Posts Tagged ‘drinking problems’
Dishonesty, Enabling, and Alcohol Relapse
It is fascinating to point out something that family members who have been negatively affected by the alcoholism of another family member clearly do not understand. It seems to be that by protecting the alcohol dependent individual with falsehoods and dishonesty to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in actual fact created a situation that makes it easier for the alcohol addicted individual to continue and go forward with his or her injurious, destructive way of living.
To be sure, rather than helping the alcohol addicted person and themselves, these family members have in truth become enablers who have involuntarily helped negatively affect the alcohol dependent person’s drinking problem even more.
The Possibility of a Relapse is Real
Another key alcohol dependency issue involves alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol addicted person has successfully undergone alcoholism therapy and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first glance, this predicament seems contradictory to sound thinking and appears to be so far-fetched that it forces one to question why anyone who has lived through the terror of alcohol dependency can return to drinking a short while after effective alcohol treatment and in turn after achieving sobriety. There are, without a doubt, numerous rational reasons for this.
It should be mentioned, then again that alcohol addiction research that has focused on the lasting consequences of alcohol addiction has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcohol dependent person has quit his or her drinking, significant transformations in the way in which the alcohol addicted person’s brain operates are still present. As a consequence, all a recovering alcoholic has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the modifications that have occurred in the brain is to engage in drinking once again.
The Necessity for A Crucial Lifestyle Modification
There are additional reasons why quite a few recovering alcohol addicted individuals return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after achieving sobriety. According to the alcohol addiction research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcohol addicted person needs new ways of responding and thinking in order to deal more competently with challenging alcohol-related situations that will take place.
Circumstances such as returning to the same alcohol addictive atmosphere or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcohol dependent individual was drinking excessively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these conditions can bring forth memories that can trigger psychological anxiety or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol addicted individual to engage in excessive drinking once again. Unfortunately, all of these situations may not only get in the way of long lasting alcohol recovery for the alcohol dependent person but they can also lead to relapse and as a result go against one’s sobriety.
Summary
In an attempt to “protect” the family alcoholic, family members can in fact cause inadvertent destruction by enabling the harmful drinking behavior of the alcohol addicted person.
The substance abuse research literature validates the fact that most people who effectively complete alcohol counseling experience at least one relapse. Alcohol dependent individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get dejected or stressed out when a relapse manifests itself.
Fortunately, involvement in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up counseling and training have resulted in more successful, ongoing alcohol abuse and alcoholism rehab outcomes, have helped diminish alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol addicted persons reach ongoing alcohol recovery.
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Talking to Your Doctor About Your Alcoholism Symptoms and Your Depression
Larry eventually made up his mind that he needed to go and see his family physician about his drinking behavior. At first, Larry thought he would be able to essentially go on the world wide web, look for some basic alcohol info, and make up his mind whether or not he was dependent on alcohol. Not surprisingly, he discovered more than a few websites that detailed some of the well-known alcoholism symptoms. That’s the encouraging news. The less than encouraging news, sadly, was that Larry showed evidence of several of these alcoholism symptoms.
Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction: Some Examples
As an illustration, Larry was drinking much more than customary and he was starting to have more passionate spats with his girlfriend. Moreover, for the first time in his young life he was suffering through sleeping problems. Likewise, Larry often felt depressed and on a growing basis he had been manifesting poor attentiveness while on his job.
Furthermore, he felt stressed out and more tense on a day-to-day basis and for the past seven or eight months he had shown evidence of foggy thinking while at work. Since Larry exhibited all of these symptoms, he was understandably apprehensive about his excessive drinking.
So Larry at long last decided to place a phone call to his doctor and make an appointment. In fact, this was challenging for Larry because his family healthcare practitioner was also his parents’ family doctor. The root of his disquiet was this: at the risk of embarrassing his family, he had to go and expose his irresponsible and abusive drinking behavior to his healthcare practitioner.
When Larry arrived at the healthcare practitioner’s office, he plainly notified the healthcare professional about the anxiety he had about his hazardous drinking behavior. When the healthcare practitioner asked what was setting off this fear, Larry said that he had gone online and read about alcohol dependency and especially about alcohol addiction symptoms. He then outlined all of the alcoholism symptoms that he without a doubt thought he had.
A Comprehensive Physical Exam and Outpatient Alcohol Treatment
The healthcare professional informed Larry that it was wise of him to address his drinking problems, he gave Larry a comprehensive physical examination, and suggested that he enroll in an out-patient alcohol rehab program that was managed by one of his doctor acquaintances.
