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Do you have an alcohol problem. Are you ashamed of it. Help is
just a phone call away. It's time for you to start taking care of you.
Get help now! Call 480-250-1857

There are people that drink regularly without experiencing any harmful effects, other
than perhaps a hangover on rare occasions. While millions of others suffer from
alcoholism and alcohol abuse, making even an occasional drink dangerous.

Why can some people drink responsibly, while others drink to the point of losing their
health, their family, or their job? Science has no answers for this. Drinking problems
are due to many factors. Genetics is still questionable, as science has not yet found
an alcohol gene. How you were raised, your social environment, and your emotional
health, appear to be leading factors. People who have a family history of alcoholism
or who associate closely with heavy drinkers are more likely to develop drinking
problems. People who suffer from mental health problems such as anxiety,
depression, or bipolar disorder are also particularly at risk, because alcohol may be
used to self-medicate.

Since drinking is so common in many cultures and the effects vary so widely from
person to person. It’s difficult to figure out where we draw the line between social
drinking and problem drinking. Taking an honest look at why you drink may help you
figure out which side of the line you fall on. Remember, though, the bottom line is not
how much you drink, but how alcohol affects you when you do drink. If your drinking is
causing problems in your life, you have a drinking problem.

What are the signs that suggest to a person they should be seeking
alcohol counseling:

When they cannot perform the normal functions they used to perform.

For example: they are having problems at work, over spending money.
Continued fights with family. Calling in sick when you are hung over.

Using alcohol in situations that are physically dangerous.

For example: Drinking and driving, mixing alcohol with prescription medication.
Operating machinery while intoxicated.

Experiencing repeated legal problems with the law.

For example: Getting arrested because of drunk driving, domestic violence,
disorderly conduct.

Continue to drink even though alcohol is causing serious problems in
your relationships.

For example: Hanging out with your buddies and getting drunk even though you
know you should be with your family and your spouse will be very angry.

mechanism in our mind called denial. Denial clouds our ability to see life in the
way things really are. Even though we may be facing serious consequences
because of our using, the mind will continue to rationalize why it is OK to
continue to use.

For example, your wife might be upset because you are not spending enough
time with her. You may interpret that as nagging. Or you might have had some
trouble at work because of poor performance and are blaming the situation on
having a lousy boss. Meanwhile the anger you have toward your wife or your
boss will just contribute to more drinking.

If you are in denial you may be demonstrating this by:

Downplay the negative affects drinking is having on your life
Blaming your drinking or the problems that are created by your drinking on
others.
Refusing to acknowledge how much you really do drink.
Denying what your friends and family are stating about your drinking

Your not the only one your alcohol use affects:

Effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse affect all aspects of your life. To start, long-term
alcohol use can cause serious health complications, affecting virtually every
organ in your body, including your brain. Problem drinking can also damage your
emotional stability, your finances, your career, and your ability to build and
sustain satisfying relationships. But it doesn't’t stop there. Alcoholism and
alcohol abuse have an impact on your family, your friends, the people you work
with, and even the greater community you live in.

The effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse on the people you love

Weather you’re able to succeed at work or hold your marriage together, you can’
t escape the effects that alcoholism and alcohol abuse has on your personal
relationships. Drinking problems put an enormous strain on the people closest to
you.

Often, family members and close friends feel obligated to cover for the person
with the drinking problem. So they take on the burden of cleaning up your
messes, lying for you, or working more to make ends meet. Pretending that
nothing is wrong and hiding away all of their fears and resentments can take an
enormous toll. Children are especially sensitive and can suffer long-lasting
emotional trauma when a parent or caretaker is an alcoholic or heavy drinker.
Getting help for alcoholism or alcohol abuse

Admitting you have a drinking problem, is the first step. It takes tremendous
strength and courage to face alcohol abuse and alcoholism head on. Reaching
out for support is the second step. You don’t have to face your drinking problem
alone.
Whether you choose to go to rehab, rely on self-help programs, get therapy, or
take a self-directed treatment approach, support is essential. Recovering from
alcohol addiction is much easier when you have people you can lean on for
encouragement, comfort, and guidance. Without support, it’s easy to fall back
into old patterns when things get tough.

Getting sober is only the beginning

Your continued recovery depends on several steps.

Continued mental health treatment
Learning healthier coping strategies.
Making better decisions when dealing with life’s challenges. If you wish to
stay sober for the long hall you’ll also have to face the underlying problems
that led to your alcoholism or alcohol abuse in the first place. Those
problems could be
Depression
Stress
Unresolved trauma from your childhood,
Or any number of mental health issues.

Problems like those listed above may become more prominent when you’re no
longer using alcohol to cover them up. But you will be in a healthier position to
finally address them and seek the help you need.

Although the effects of alcoholism and
alcohol abuse are detrimental to your
body, such as cancer, heart
problems, and liver disease. There is
also devastating consequences on the
people you love. Alcoholics and
alcohol abusers are much more likely
to get divorced, have problems with
domestic violence, struggle with
unemployment, and live in poverty.

If you are facing a drinking problem.
It would benefit you or the person you
know to seriously consider addiction
counseling. Alcohol counseling can
help you have a better understanding
of yourself and why you have a .
Counseling will provide you with a
new way of life. You will receive the
tools you need to figure out ways to
handle issues, without using alcohol.
You will regain self respect and a
new identity to live by.

A person with a drinking problem might:
Not be able to have just one drink.

They may:
Use the excuse of needing a drink to relax or unwind.

There is a chance:
They will lie to themselves, spouse, family or friends to hide their drinking habits.

They most likely:
Feel guilty or ashamed about there drinking.

They might even:
Black out and not remember events that took place while they were drinking.

Most Likely:
Drink more than they attended to.

Specializing In Marriage and Relationship Counseling In Scottsdale, AZ