Alcohol Abuse Advice

RECOGNIZING AN ADDICTION

With advances in genetic and social sciences, the knowledge that, in most cases, the problem began with an inherited, physical propensity to have an addiction, is a solid reason to know family history and to be honest with one. The significance of this knowledge is only beginning to be felt among those who have sought help and solace with AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and other AA related groups. Those who are willing and able to recognize that addiction can take many forms have a much better chance of overcoming an addiction. Fortunately, there have been many documentaries done on the physical causes in the brain that allow the addicted person to understand that the problem is not his or hers alone, and that there is a reason the addiction other than the old notion of complete moral bankruptcy. And those affected by the painful behavior of those caught up in the blindness of addiction may come to understand how they could be enabling the addict to continue with the nightmarish behavior before jobs, spouses, and lives are lost. How does one know if he or she is addicted? People who have lost a job or someone close may, for a time, drink heavily to cover the pain or self-doubt. Excessive drinking will abate when they become more used to their new circumstances, or stop completely after the first DUI. If a new addiction, such as spending endless hours on the Internet or playing video games to the exclusion of all other activities does not replace drinking, the drinking was a temporary form of self-medication and not an addiction. Excepting certain drugs that create their own addiction where none existed before, the beginnings of addictive behavior come from a need for self-medication to cover everything from social discomfort to any physical or emotional pain. If the unmedicated brain is unable to function normally in these circumstances, meaning that it does not produce enough dopamine, for example, the discomfort and pain will continue, and the abuse of alcohol, drugs, nicotine, sex, and so on will continue, only to become worse as time passes. So, one sign of true addictive behavior includes replacing one form of addiction with another. Another sign is attempting to hide the addiction from others and hording the addictive substance. Alcoholics tend to hide containers of liquor in places like their cabinets, tool chests, closets, and empty suitcases. Addicts may frequently cut school or work and continue to do so after warnings. Their need to be isolated and away from others may be quite strong. Addicts, even an upstanding person of the cloth, will do ANYTHING to get their drug of choice including stealing and selling off the possessions of those trying to help. EVERYTHING is secondary to having that drug, be it a job, spouse, child, or home.