| Alcohol abusers may deny the problem as well as | | | | Some signs of alcohol abuse include someone drinking |
| cover it up to avoid any confrontations. As a | | | | more in order to deal with social situations, increased |
| psychotherapist I have had clients come in with gum or | | | | anger or irritability and becoming more secretive and |
| mints that thought I wouldn't notice the odor on their | | | | defensive. If you notice trembling and poor nutrition |
| breath from drinking. For some people alcoholism | | | | habits growing, this can be an additional sign that there |
| began from just drinking a couple of beers after work | | | | is a growing problem with drinking too heavily. |
| to relax. For others it's due to a crisis situation, | | | | Try to speak with the person about the stressors in |
| weekend partying with friends or a way to suppress | | | | their lives. Be supportive but also press the issue to get |
| emotional pain. | | | | a meaningful dialogue on the subject. If you can see |
| Some people do drink a glass of wine with dinner over | | | | some of the triggers of the drinking problem, try to ask |
| the years and can keep it at that level. However, if | | | | the person if they are having difficulties with a boss at |
| you notice a spouse or loved one turning to drinking as | | | | work, their mother or dealing with a recent relationship |
| the main stress reliever, increasing their amount daily or | | | | ending. It can be helpful to bring up some challenges |
| weekly significantly or having other symptoms that are | | | | you've had recently and what coping devices you've |
| uncharacteristic, a problem may be developing. | | | | used to make things easier for yourself. |