RECOGNIZING ALCOHOLISM: ARE YOU ALCOHOLIC?

Or are you a problem drinker?

Just under a lot of stress and drinking a little more than usual?

Is it alcoholism—or just your mother-in-law—that's driving you to drink?

Recognizing alcoholism. What a subject! There are a few of ways you can do it if you're interested.

a.     You could take one of those little quizzes in the

back of your favorite monthly magazine.

b.     You could ask your doctor (you want clueless?

you can't imagine!). Or

c.     You could talk to someone who knows someone

who knows someone who actually is an alcoholic, and compare symptoms. Or you can do this: get really, really honest about your drinking.

To recognize something means to see it. I'll ask you:

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THAT YOUR DRINKING IS A PROBLEM?

To recognize means to become familiar with.

Your drinking hasn't become all too familiar? The bad endings. The hangover. The decision over and over again that gets you the same end result—disaster!

You don't know that your drinking is different? Different from the person who actually has one glass of wine with their salad? You need a quiz to recognize that your drinking is different???

You already recognize something. Don't you?

Here's what you need more than an "Alcoholic—are you or aren't you?" test. You need an honest, safe environment, with no judgment or shame. Just the truth about our drinking and a quick discussion on alcoholism.

I'm not sure there is a more important step in sobriety than getting to the truth about your drinking, because once you/I/we get honest, have a look at what's really going on (otherwise known as the truth), we can begin to create space for a solution.

You want to know if you are really, really, really alcoholic? Like, alcoholic! That's a big word. Alcoholic! Not just a problem drinker? Not just under a lot of stress? Not just a party kind of guy/gal?

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Anti-alcoholism