- Derailment of occupational, societal, or domestic responsibilities because of excessive drinking.
- Getting in trouble because of drinking, and continuing the habit despite the troubles it has gotten the person.
Denial stage
Dragging an alcoholic person to alcohol treatment centers will not be as easy as dragging a shopaholic to the mall. As a matter of fact, people with drinking problems will stubbornly deny that their habitual drinking is causing problems in their life. This is a way of rationalizing their destructive behavior, and to eliminate the solution of stopping it.
Getting help
If you are or may know someone who is struggling with alcohol abuse or a drinking problem that may well progress into alcoholism, it’s best to resolve it the soonest possible because it will produces effects to your body. If your body is not yet reacting negatively to recent abstinence from drinking, you can start by realigning yourself with the pros and cons of drinking. On the other hand, if you have been struggling with alcohol for a long time now, never stop abruptly as this can pose serious danger on your health. Engaging in support communities, contacting professionals to help you cope with this problem is the safest, most recommended way of dealing with the situation. A lot of online communities exist today, aiming to provide help and support to those needing it including individuals who are struggling with alcoholism.
Featured images:
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://ceddistribution.co/
Cedric Loiselle is a highly talented writer providing quality articles for a wide range of niches including health and fitness. If you’re looking for good alcohol treatment centers in your area, he highly recommends Easter Seals.