In addition, when Larry articulated that he had been feeling gloom to a greater extent, the family physician told Larry that alcoholism and depression often transpire in the same individual. Hence, the healthcare professional also suggested that Larry seek therapy to deal with his despair.
The Importance of Coping With Your Drinking Issues
The family healthcare practitioner made it a point to tell Larry that he might not necessarily be an alcoholic, but that he was clearly drinking in an irresponsible manner. The physician then notified Larry that the reason he recommended alcohol rehab in the first place was because he wanted him to deal with his drinking problems, make sure that he stopped them from proliferating, and start to live in a more healthy manner, even if it meant that he had to completely quit drinking.
In short, by effectively treating his drinking problems, Larry would be able to get his drinking difficulties under control and quit the negative sequence of events that could in all probability lead to addiction to alcohol.
Plainly, Larry did not want to face the thought of enrolling in an alcohol treatment center. Nor was he thrilled about going to a counselor about his melancholy. In the face of these anxieties, nonetheless, Larry in actual fact experienced some psychological relief for the first time in several months because he eventually quit making excuses for himself and at long last finally determined that he needed to do something positive about his drinking issues.
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Alcohol Relapse and When Dishonesty is a Form of Enabling
It is worthy of note to point out something that family members who have been negatively affected by the alcoholism of another family member clearly do not realize. It appears that by shielding the alcohol dependent person with falsehoods and dishonesty to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have actually created a circumstance that makes it easier for the alcohol addicted individual to carry on and move forward with his or her damaging, destructive style of life.
To be sure, instead of helping the alcohol dependent person and themselves, these family members have in reality become enablers who have inadvertently helped deteriorate the alcohol dependent person’s drinking problem even more.
The Probability of a Relapse is Real
Another key alcohol dependency issue concerns alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol dependent individual has successfully undergone alcoholism treatment and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this situation seems contradictory to sound thinking and sounds so far-fetched that it forces one to wonder why anyone who has gone through the dejection of alcohol addiction can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol treatment and in turn after achieving sobriety. There are, without a doubt, numerous possible reasons for this.
It should be noted, on the other hand that alcohol addiction research that has focused on the lasting effects of alcohol dependency has revealed that long after the alcohol addicted individual has terminated his or her drinking, major alterations in the way in which the alcohol addicted person’s brain functions are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol addicted individual has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the alterations that have taken place in the brain is to engage in drinking once again.
A Requirement for A Significant Lifestyle Modification
There are other reasons why many recovering alcoholics return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after reaching sobriety. According to the alcoholism research literature, to make a successful recovery, the alcohol dependent individual needs new ways of responding and thinking in order to deal more successfully with taxing alcohol-related situations that will take place.
Issues such as returning to the same alcohol addictive atmosphere or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcohol dependent person was drinking abusively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring forth memories that can set off psychological anxiety or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol addicted person to engage in abusive drinking once again. Regrettably, all of these situations may not only counteract long standing sobriety for the alcohol addicted person but they can also lead to relapse and thus short-circuit one’s alcohol recovery.
Summary
In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol dependent individual, family members can essentially cause inadvertent destruction by enabling the negative drinking behavior of the alcohol dependent individual.
The substance abuse research literature highlights the fact that most individuals who successfully complete alcohol therapy experience at least one relapse. Alcohol addicted persons and their family members need to know this so that they do not get down in the dumps or beleaguered when a relapse manifests itself.
Luckily, participation in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up counseling and education have resulted in more effective, long-term alcohol abuse and alcoholism therapeutic results, have helped reduce alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol dependent persons reach long standing sobriety.
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Alcohol Relapse and When Helping the Alcoholic Becomes Hurtful
It is fascinating to point out something that family members who have been harmfully affected by the alcoholism of another family member clearly do not know. It seems that by protecting the alcohol addicted person with lies and deceitfulness to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in effect created a situation that makes it easier for the alcohol dependent individual to persist and move forward with his or her negative, destructive lifestyle.
In fact, instead of helping the alcohol addicted person and themselves, these family members have essentially become enablers who have mistakenly helped worsen the alcohol addicted person’s drinking problem even further.
