Everyone knows Alcoholics Anonymous but fewer are aware of Al-Anon, a sister support group intended for the loved ones of those suffering from alcoholism. Al-Anon is a support group designed to help the friends and family members of alcoholics recover and move on, and if you’ve never been, it can be intimidating to go, especially…
Addiction is a disease, and just like many other diseases, relapse is possible. Relapse usually isn’t something that occurs suddenly, however. There are several triggers that precede relapse, which are events or issues that make you want to use. Recognizing what these triggers allow us to do our best to avoid them. Life’s Stressors While…
Most of us think of alcoholics as a stereotype, a person who can’t keep a job, who prioritizes alcohol over everything else, and who is actively and visibly drunk much or most of the time. While this stereotype can and does apply, as much as 19.5% of the 17.6 million people who qualify as alcohol…
My brother, John, is an alcoholic. He’s been drinking for 23 years. John has lost everything due to his alcoholism, his wife and children, his job, and his home. He lives on the streets, staying at the local men’s shelter whenever he can get the $2.50 together that is required. Since he has no income,…
Before I got sober, I was terrified of sobriety. How was I going to fill my free time without drinking? I was certain I was going to be bored to tears. I was wondering does sobriety have to be boring? I also thought that I didn’t need it because I hadn’t lost my job or…
Low Regard for Others Linked to Severity of Alcohol & Drug Use A study published online on March 8, 2016, titled Low Other-Regard and Adolescent Addiction, explores the relationship between inconsiderate behaviors and alcohol and drug use severity in adolescents. In a study design with 579 youths ages 14 to 18 (52% female, 30% minority),…
What is Problem Drinking? Sometimes it’s difficult to know when you have crossed the line from moderate or social alcohol use to problem drinking. If your drinking is causing difficulties in any area of your life, especially in work or relationships, it’s possible you may have a problem with drinking. Recognition and acceptance of the…
Created by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, the 12 step program is arguably one of the oldest and well-known treatment programs today. Established as guidelines that were determined to be successful enough in their infancy so that other support groups dedicated to those with substance use disorder adopted them. The Basics Of The 12 Step Program Many people…
Because alcohol is legal to consume, it is difficult to diagnose if there is a problem. Alcohol usage is a huge gray area with white on the left and black on the right. On the left, is the person who doesn’t consume alcohol at all or maybe twice yearly. On the right, is the person…
Dementia is typically a mental disorder that causes a person’s memory to deteriorate over time. While this is more commonly a genetic disorder that is passed down from one generation to the next (if your parents or grandparents suffered from dementia you are at greater risk), there are external factors that can bring about dementia.…