Alcoholism is a disease that many people battle with each year without realizing it. Denial is common with alcoholics because they assume that if they can have a somewhat productive life, there is nothing to worry about.
So many myths circulate about alcoholism that makes it difficult for someone to be able to truly decipher if they have a problem or not. The following guide debunks many of the common myths about alcoholism so that you can determine if you may need to seek help for a problem with alcohol.
Alcoholics Can’t be Young
Many people make the mistake of assuming that only people who are middle-aged and older can be alcoholics. That is not the case, though. There are many people who are under 21 who are battling alcoholism and do not realize it. Alcoholism can affect any age, race, sex, or religion; it doesn’t discriminate. As well, it often goes unnoticed for long periods of time, because alcohol is so readily available and accepted in society.
Alcoholics Drink Excessively Every Day
People commonly assume that in order to be deemed an alcoholic, someone has to drink each and every day. Alcoholism is an uncontrollable urge to drink. Some alcoholics can go days without drinking. There are some alcoholics who are sparked to drink through stress, depression, or social gatherings, using it as a way to cope. Someone can drink only a few times a week and still be an alcoholic. It has more to do with the mental and physical aspect of it, not how much one drinks at a time.
Alcoholics Don’t Have Full-Time Jobs
There are high-functioning alcoholics who are able to hold full-time jobs, even though they are intoxicated or hung over a majority of the time that they are at work. They learn how to cope with the effects of alcohol and still lead a productive life. Just because you have a full-time job, it doesn’t mean that you are not an alcoholic. Alcoholism can affect any person from all aspects of life.
Alcoholics Always Get into Some Form of Legal Trouble
While many alcoholics do end up getting DUI’s or into some form of legal trouble at some point or another, it is not something that happens to every alcoholic. Just because you have never been in trouble with the law while you were drunk, doesn’t mean that you don’t have a problem with alcohol. Using the excuse that you have never gotten a DUI or have been arrested for being drunk in public is not a way to justify drinking to excess.
Alcoholics Always Drink Alone
Alcoholism is a disease that causes people to drink based on the urges that they feel. While some do drink alone, it’s very common for alcoholics to socially drink with others, as well. Just because you go out to clubs or bars with your friends, it doesn’t mean you don’t have a problem with alcohol. If you find yourself getting drunk every time you go out to drink, it may be an indication that you don’t have a good relationship with alcohol and may want to consider giving it up.
Alcoholics Hide Their Drinking
You can be an alcoholic and not hide your drinking from other people. If you associate yourself with people who drink frequently, you more than likely will not feel the need to hide the fact that you are drinking. There are also many people who feel that having a few beers or mixed drinks after a long day at work is perfectly acceptable because they believe it helps them to be able to unwind.
Alcoholics Get Blackout Drunk All the Time
There are many functioning alcoholics who don’t blackout when they drink. People often think that in order for someone to be an alcoholic, they must get blackout drunk each and every time they drink. That’s not always the case, though. There are some people who simply drink to maintain a consistent buzz over an extended period of time. Alcoholism is more than just the amount one drinks; it’s about the mental and physical needs as well.
Alcoholics Have a High Tolerance to Alcohol
People often assume that alcoholics have a high tolerance for alcohol because they drink so frequently. That is not the case, though. There are many alcoholics who don’t have a high tolerance for alcohol because they only drink a few times a week. They drink in excess and end up becoming intoxicated because they have not drunk in a few days. There are some who intentionally avoid eating on days when they know that they’re going to be drinking so that they can feel a buzz from as quickly as possible.
Alcoholics Cannot Have Fun Without Alcohol
It’s a common myth that people who drink to excess cannot do normal activities without being intoxicated. There are many alcoholics who can live very normal lives even though they’re battling alcoholism. They can still play on sports teams, participate in family life, and excel at work with alcohol addiction. Just because you are able to do things without having to drink, it doesn’t mean you aren’t an alcoholic.
Alcoholics Go to Meetings
An ongoing joke in society is that you aren’t an alcoholic if you don’t go to meetings. Many people assume that all alcoholics know that they are alcoholics and choose to either keep living their life the way that they are living it or choose to change it and start going to meetings with other alcoholics.
Most alcoholics don’t realize that they have an issue and think that they are living a normal life. Most alcoholics actually never go to meetings unless they are court-ordered to go to them. The meetings can be quite helpful for many people because it can help them realize how bad their addiction really is and provide them with the guidance that they need to be able to stick with sobriety once they get it.
It’s important to realize that you don’t have to exhibit all of the characteristics listed above to be an alcoholic. If you feel an urge to drink and cannot go for an extended period of time without alcohol, there is a good chance you may be an alcoholic. If you exhibit a few of the characteristics listed above, you may need to get professional help.
A Better Today Recovery Services has a team of professionals who can help you determine if you have an addiction problem and guide you through the steps you need to take to overcome it. It will take time for you to be able to overcome your addiction to alcohol, but once you do, you will be able to live a more fulfilling life.
You have to be willing to push yourself and stay away from bad influences in your life. People who are currently battling addiction or who have never experienced addiction will not know what it is like to avoid temptation and stay on the right track. They may tempt you to take a sip or a shot because they think that it is not a big deal and that you do not have to fall back into your old ways if you do not want to fall back into them.
It’s important to realize that it only takes one sip of alcohol to fall back into the trap of addiction.
About The Author:
Stacey Smith is a freelance health writer. She is passionate to write about women’s health, dental health, diabetes, endocrinology and nutrition and provides in-depth features on the latest in health news for medical clinics and health magazines.