Relapses Can and Do Occur
Another key alcohol addiction issue has to do with alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol dependent person has fruitfully undergone alcohol addiction rehab and then resorts to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first glance, this situation seems contradictory to logical thinking and appears to be so unbelievable that it forces an individual to speculate why anyone who has gone through the dreadfulness of alcohol dependency can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol treatment and in turn after achieving recovery. There are, of course, more than a few plausible reasons for this.
It should be pointed out, on the other hand that alcohol dependency research that has centered on the long standing consequences of alcoholism has revealed that long after the alcohol addicted person has terminated his or her drinking, critical transformations in the way in which the alcoholic’s brain operates are still present. As a consequence, all a recovering alcohol dependent individual has to do to involve himself or herself in behaviors that correspond with the modifications that have taken place in the brain is to begin drinking once again.
The Need for A Fundamental Lifestyle Modification
There are other reasons why quite a few recovering alcohol dependent individuals return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after achieving sobriety. According to the alcohol addiction research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcohol addicted person needs new ways of acting and thinking in order to deal more efficiently with tough alcohol-related circumstances that will take place.
Conditions such as returning to the same alcohol addictive environment or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcoholic was drinking abusively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring about memories that can prompt psychological tension or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcoholic to engage in irresponsible drinking once again. Sadly, all of these situations may not only work against long standing alcohol recovery for the alcohol addicted person but they can also result in relapse and as a result counteract one’s sobriety.
Conclusion
In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol dependent person, family members can in point of fact cause unintended harm by enabling the unhealthy drinking behavior of the alcohol addicted person.
The alcoholism research literature highlights the fact that most people who effectively complete alcohol counseling go through at least one relapse. Alcohol addicted persons and their family members need to know this so that they do not get defeated or stressed out when a relapse happens.
Luckily, involvement in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up treatment and education have resulted in more productive, long-term alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency rehab outcomes, have helped decrease alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol dependent persons accomplish long-term alcohol recovery.
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When Drinking Becomes a Problem That You Cannot Avoid
How do you recognize that you have a problem with your drinking? When is it apparent that you are engaging in alcohol abuse?
If you have unproductively made an effort to discontinue your drinking or if you have given your word to yourself that your drinking days are gone and then you recognized that you were drinking in an abusive way just a few days later, the probability is quite good that you have a drinking problem. The point to highlight is that if you have tried to quit drinking and cannot get this accomplished, then your drinking is controlling you, instead of the other way around.
Likewise, if it takes greater amounts of alcohol to get the same “high,” more likely than not you need to become aware that you have a problem with your drinking.
You may be telling yourself that the reason for your drinking is so that you can lower your anxiety or get rid of the agony that you feel. In a similar manner, you may be trying to steer clear of a hurtful situation and may be looking for something more beneficial, more favorable, or less sorrowful.
As you continue your drinking, however, you will understand that drinking does not result in the same high and you will also comprehend that drinking doesn’t help get rid of whatever brought about your sorrow in the first place.
As you continue to drink in an abusive way, regrettably, you may become alcohol dependent and, as a consequence, you may add another essential predicament to cope with rather than finding more productive and wholesome ways of coping with your alcohol-related difficulties.
An Alcohol Evaluation is Probably Warranted
If you have figured out that you have a problem with your drinking, conceivably the most beneficial thing you can do for yourself is to call your doctor or healthcare practitioner and arrange for an appointment for a complete physical and for an appraisal of your drinking behavior.
If you actually feel that you have a dangerous drinking problem, it may be a good idea to get prepared to hear that you need to get alcohol rehab.
At this juncture, what are your options? You can positively say no and refuse to see your family doctor and carry on with your pattern of abusive drinking.
It actually doesn’t take a genius, nonetheless, to comprehend that long-term, hazardous drinking, if left untreated, will degenerate over time and quite probably set in motion an early death. Consequently, your most beneficial alternative is to face up to your drinking situation and get the alcohol treatment you need.
The Charade of the Functioning Alcohol Dependent Individual
It is somewhat odd to note the fact that several alcoholics lead busy and active lives and have pets, vehicles, houses, jobs, families, and any number of material possessions just like people who are not alcohol dependent.
Many of these “functional” alcohol addicted people may have never been cited for drunk driving and may have been fortunate enough to avoid all alcohol induced legal problems. In spite of this fortunate circumstance, on the other hand, these alcohol dependent individuals need to drink in order to deal with life on a regular basis while sustaining their facade as they interact with the outside world.
