Alcoholism - Palm Beach County, FL

Alcoholism - Palm Beach County

Drinking has become integral in everyday behavior. Sharing a bottle of wine with a meal or celebrating a special occasion with champagne may seem innocent, but often this relaxed acceptance makes it difficult to recognize when your drinking has become a real problem.

Millions of Americans suffer, often in silence, from alcoholism and alcohol abuse. This makes having an occasional drink dangerous. Problems with alcohol are caused by many interconnected factors, including genetics, how you were raised, your social environment and your emotional health. Those with a family history of alcoholism or people with anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder are at increased risk of alcoholism. This is because those people often use alcohol to self-medicate and “escape” their problems.

Honest questions need to be asked to know if your drinking has become a problem. If your drinking is causing problems in your life, you have a drinking problem. Ask yourself – can I never stick to “just one” drink? Do you feel guilty or ashamed about your drinking? Do you lie to others or hide your drinking habits? Do you have family members or friends who are concerned about your drinking? Do you need to drink in order to relax or feel better? Do you ever “black out” or forget what happened while you were drinking? Do you drink more than intended on a regular basis?

There is a distinction between alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Unlike alcoholics, alcohol abusers still have at least some ability to set limits on their drinking. Despite this, their alcohol use is still self-destructive and dangerous to themselves or other people

Common signs and symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

• Repeatedly neglecting your responsibilities at home, work or school because of your drinking. This could mean making mistakes or being unproductive at work, failing classes, neglecting your children or avoiding commitments.
• Using alcohol in situations where it is physically dangerous, such as drinking and driving, using machinery while drunk, or mixing alcohol with prescription medications.
• Experiencing repeated legal problems because of your drinking. This could be getting arrested for driving under influence or drunk and disorderly conduct.
• Continuing to drink even though your alcohol use is causing problems in your relationships.

Not all people who abuse alcohol become full-blown alcoholics. Often alcoholism develops suddenly because of a stressful change and sometimes it happens gradually as your tolerance to alcohol grows. If you are a binge drinker or you drink on a daily basis, the risks of developing alcoholism are that much greater.

Alcoholism involves all the symptoms of alcohol abuse plus a physical dependence on alcohol. There is a fine line between alcohol abuse and alcoholism. If you depend on alcohol to function or feel a physical compulsion to drink, you have crossed that line.

Denial is one of the biggest roadblocks to seeking treatment for alcoholism. The desire to drink is so strong that the mind discovers ways to rationalize drinking, despite the obvious negative consequences. Denial often increases as your drinking problems worsen over time. Denial makes problems that are connected to alcohol – involving work, money and relationships – worse and it is a vicious cycle.

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