| If you think you might have a problem of alcohol, then | | | | them, rather than a doctor. Although a doctor can |
| the first thing you need to do is to take a minute to | | | | certainly help to treat the symptoms and the disease, |
| understand the problem. Unless alcohol has really | | | | the best person to diagnose alcoholism are the people |
| started to cause problems in your life, then the first | | | | closest to the person with the disease. Still, this |
| warning sign that you have a problem is probably the | | | | doesn’t mean you can’t ask a doctor |
| guilt that comes with alcoholism. If you think you might | | | | what to look for or share your concerns with them. |
| have a problem of alcohol, then the first thing you need | | | | Just knowing what the most likely signs are can really |
| to do is to take a minute to understand the problem. | | | | help you pinpoint the problem. |
| Unless alcohol has really started to cause problems in | | | | Dealing with the mental aspect of alcoholism is just as |
| your life, then the first warning sign that you have a | | | | important as dealing with the physical aspect of the |
| problem is probably the guilt that comes with | | | | addiction. One of the best things that you can do to |
| alcoholism. Therefore, the first thing that you are | | | | help yourself deal with the root of the problem is to |
| going to have to do is acknowledge that the guilt | | | | visit a counselor or psychologist. Many times, just |
| comes as a result of alcoholism. Once you have | | | | having someone to talk to can make a big difference. |
| decided to tackle the guilt and the problem that caused | | | | Also, your counselor will be aware of several different |
| it, then you can begin the process of treating yourself. | | | | techniques that can help you overcome your desire |
| You probably felt it all along, but kept hoping that you | | | | for alcohol and reduce the stress that comes as a |
| were wrong. The guilt might be building up, causing you | | | | byproduct of the cravings. They will also be able to |
| a lot of stress and anxiety in other areas of your life. | | | | help you understand why you turned to alcohol as a |
| The more you try to push it away, the more it | | | | coping mechanism and might offer you some new |
| manifests in other areas of your life. Eventually, you will | | | | ways to cope with any other problems in your life. |
| have to come to terms with the fact that you have a | | | | They will be there week after week to make sure |
| disease, but that doesn’t mean you should be | | | | that you are following a program and are still mentally |
| embarrassed or ashamed. The disease I am talking | | | | OK. |
| about here is alcoholism, and it affects millions of | | | | The next place you can turn is to a program like AA |
| people worldwide. Although there are several factors | | | | (Alcoholics Anonymous). They use a 12 step program |
| that contribute to someone being diagnosed with | | | | to help you overcome your problems with alcohol. The |
| alcoholism, the truth is that it affects people in different | | | | support group system is very helpful to let you know |
| ways. The truth is that it doesn’t really matter | | | | that you are not alone. The buddy system will keep |
| where it came from, but it does matter how you | | | | you focused by making you support someone else, |
| handle it. | | | | rather than focusing on your problem. In return, he or |
| Clinically, the diagnosis of alcoholism is defined as the | | | | she will keep you honest with yourself too. Although |
| point at which alcohol starts to interrupt normal life. | | | | AA may have a certain stigma attached to it, the truth |
| Now this is a rather vague diagnostic criterion, which | | | | is that it really does work for people that devote |
| means that the best person to diagnose alcoholism is | | | | themselves to the system. |
| someone in the person’s life that is close to | | | | |