Beyond Origins the Discussion

Are You Drinking Too Much

August 26th, 2008

Do You Think You’re Drinking Too Much/

It all started in high school when you and your friends experimented at being adults, guzzling beer and smoking. Anyway the adults were doing these so it was perfectly all right and the bingeing went on until college. When you started filling those flasks like your stainless steel flask which you always got as cheap groomsmen gifts with Smirnoff for dinner, you suspectd things were going out of control.

The symptoms of a budding alcoholic are obvious but the problem is with the person; rarely does one accept he or she has a drinking problem. Do you want to know if you are a budding alcoholic? Check these out:

* Do you suffer memory loss and blackouts and can’t recall what happened during the drinking marathon thenight before?
* Are you stealing, lying and cheating to get money for a drink?
* Are you making up excuses to drink?
* You don’t need company when you drink.
* You drink your hoard secretly when no one in the house is looking.

You probably hocked your jewelry, desk clocks, designer shoes, and now you are [spion]eyeing|coveting[/spin] those nautical table clocks and padfolios stting on the office desks of co-workers. It is time to seek help. Your hesitation is reasonable because you fear rejection and hurting the people you love. But there is no other way to let them know you need their help and consideration.

Getting Help

Quitting alcohol is tough and doing it on your own is harder. If you think that you can kick the problem single-handidly, you are wrong if the theory has stats to back it. Statistics on alcoholism warn that only one in 50,000 can effectively [pin]quit|stop[/spin] without professionaltrained help. Is that lucky one you?

Fortunately, there are many non-profit and private rehabilitation programs offered state wide and there are several in your area. The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is one such support program etensively known across states. AA is listed in the white pages of the local phone directory. Since AA is non-denominational, multiracial and membership is free, it is no problem enlisting.

You actually have choices. AA is one. Yet there are other means to help you regain your old footing. Various treatment approaches are available - support groups, therapy and detoxification - and your doctor can help you make the proper choice, depending on the severity of your addiction.

Helping Yourself

Unless you are eager and ready to get help, you will never succeed, no matter how costly the treatment. Nor can you do a cold turkey, as this does not always work for everyone. You can try reducing the amount of alcohol you usually drink. What you go through is a hint of what you can imagine from a rehab.

Withdrawal symptoms can be brutal. Alcoholics on treatment suffer mild shakes, hallucination, convulsions, and even [spin|severe|excruciating[/spin] delirium tremens. Mild symptoms can be conrolled by health care providers or at the Out Patient Department but critical symptoms must be treated in hospitals.

Do not wait until the problem grow to be uncontrollable. Get help fast. Your life counts.

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