| Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism- The Warning Signs
Alcohol - Beer, Wine, Liquor.
Slurred Speech.
Alcohol Odor.
Making Excuses for Irresponsible Behavior.
"Dry Drunk" Syndrome When Not Drinking
(characterized by a short temper, perhaps sarcasm, irritability and
restlessness.)
The first step is to determine whether your spouse or child or
you have an addictive or abusive problem with alcohol. Is the problem dependence or relief use, due to a crisis? The way
to determine this is to quit. Should there be hesitation to quit,
the answer may lie therein.
Other behaviors lead the observer to believe that the problem is dependence. Continued use of a substance when there is problematic use signals
dependence. Denial signals dependence. Obvious continued
use with excuses and justifications can be dependence rather than abuse
or social use. An objective person who is not attached to the problem
or defending the continued use of chemicals when there are problems
of any sort or any degree would agree that continued use is harmful
and self destructive, therefore, compulsive.
Another characteristic of dependence is an inability to quit - loss
of control. There is also a need to control but with failed efforts.
Attempts to stop after a couple of drinks on any occasion can mean dependence.
A relationship with alcohol can be a sign of addiction or dependence.
For example, should you have a breakout of flu or a rash after eating
celery you could probably quit using celery. This is not always the
case with addiction.
The abusive drinker or user will stop when there is a problem. When there is no relief but there is pain, the abusive or relief drinker
can and usually will stop. An alcoholic or addict will not. These are
a few ways to determine whether you have a serious or very serious problem.
| |
|
