Posts Tagged 'alcoholic'
C.A.G.E – a short test for alcohol problems.
Published May 28, 2012 Addictions 1 CommentTags: alcohol abuse, alcohol problem, alcoholic, alcoholics, alcoholism, booze, C.A.G.E. alcohol test, drinking, drinking problem, drunk, substance abuse, substance use
E – Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning, and eye opener, to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?
Happy Independence Day
Published July 4, 2011 Addictions Leave a CommentTags: alcohol problem, alcoholic, alcoholics, alcoholism, drinking too much
As we celebrate Independence Day for our country,
take a step toward personal celebration…
and ending your own dependence on alcohol or drugs!
Much is made of the capacity to manage one’s life independently, but so many people find themselves struggling with their dependence on alcohol or drugs and 
sometimes lose confidence in their own inner strength.
At its most extreme consequence, alcohol and drug dependence can rob one of friends, family, purpose and promise, until the person 
ceases to understand or accept the terrible price others may have paid for caring about them and trying to be loving and supportive even when the addiction turned cruel.
If you are questioning your own use of alcohol or drugs, and think that just maybe the people who have suggested it’s a significant problem are right, why not seek a professional opinion? Call a qualified therapist today, and begin the process of exploring and illuminating your lifestyle choices and their impact on you and on the people in your life.
Climb out of the depth of your addiction and reclaim your life. Your therapist and the people who still care about you will believe in you until you can believe in yourself.
YES YOU CAN.
Poor Me!
Published July 13, 2010 Addictions Leave a CommentTags: alcohol problem, alcoholic, alcoholics, alcoholism, drinking problem, making changes, recovery, recovery from alcoholism
Poor me.
POUR ME!
Alcohol addiction, if you are struggling for sobriety, is a formidable adversary. Something that will make your battle more difficult is to have an attitude of entitlement. Yes, you may have experienced some serious losses due to your drinking, and you deserve empathy and warm wishes as you confront your painful and even damaging behavior. It is not helpful to your recovery however, or to your rebuilding of relationships, if you keep the perspective of having been “deprived” of your rightful
privileges and possessions. In fact, if you have lost people dear to you and possessions you worked hard for, it may be more helpful to accept that you traded them away in return for “that feeling.” The loss of meaning and positive self-regard, through neglect, distraction and deceit is painful to accept. Only through acceptance of our own frailty can we hope to re-build a whole and wholesome self. All else is simply a flight into health; and short-lived at that.
Recovery can be an arduous process if properly done. Try not to run before you can walk.
If you want to fly, take the time to grow wings.
Yes. You can.
Do you have a drinking problem? Use this quick test to find out.
Published February 8, 2010 Addictions Leave a CommentTags: alcohol problem, alcoholic, depression and drinking, drinking, drinking alone, drinking problem, problem drinking, test for alcoholism
This post is being republished due to recent conversations I’ve had both in and outside of my office. 
Do you drink alcohol? If so, do you manage it easily and safely, or do you have a drinking problem? Social drinking (no more than 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women) is widely practiced and accepted, and according to some researchers even may reduce the risk of coronary disease. A “drink” should be considered as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces (one shot) of liquor. Many people however have a problem with alcohol that threatens their health, relationships and employment, and may endanger or distress other people. Counting drinks on a daily basis may not give you a clear understanding of the impact of alcohol in your life or on others around you, so along with counting drinks a broader view is necessary. Some signs of problems drinking include: Becoming moody or argumentative after drinking; Drinking more for the same effect; Drinking alone; Drinking to cope with issues such as loneliness, or discontent with ones partner or job; Drinking to ward off depression or anxiety; Mishandling daily affairs or relationships; Forgetting events that occur while drinking; Discovering that former friends are staying away from you because of your drinking.
The Alcohol Use Disorders Indentification Test (AUDIT) was developed by the World Health Organiztion of provide a simple screening tool. It can be used by anyone to help decide if you or someone you know might need a more thorough assessment for problem drinking.
To take the AUDIT just answer each question with the honest number of 1, 2, 3 or 4 (**questions #9 and #10 can be scored only with a zero, a two or a four). Remember, not being honest with yourself as you answer the questions may be a sign that you have a drinking problem you are afraid to face.
1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol? 0 (never)/1 (monthly or less)/2 (two to three times per month)/3 (two to three times per week)/ 4 (four or more times per week)
2. How many drinks do you have on a typical day when you are drinking? 0 (none)/ 1 (one or two)/ 2 (three or four)/ 3 (five or six)/ 4 (seven to nine) ** Score 5 points if your response is ten or more drinks on a typical day.
