Alcoholism is disease, here’s some resources to help you fight back:
Responsible Drinking: A Moderation Management Approach http://amzn.to/1ZdgP9f
I Need to Stop Drinking!: How to get back your self-respect. http://amzn.to/1VEqbeU
Why You Drink and How to Stop: A Journey to Freedom: http://amzn.to/1Q8pAv2
Alcoholics Anonymous: The Big Book: http://amzn.to/1N0rttl
Alcoholics: Dealing With an Alcoholic Family Member, Friend or Someone You Love: http://amzn.to/1j9cvH4
Watch more Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse videos: http://www.howcast.com/videos/220913-How-to-Detect-the-Signs-of-Alcoholism
Not all alcoholics fit the stereotype of the down-and-out drunk. Learn to recognize the warning signs in yourself or a loved one.
Step 1:
Weigh the importance of alcohol to you or a loved one. Is there a general preoccupation with drinking, like when, where, and with whom the next round will begin? Is it difficult to stop drinking once it starts, or to stick to a limit? Is a life without drinking impossible to imagine?
Step 2:
Consider how much alcohol is consumed. Does drinking take place on a daily basis? Is binge drinking — more than five drinks in one sitting — a commonplace event? Do hangovers and blackouts occur frequently?
Tip
The compulsion to finish every drink – and even other people’s – is a red flag.
Step 3:
Examine the motives for drinking. Using alcohol as a mood enhancer or coping mechanism is common among alcoholics.
Step 4:
Think about the guilt, if any, associated with drinking. Have there been promises to cut down? Lies told about the amount consumed, or about drinking altogether?
Step 5:
Measure tolerance for alcohol. Being able to consume a lot of liquor with few signs of intoxication is not a badge of honor; it’s a sign of addiction.
Step 6:
Don’t be fooled by the ability to hold down a job. As many as half of the 18 million American alcoholics are considered high-functioning, meaning they can spend years maintaining the facade of a normal life while drinking to excess, until something catastrophic happens.
Step 7:
If you see these signs in yourself or a loved one, call The National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service toll free at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for help.
Did You Know?
According to one study, 10 percent of the U.S. population’s drinkers imbibe 50 percent of all alcohol consumed.
