Individuals often hide their drinking
or deny they have a problem. How can you tell if you or someone
you know is in trouble? Signs of a possible problem include
having friends or relatives express concern, being annoyed when
people criticize your drinking, feeling guilty about your drinking
and thinking that you should cut down but finding yourself unable
to do so, and/or needing a morning drink to steady your nerves
or relieve a hangover.
Some people with drinking problems
work hard to resolve them, and often, with the support of family
members and/or friends, these individuals are able to recover
on their own. However, those with alcohol dependence usually
can't stop drinking through willpower alone. Many need outside
help. They may need medically supervised detoxification to avoid
potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms such as seizures.
Once people are stabilized, they may need help resolving psychological
issues associated with problem drinking. There are several approaches
available for treating alcohol problems. No one approach is
best for all individuals.
