Am I Addicted?
Science has come a long way in its understanding of addiction. Years ago addicts were thought to be morally flawed and lacking in willpower. Now, decades of research have proven that addiction is a chronic brain disease similar to heart disease and diabetes, which runs in families and has a strong genetic component.
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If your loved one is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you’ve likely seen them behave in ways that confound, hurt, and even disgust you. This is because once the brain changes in response to prolonged exposure to a substance, the addict is programmed to behave in self‐destructive ways. They are no longer able to think clearly, control their behaviors, or make sound decisions. Finding and using drugs becomes the only thing that matters. Accepting that addiction is a disease does not mean shirking responsibility. In fact, just like diabetics and individuals with heart disease, addicts must take ownership of their illness and develop the skills to manage it. These skills create the foundation for the life‐saving transformation that happens in recovery. Addiction Is Treatable
Addiction doesn’t have to be a death sentence. It is treatable, and millions of recovering addicts are living proof that appropriate treatment works. While addition can be treated and addicts can go on to enjoy fully productive lives, it can not be cured. Maintaining a life of sobriety requires constant vigilance, adoption and practice of healthy coping behaviors, positive lifestyle changes, and creation of and reliance upon a strong and caring support network.
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I am a well respected person. I have a good job, a relatively stable marriage and am generally doing well. I love my drink and always look forward to the next drinking opportunity. I'm not an alcoholic...or am I?
When people picture an alcoholic, they usually see someone who drinks everyday, has poor attendance at work or cannot keep a job, may be homeless, always drinks in the morning etc. However, these are popular stereotypes that do not cover one type of the problem drinker- the High Functioning Alcoholic. High Functioning Alcoholics, like High Functioning Addicts because of their defiance of stereotypes ,do not believe they need help and often go unnoticed by their spouses and families because they are able to perform most routine tasks and life duties "normally" and do not appear as "typical" alcoholics. Usually, they are able to maintain their outside lives, such as jobs, homes, families, and friendships, all while drinking alcoholically. High Functioning Alcoholics can exhibit various characteristics at different times or phases of their drinking that can be broken down into different categories and include but are not limited to:
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• difficulty viewing themselves as alcoholics because they don't fit the stereotypical image • the belief that they are not alcoholics because they are successful • use of alcohol as a reward and/or justify drinking to relieve stress • ablility to maintain consistent employment and/or gain an education • well respected for job/academic performance and accomplishments • sustainable friendships and family relations • engagement in romantic relationships • craving set off by one alcoholic drink • obsession about the next drinking opportunity • display of personality changes and/or compromised morals when intoxicated • repetition of unwanted drinking patterns and behaviors • appearance to the outside world to be managing life well • skill at living a compartmentalized life (separating their professional and drinking lives) • appearances contradict the alcoholic stereotype • experience of few tangible losses and consequences from drinking, often by sheer luck |
Alcoholism like any other addiction is a chronic, progressive and lifelong condition that needs to be treated whether the alcoholic is a lawyer, doctor or a homeless person. The face of the alcoholic needs to be changed and the walls of denial must be broken down in order that alcoholics everywhere can receive proper diagnosis and treatment. Adapted from "The High Functioning Alcoholic" - Sarah Allen Benton. Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers.
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If you need treatment or support, we are here to help.
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, people do not choose to be addicted, and likewise they cannot simply choose not to be addicted. Addiction is a disease that requires intensive treatment that combines “self‐management, mutual support, and professional care provided by trained and certified professionals".
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, people do not choose to be addicted, and likewise they cannot simply choose not to be addicted. Addiction is a disease that requires intensive treatment that combines “self‐management, mutual support, and professional care provided by trained and certified professionals".
