Shopping Cart
Your Cart is Empty
Quantity:
Subtotal
Taxes
Shipping
Total
There was an error with PayPalClick here to try again
CelebrateThank you for your business!You should be receiving an order confirmation from Paypal shortly.Exit Shopping Cart

LISE SCHIFFER, LCSW

SOLUTION- FOCUSED COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY

My Blog

Blog

« Back to Blog « Older Entry | Newer Entry »

Am I An Alcoholic?

Posted on December 29, 2013 at 4:59 PM
What does it mean to be "alcoholic"? The DSM, psychiatry's diagnostic bible, does not have a category termed alcoholism per se, only diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. For many people with problematic drinking, physical dependence on alcohol is not an issue; they don't necessarily drink daily or suffer withdrawal symptoms beyond a hangover. Many problem drinkers therefore would deny that they are alcoholic because they think of the alcoholic as a daily drinker who requires a shot or two to get out of bed in the morning. Are they right?

Like many things in life which are not always black or white, alcohol use should be considered in the  context of a continuum; alcohol can be used, abused, and depended upon, both physically and psychologically, but how one draws the distinction is hotly debated. Another consideration is that problem drinking  is often progressive. What this means is that tolerance occurs over time, which means you need more and more alcohol to achieve the desired effect. Along with this increased tolerance comes impaired physical health and a host of other consequences. But this happens to all heavy drinkers over time and some would disagree that heavy drinking should always be considered "alcoholism". 

As the former director of a substance abuse program and in my private practice, I have worked with hundreds of people in trouble with alcohol. Some call themselves alcoholics, some do not. Sometimes the people who are comfortable with that label can have less problematic drinking than those who deny it.  I know of someone who had a liver and two kidneys transplanted  due to drinking who denies being an alcoholic! I also know of people who are not generally problem drinkers but who have gotten a DUI or, in one case, hit and killed someone with a car,  due to a single incident where they had too much to drink. 

If you are reading this, you may be wondering if you are indeed "an alcoholic". Considering that not everyone agrees on precisely what defines "alcoholism" except in its more extreme and obvious cases, I would suggest that you might be asking  the wrong question. Here are perhaps some better questions to ask yourself:

1.  Would my life improve if I stopped drinking:

 Would I get along better with significant others? Would I be better at my job ? Would I be a better parent? Would I feel better physically? Would I be more productive, sharp, on top of my game? And, perhaps most importantly, would I like myself better?

2. Do I notice that over time, I need significantly more alcohol to get the same kind of effect?

Did I used to get high on two glasses of wine and now I need 5 or 6? Or 8 or 10? And, if so, do I understand that alcohol in these quantities is damaging to every organ system in my body?

3. If I set myself a limit, can I consistently abide by it?

This to me is key. I often advise my clients who are debating with themselves if they truly have a problem with alcohol to try this little experiment: For one month, set yourself a limit on how many drinks you'll consume per day (or night).  The limit should be set by you but should be within what would give a person of your gender, height and weight a pleasant buzz, perhaps 2 for women, 3 for men. Can you do it?

4. Does my personality or behavior become problematic when I drink?

Do others tell me I get nasty or belligerent? Do I get weepy and sad? Do I get into conflicts with others I otherwise would not? Do I have blackouts (periods while drinking where chunks of time can't be recalled)? Does my judgement become impaired? 

So, in conclusion, whether or not you identify as alcoholic or not, if you answered yes to the first two questions, no to the third, and yes to the fourth, if I were you, I'd seriously consider giving up alcohol.

Categories: Alcoholism

Post a Comment

Oops!

Oops, you forgot something.

Oops!

The words you entered did not match the given text. Please try again.

2678 Comments

Reply content writer
4:04 PM on April 24, 2018 
Love everything about your blog. You are amazing at what you do and I look forward to seeing more of such great content here.Keep up the good job.
Reply Chess
3:43 PM on April 27, 2018 
Thanks for this post! Great.
Reply ChrisRoss
4:12 PM on April 30, 2018 
informing post
Reply JessieSimpson
4:45 PM on April 30, 2018 
informing post
Reply John sfdgjhk
3:37 PM on May 15, 2018 
Thanks.
Reply
2:18 AM on June 20, 2018 
Nice
Reply jiGKtQaL
12:55 PM on May 18, 2021 
bzhHVWSjJpUnAx
Reply NLXoDObKTPyaex
2:47 PM on June 16, 2021 
cXZQOgvElnLJxVM
Reply rJVciDzlxI
4:33 PM on August 17, 2021 
EwLlxiMJvKQNHGCz
Reply vXGtOkInj
9:41 AM on August 26, 2021 
CGDOWkQEl
Reply xSfpoNVcsUt
9:25 AM on September 11, 2021 
igxtYSBKnuNpDA
Reply KsAbLFDErWIOdo
10:57 AM on September 22, 2021 
BLzwaSUNErxtsv
Reply FuDRwSgEIfVm
2:23 PM on September 26, 2021 
bBAjLDIiEo
Reply IKTEJhRpueqaiSz
3:40 AM on October 12, 2021 
sCSzNEMgj
Reply nJPMwdCo
11:04 AM on October 28, 2021 
guZtNHOPjXdkVMBe
Reply RkomazvIBCUPMFE
9:13 AM on November 3, 2021 
RIxzAZLkFDB
Reply zPWlwRObmsvqu
9:16 AM on December 5, 2021 
ifQnJYvSbgcsT

Categories

/
Lightbox image