Alcohol Addiction And You
It is believed that approximately one out of every 14 adults in the US is addicted to alcohol. There are several distinct factors that characterize alcoholism: a fixation with acquiring, ingesting and feeling its effects; losing control over its consumption; continued use of alcohol despite the negative emotional, physical and financial consequences; and typically, denial.
Alcoholics may have all or just some of these factors, either continually or only occasionally.
How can you tell if Alcohol is a problem for you? If you question your ability to control your drinking, you may have an addiction to alcohol. If you use alcohol as a tool to escape from your problems, balance your moods or just cope with life, you may have an addiction.
Is your tolerance level of alcohol higher than most? Do you find yourself drinking increasing amounts of alcohol in order to reach the same comfort levels you desire? Do you ever experience blackouts? Do your friends and family seem concerned about your use of alcohol? Do your loved ones ever express concerns over your drinking? If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, you may have a problem.
Addictions to alcohol have no specific, identifiable cause. However, there are genetic predispositions to developing addictions to both alcohol and drugs. Those who consume alcohol regularly can also develop an addiction through consistent alcohol use and abuse.
Problem drinkers often try to regain the pleasant, mild euphoria they experienced when they first started drinking. However, a heavy drinker can pass quickly from feeling good to feeling nothing at all. When a person’s life is affected that much by their drinking the only solution may be alcohol treatment.