Warning Signs
The Warning Signs The actual diagnosis of alcohol abuse and/or addiction is best left to a professional, but there are Warning Signs that help the rest of us see the potential for health risks and problems. The following is a checklist of symptoms to look for when the possibility of a problem exists: 1. What is the “Level of Need”: The illness causes a person to experience a strong craving for alcohol, a compulsive need to drink. The daily schedule begins to focus on access to alcohol, and some will develop rituals to accommodate that need. They may become angry if the ritual is interrupted, or be irritable when they don’t get that first drink of the day on time. 2. Is their life out of control: Someone in the grips of this disease often find they cannot stop drinking once they start. They may isolate themselves and drink alone, or sneak a drink when no one is looking. They may hide alcohol in unusual places to make sure they have access to it. The disease can cause a person to lose interest in family, friends, hobbies and work. They may lose track of conversations, or not remember conversations from the previous day. As the disease progresses they might encounter legal problems, such as DUI, financial, etc. 3. Level of addiction: Once addicted, people will suffer withdrawal Warning Signs if they don’t drink. People may get “the shakes,” become anxious, sweat, get chills, or have nausea. 4. High Tolerance: More and more alcohol is needed to get “high” as the disease progresses. Perhaps they order doubles, or guzzle drinks to get intoxicated. It takes more to “feel normal” How long this takes, or how much alcohol is needed depends on the individual. The drink of preference is not the determining factor. This list helps us to understand that alcoholics are suffering from a disease, and telling them to exercise a little willpower to overcome the problem is not the solution. They need to drink, the craving, is powerful and to the alcoholic can be just as “necessary” as eating and sleeping. The first step in the AA 12 Step program is admitting that: “We were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable.” Like most chronic diseases cancer, or heart disease, intervention is necessary to help a person through the recovery process. The first step is important because the person who has the disease is probably going to be the last person to accept that fact. Here are some questions to ask yourself about your own experience with alcohol, or what you observe in another person. Do you think it would be good to drink less? Do you need a drink right away in the morning? Do you feel guilty about drinking? Do you get angry if someone comments about your/their drinking? A “yes” answer to these questions doesn’t mean the disease has set in, although it may have, but does indicate the potential that the problem is there. If you think there may be a problem in your life, we encourage you to get help from a professional. If someone you love, one of your friends, someone you work with exhibits any of the signs or Warning Signs, or gives “yes” answers to these questions, you need to encourage them to seek help. Much better to catch it early! Like any other disease, if the signs and Warning Signs are caught early, the long-term chances for recovery are improved. Try to catch the problem before it causes serious health problems, broken marriages, destroyed relationships and legal entanglements. For the person suffering from the effects of the disease, it’s very difficult to be objective about what is really happening to them. Intervention is important. If you are watching alcohol harm someone you know, do not be afraid to be the “bad guy.” Intervene, seek help, and speak up. You may save your loved ones life. Denial and lack of understanding the risks are common and dangerous Warning Signs. Here is an example that shows the warning sign of denial: Alcohol Abuse, No Big Deal?Lynda is so sure of herself. She proclaims with absolute certainty that compared to drug addiction, alcohol abuse is not a big problem. There is no room for a dissenting opinion as she sweeps her husband Sam’s drinking problem under the rug, as if he had never touched a drop. Do not take this woman on an African safari, because when the rhino charges, she’ll deny it. Cutting to the chase, the woman does not want to face the reality that her husband’s life is out of control, but even if she did allow for a small portion of the truth to creep in, she has more opinions that would shut the door on treatment options. Any faith-based program would be a problem for her, because she is of one faith and her husband is of another, and if it isn’t her faith, then it’s not permissible. Husbands and wives have a hard time dealing with alcoholism. The spouse may or may not be sympathetic to the other’s problem. Sam’s wife just doesn’t think drinking is serious. After all, you can buy liquor at the grocery store. It’s perfectly legal. Sam has a couple of drinks and she has a couple of drinks. Sam has a little too much, so does she. If Sam has a problem, she might also have a problem. This isn’t allowed. Or maybe Sam has his drinks and she just ignores it. He’s watching the television, refreshing his drink during commercial breaks. She’s working on a personal project, oblivious to anything else going on in the house. She might think her husband is going through a phase, or maybe he’s under stress at work. She figures that if she gives him his space, he’ll be fine. It’s just a few beers, or glasses of wine, so it’s not a big deal. If you want to talk about a problem, well just look at those drug addicts out there. They’re the ones with the problem. If you want to talk about a serious issue, it’s cocaine or heroin, it’s not a few beers. She lives in a fantasy world. She has no concept of the number of American’s suffering from the disease of alcoholism. Why? She doesn’t want to know. It’s probably pride. “I’m right, you’re wrong, so don’t talk to me.” Before Sam can get any help, she has to be helped first. She needs to examine and face the facts of her husband’s condition, and very likely her own as well. What are the patterns of behavior in their home? How much of a role does alcohol play, for both of them? If left untreated, where is this going? What if the neighbors found out? Who care about the neighbors when your health is at risk? Getting to Step 1 and past denial is so very difficult. We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol. If the husband is the drinker and the wife is the enabler, they are BOTH helpless and BOTH need treatment. Alcoholism is very much a family disease, as it affects all members of the family. Denial is deadly. Denial perpetuates and feeds the disease. Sam may be at the beginning stages, or he may have a well advanced condition, but if he doesn’t get treatment, he’s in serious jeopardy. His wife’s arrogance is a major contributing factor. They both need help. Ignore the warning signs of alcoholism at your own peril. Warning Signs Warning Signs Warning Signs Warning Signs Warning Signs Warning Signs Warning Signs Warning Signs Warning Signs Warning Signs HOW TO USE THIS SITE:This site contains five MAIN pages that EVERYONE should read: RECOVERY… Yourself... Your Family... Your Friends... Your Community... The rest of the pages are there for your reference to explain important topics in more detail. |
Site Search
Get Help Now!!!
Help is available
Right Now!
Click Here
Advertise on this site:
