The holidays are a time of “more.” More parties. More social gatherings. More celebrations. And more drinking. Many of the usual drinking rules are relaxed during the holiday season. For example, drinking in the daytime becomes acceptable, even at the office. As a result, more drinking and driving occurs during the holidays than any other time of the year.
Here are some warning signs to watch for if you think someone you love may have a drinking problem:
• Drinking early in the day.
• Excessive drinking (drinking every day or every few days, or drinking increased quantities).
• Continuing to drink when they’ve “had enough.”
• Denying they’ve “had enough.”
• Urging others to “have one more” when they’ve said “no thanks.”
• Including alcohol in every activity.
• Always making sure there’s “enough” alcohol (buying excess liquor for gatherings).
• Refusing to discuss it when someone expresses concern about their drinking.
The most common symptom of alcoholism is denial that there’s a problem. And yet, the first step in recovery is admitting there might be a problem.
20 questions to ask someone that you suspect has a drinking problem:
1. Do you lose time from work due to your drinking?
2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?
3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?
4. Is drinking affecting your reputation?
5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking?
6. Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of your drinking?
7. Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when drinking?
8. Does your drinking make you careless of your family’s welfare?
9. Has your ambition decreased since drinking?
10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily?
11. Do you want a drink the next morning?
12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
13. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking?
14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?
15. Do you drink to escape from worries or troubles?
16. Do you drink alone?
17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of your drinking?
18. Has your physician ever treated you for drinking?
19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
20. Have you ever been in a hospital or institution on account of drinking?
If the answer to three or more of these questions was “yes,” there may indeed be a drinking problem that needs to be addressed.
Alcoholism is a family disease. That means it affects not just the person who drinks, but everyone in the family—they’re called co-alcoholics, and they may need help as much as the alcoholic.
If alcohol is causing a problem in your life during the holidays and you’d like to talk about it, we invite you to call us and begin your healing journey.