3.How often do you have more than three drinks (women) or more than five drinks (men) on one occasion. 0 (never)/ 1 (less than monthly)/ 2 (monthly)/ 3 (weekly)/ 4 (daily or almost daily)
4. How often during the last year have you found that you were unable to stop drinking once you had started? 0 (never)/ 1 (less than monthly)/ 2 (monthly)/ 3 (weekly)/ 4 (daily or almost daily)
5. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was expected from you [not going to work or school, ignoring relationship, medical or legal expectations] because of drinking? 0 (never)/ 1 (less than monthly)/ 2 (monthly)/ 3 (weekly)/ 4 (daily or almost daily)
6. How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session? 0 (never)/ 1 (less than monthly)/ 2 (monthly)/ 3 (weekly)/ 4 (daily or almost daily)
7. How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse [for your behavior or for drinking itself) after drinking? 0 (never)/ 1 (less than monthly)/ 2 (monthly)/ 3 (weekly)/ 4 (daily or almost daily)
8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking? 0 (never)/ 1 (less than monthly)/ 2 (monthly)/ 3 (weekly)/ 4 (daily or almost daily)
9. Have you or someone else been injured [intentional or not, self-inflicted or from another] as a result of your drinking [and/or while drinking]? 0 (never)/ (no score of “1″ -skip to score two)/2 (yes, but not in the last year)/ (no score of “3″- skip to score 4)/ 4 (yes, during the last year)
10. Has a relative, doctor or other health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down? 0 (never)/ (no score of “1″ -skip to score two)/2 (yes, but not in the last year)/ (no score of “3″- skip to score 4)/ 4 (yes, during the last year)
Add up the numbers for the ten questions to get your score. A score of 8 or more indicates possible problem drinking and the need for a more thorough assessment. If your score indicates the need for an assessment, you should consult a qualified health provider to discuss your drinking and the possible treatments that are available to you. If your total score is less than eight but more than four, it would be advisable to consider how you are using alcohol, and ask someone close to you if they believe you are a problem drinker. If your score is less than four, you are probably using alcohol responsibly, and can simply be mindful of any changes in your use or in the results of your drinking.
T-ACE: Test your drinking behavior
Published January 11, 2010 Addictions Leave a CommentTags: alcohol problem, alcoholic, alcoholics, alcoholism, test for alcoholism
Happy New Year???
Have you resolved to reduce your drinking?
Many people have a holiday season filled with a little (or a lot) too much alcohol. Perhaps there was a round of parties, each more “wet” than the next. Or maybe it was a quiet holiday season, with time at home – maybe with just a few family or friends – and plenty of time to sip your way through the week.
But it’s happened before, and each time you ask yourself if it’s time to seriously cut back.
Here’s a quick and easy screening test to see if you may have a problem with alcohol.
The T-ACE Test is composed of only 4 questions, but has proved useful in diagnosing alcohol problems in both men and women.
T - Does it TAKE more than 3 drinks to make you feel high?
A - Have you ever been ANNOYED by people’s criticism of your drinking?
C - Are you trying to CUT DOWN on drinking?
E - Have you ever used alcohol as an EYE OPENER in the morning?
A “yes” answer to any two of these four questions is an indication of possible alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence.
** Remember: as with all screening tests, a more in-depth evaluation is needed if there is an indication you may have a problem. If you answered even one question with a “yes” it may be time for you to consider talking to a professional therapist about what’s going on in your life and to get support in deciding whether you need more focused help with reducing or eliminating your alcohol use.
Make your Happy New Year a decision, not a question. 
Falling Off of the Wagon…
Published October 12, 2009 Addictions Leave a CommentTags: alcohol problem, alcoholic, alcoholics, alcoholism, falling off the wagon, maintaining sobriety, off the wagon, on the wagon, sobriety, staying sober
… is easy. Remember, it’s moving!!
So you have to hold on. And that can be hard.
How many times have you promised yourself that you would cut back your drinking after a particularly dramatic event that was embarrassing or humiliating for you? Or perhaps for someone who you say you care about? Have you left someone emotionally wounded with hateful words or actions? Perhaps you don’t even know… can’t remember, but have a vague sense that you have hurt someone beyond measure by saying or doing the meanest thing you could think of at the time.
Or maybe you have wounded yourself with injuries self-inflicted accidentally or purposely while intoxicated beyond control? Because Life is not static, not fixed in a moment in
time or in memory, it’s important to remain resilient and determined to meet each day’s challenges with an intentional and positive attitude, including when your personal challenge is alcohol addiction. Many clients have told me the old not-so funny joke – with a wry yet sad smile on their faces: “Yes, I’ve stopped drinking. Many times!”
If this is true for you, then start work to realize the truth of your addiction and your destruction of your own life and the lives of those you claim to hold dear. Seek help to accept this truth, confront it and ultimately to overcome it so that you can transform it into another more enlightened, joyous, productive and loving truth.
You will see the change in the eyes and hear it in the voices of the people you know and meet.
And, you will see it in your own eyes when you look into the mirror.
Reclaim your life, and also the love of those around you.
Yes You Can.
“Space for Rent” – are you renting space in your head?
Published July 4, 2009 Musings Leave a CommentTags: AA, alcoholic, alcoholics, drinking, obsessing, positive thinking
There is a saying, popular among Alcoholics Anonymous proponents, that when one pays more attention to the issues others have than to ones own life challenges, that you are “renting space in you head” for them to store their troubles with you – so they can sleep like a baby while you sit up worrying about what they’re doing and why. Or with whom.
Perhaps its time to take down your “For Rent” sign, and focus your time and intentions on the positive aspects of your life: the health and well-being of yourself, those you love and who love you, and the world in general. Though a trite question when we are immersed in the swirl of our ever expanding social and professional concerns, it’s still worth asking: If this were my last few days on earth, how would I spend them? And what am I doing that I would stop doing?
Don’t wait. What really are you waiting for? Move into the positive, and begin to re-create your dreams with all of your “head space” available for the task. It will leave more room for dreaming of a better tomorrow, and for planning to make your dreams come true.
