The act of drinking alcohol has become neutralized in the 21st century. Whether it is having a drink with friends at the end of a busy week, or sharing a bottle of wine at a business dinner, drinking seems to have become ingrained into our society. It is thus understandable that for some, drinking is taken to the extreme and a drinking problem is developed. Is this you? Then it might be time to confront you drinking problem.
Do I have a drinking problem?
In order to confront a drinking problem, you must first know whether the problem exists. When you need a drink in order to relax, drinking transforms from being something enjoyable to a necessity; this is a symptom of a drinking problem. Hiding this need for drinking from close family and friends is another telltale sign.
Do you feel like you can relate to these symptoms? If you do, remember, you are not alone. According to a recent study conducted by the United States NIAAA (National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism), America houses 17 million alcohol abusers. These fellow alcohol abusers commonly face similar reasons, experiences, and circumstances as you, and they could be of great help. The fact that you are reading this article regarding drinking problems is already a step in the right direction. You have overcome the initial denial, and have started looking for answers. Once you admit you have a drinking problem, it is time to confront it.
Confronting a drinking problem
In order to be able to start work on solving you drinking problem, you need to confront it. With a clear and open mind, assess your drinking situation. Are your drinking habits very different from your friends? Do you drink with a different purpose as the people around you? Do you drink significantly more, and suffer the consequences? Is drinking an essential part of your daily routine?
Once you are able to answer these questions truthfully, you have taken to first step in your recovery process; you have confronted your drinking problem. Next, and possibly most important, is to find the will power to solve your problem. A vital part of confronting your drinking problem is to get to the root of it; why do I drink? Finding this answer will often reveal much about yourself, and inspire you to seek help to battle your drinking problem. Confronting yourself regarding your drinking problem is an extremely brave thing to do, and arguably the hardest step towards recovery.
Do not confront alone
While the first step is confronting yourself about your drinking problem, it is important to reveal your drinking problem to close family and friends. Often, they will have already seen signs of your drinking problem and will be able to help you through the phases of recovery. Recovery is tough, but knowing you have the support of friends and family can make the process a little bit easier.
Moreover, it is common that they feel somewhat at fault for you drinking problem, and supporting you is a great help for them as well. Research conducted by California State University shows that family support, in combination with support groups such as AA, proves to be most successful with battling a drinking problem. Above all, you need to know that your drinking problem and your path towards recovery are about you. You need to surround yourself with people that you feel comfortable sharing the hardships, obstacles, and most importantly, triumphs with.
What now?
Once you have confronted your drinking problem, and you are ready to start the recovery process, there are a number of paths you can take. Most likely there is a support group for alcohol abusers in you neighborhood. According to data collected by the Alcohol Anonymous organization, there were 58,520 AA support groups in the United States in 2012. Whether such a support group is the right fit for you is something you need to research, as everyone recovers in different ways, and all ways are accommodated for. Recovering from your drinking problem will not be easy, but it is most certainly attainable.
Stanley Martinson is a guest blogger with a variety of interests. Lately his main focus has been health topics, and more specifically, drug rehabilitation.