Ask anyone who has seen them when they are bingeing or in a drunken stupor or ask a family member about the problem drinker’s alcoholism, then again, and they will be quick to state the validity of the drinker’s situation and the particulars about the alcohol addicted person’s drinking predicament and about his or her alcohol generated problems.
Why Do Alcohol Addicted People Fail to Perceive Their Drinking Difficulties?
As alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse research has highlighted, no matter how clear the alcohol-related issues seem to those who interact with the alcohol dependent person, alcohol addicted people normally deny that drinking is the basis of their alcohol-related problems. Not only this, but alcohol addicted people normally blame their alcohol induced difficulties on other people or upon other circumstances that surround them rather than seeing their part in the difficulty.
The origin of the predicament is that alcoholism is a disease of the brain. Once the person has become addicted to alcohol, he or she regularly resorts to denial, manipulation, and lying as a way of dealing with the fact that his or her drinking is out of control. And to make matters more problematic, the experience of alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually thwarts the alcohol dependent person’s rare attempts to abruptly stop drinking. As dismal as the alcohol dependent person’s life is, nevertheless, the encouraging news is that professional assistance is commonly available – if the alcohol addicted person reaches out and tries to get alcohol counseling.
Conclusion
Coming to grips with the fact that drinking is leading to issues in your day to day functioning is perhaps the most trouble-free way to find out if you have a drinking problem. Stated another way, if your drinking is eliciting problems with your health, with your employment, in your relationships, with your finances, at school, or with the law, then you have a drinking problem that needs to be resolved.
If you have a drinking problem, additionally, this means that you are getting involved with irresponsible drinking.
While some problem drinkers may be able to detect their alcohol abuse problems and substantially diminish the quantity and rate of their drinking, other individuals, nevertheless, need to manage their drinking difficulties by getting professional alcoholism counseling. Moreover, due to their penchant to deny the facts and bend the truth, alcohol dependent individuals unquestionably require professional alcoholism therapy for their irresponsible drinking.
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Enabling, Alcohol Addiction, and Alcohol Relapse
It is remarkable to mention something that family members who have been adversely affected by the alcoholism of another family member obviously do not realize. It appears that by shielding the alcohol dependent individual with lies and deceitfulness to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in actual fact created a circumstance that makes it easier for the alcohol dependent individual to persevere and press forward with his or her hurtful, detrimental existence.
In fact, instead of helping the alcohol dependent person and themselves, these family members have in reality become enablers who have mistakenly helped deteriorate the alcohol dependent individual’s drinking problems even more.
The Likelihood of a Relapse is Real
Another key alcohol dependency issue has to do with alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcoholic has effectively gone through alcoholism rehab and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this situation seems contradictory to sound thinking and sounds so improbable that it forces an individual to question why anyone who has experienced the terror of alcohol addiction can return to drinking a short while after effective alcohol treatment and in turn after reaching recovery. There are, without a doubt, numerous reasonable reasons for this.
It should be mentioned, on the other hand that alcohol dependency research that has focused on the lasting outcomes of alcohol dependency has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcohol addicted individual has terminated his or her drinking, critical alterations in the way in which the alcohol addicted person’s brain works are still present. As a consequence, all a recovering alcohol addicted person has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the changes that have come about in the brain is to begin drinking again.
The Need for A Drastic Lifestyle Change
There are even more reasons why many recovering alcohol dependent individuals return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after reaching sobriety. In accordance to the alcohol addiction research literature, to make a successful recovery, the alcohol dependent person needs new ways of responding and thinking in order to deal more competently with difficult alcohol-related situations that will take place.
Situations such as returning to the same alcohol addictive environment or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcohol dependent person was drinking irresponsibly; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring forth memories that can trigger psychological anxiety or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcoholic to engage in irresponsible drinking once again. Unfortunately, all of these situations may not only get in the way of long-term sobriety for the alcohol dependent individual but they can also lead to relapse and therefore circumvent one’s sobriety.
Summary
In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol addicted person, family members can actually cause unintentional destruction by enabling the unhealthy drinking behavior of the alcoholic.
The alcoholism research literature confirms the fact that most people who effectively complete alcohol therapy go through at least one relapse. Alcohol addicted individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get crestfallen or beleaguered when a relapse manifests itself.
Luckily, participation in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up treatment and training have resulted in more productive, lasting alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction treatment outcomes, have helped reduce alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol addicted persons accomplish lasting alcohol recovery.
Mail this post