| Most of us now understand that alcoholism is a | | | | 5. You move from an occasional, social drinker, to a |
| disease, and no one intentionally tries to catch a | | | | regular or repetitive one. If you're drinking an amount |
| disease. But the cause of alcoholism is quite readably | | | | exceeding legal limits every time you drink, and that is |
| discernable - drinking alcohol. Yet most adults drink, at | | | | starting to happen more and more often, you definitely |
| least occasionally, despite this knowledge. | | | | need to take a closer look at your relationship with |
| Why take the risk? Of course there are pleasurable | | | | alcohol. |
| feelings associated with alcohol consumption. It loosens | | | | From this list, alcoholism is not as far away as you |
| the inhibitions and makes it easier for some to meet | | | | thought. Plenty of people meet more than one of |
| and talk to new people. The fact that it's such a large | | | | these five criteria, yet don't deem themselves |
| precursor to such an insidious disease, well, most | | | | alcoholics. But remember, the alcoholic will deny it as |
| people are sure they don't drink THAT much. Little do | | | | long as possible. He/she may need a drink every day, |
| they know that they may be on the way to a bad | | | | meet all the criteria above, and still swear up and down |
| case of alcoholism right now. One person's social | | | | that he could stop any time, but he can't, and everyone |
| drinking is another's first stage of alcoholism. Not only is | | | | around him knows it. |
| it hard to tell who alcoholism will hit and who it won't, | | | | If you look at the above list and see yourself |
| but those who are being affected will do everything in | | | | described, don't run away. Here's what you need to do: |
| their power to deny it to others, and often to | | | | 1. Alcoholism is a disease of addiction, and the best |
| themselves. This makes it even harder to diagnose. | | | | single thing you can do to start on the road to |
| But there are warning signs. If you're worried about | | | | recovery is join Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The |
| early states of alcoholism yourself, think about these | | | | addict in you will balk, but go to a meeting. Take |
| things: | | | | charge. Take your life back. |
| 1. If you're starting to be concerned about the level of | | | | 2. Go to an exploratory meeting with an addictions |
| your drinking, you probably should be. Even if you're not | | | | counselor. They will help explore the path that led your |
| dwelling on these types of thoughts, but they just | | | | to alcoholism and make you clearly see where your |
| occur to you from time to time, it's an indication you | | | | addiction will eventually lead you. |
| may have an abuse problem. | | | | 3. Just stop drinking. Although, fair warning, this is |
| 2. People who know and care about you are starting | | | | difficult and doesn't work for most people. You |
| to mention their concerns over your drinking. Perhaps | | | | probably need the help of counseling or AA to rid |
| they don't even mention it, but you start to notice them | | | | yourself of your addiction. But maybe you're not far |
| steering you away from drinking-related activities. A | | | | enough along, or maybe you ARE someone with the |
| sure sign of impending or current alcoholism is having | | | | will power to pull it off. |
| had multiple run-ins with the law for alcohol-related | | | | 4. Slow your drinking. Again, this probably won't work; it |
| offenses. | | | | doesn't in most cases. However, if you're just starting |
| 3. If you're drinking socially, you may lose some | | | | to worry about alcoholism, it's possible you can still turn |
| inhibitions, but your personally doesn't change. When | | | | from the beginning problem stages back to the |
| you're suffering from alcoholism, drinking brings about | | | | moderate social drinking you used to do. |
| very specific mood changes. These can vary from | | | | 5. If none of these work for you, check yourself into a |
| person to person, but could take the form of silliness, | | | | more intense "drying out" or in-house addiction |
| happiness, depression, irritability, or even something | | | | treatment. |
| more aggressive and dangerous. | | | | Alcoholism is a progressive disease, and if you have |
| 4. Your behavior changes when drinking to the point | | | | the early warning signals and don't do anything, your |
| where you do things you would never consider doing | | | | health, your family, your career; indeed your entire life |
| when sober. | | | | will be adversely affected. Take action while you can! |