Alcoholic Behaviors:How to Identify Alcohol Addiction Patterns
There are some typical alcoholic behaviors despite the fact that someone who drinks often will work hard at masking the problem and staying undetected, similar to someone who is a closet overeater. It’s important to try to identify alcohol addictive patterns if you are wondering if a family member, friend or even yourself has a drinking problem.
One characteristic alcoholic behavior is that drinking becomes the primary response for dealing with stress from work, relationships, making decisions and inner pressure. When people don’t have an alcohol addiction and the pressure builds up there is a need to clear one’s head. This can go in a healthy direction such as going to the gym, taking a car ride, running or going to the movies. Other ways to cope can involve surfing the net, tv watching and video game playing.
However, a growing alcohol addiction will be demonstrated by the fact that the person isn’t finding enough relief in any of the above activities but turns to alcohol as a way to forget the inner pressures (albeit temporarily). The more socially acceptable forms of release just don’t do it for the person. Does this sound like yourself or someone you know? If a drink isn’t available classic alcoholic behaviors include getting extremely irritable that alcohol can’t be consumed and a short fuse. Instead of communicating about issues, denial becomes the approach of choice as well as blaming others. As the drinking increases, there is a need for more due to building up a higher tolerance. There are many who think they can be a functioning alcoholic and attend work, go to their kids’ sports games etc but often the dependency on alcohol increases and starts to tear apart one’s life.
There is a growing physical dependency so it’s not just a way to take the edge off daily anxiety. This can manifest as hand tremors, stomach problems or blackouts. Many think they can balance drinking with daily activities, but what happens is since more alcohol is needed to get the relief from stress, this doesn’t work. A lot of rationalization may occur by saying that having a few drinks is common and that many people do that. That is true for some people, but those people use other healthy means for stress reduction as well such as sports’ activities, family outings, creativity via the arts etc. An alcohol addiction pattern is one where there is a strong mental and physical dependency on alcohol as the relief and no other types of activities really hit the spot like drinking.
Alcoholic behaviors develop into being late for work, not meeting deadlines, poor concentration and less involvement with the family. Health problems can grow due to the fact that alcohol addiction often includes poor attention to nutrition and one’s meals. Due to the fact of trying to avoid any admission of a problem, eye contact is often lessened as well as genuine dialogues with friends and family members.
Sadly, when this problem really mushrooms there can be significant financial issues, drinking during the day, job loss and even the break up of one’s family. Shakes and dts can occur as well as hallucinations and paranoia. It’s important to not let things reach this point. Doing an intervention may work to get the person to open his or her eyes. Rehab treatment can be very effective depending on the person’s honesty and degree of motivation. Sometimes hitting bottom is the key to true self-reflection but stopping drinking at an earlier stage will prevent a lot of damage to one’s health, life circumstances and goals.
I am a x-girlfriend of an alcoholic. It’s fun and natural to go out dancing or enjoying socializing with others, but when you notice that your partner is literally throwing them down to get the evening started, a red flag goes up. The textbook roller-coaster ride and jekyll and hyde is “you better believe it true”. But, his charm, intelligence and warmth friendship, etc. are believeable as well. Then the devil says “you can’t have him, he’s mine”. Yep! And, that’s true, also. You cannot have him. It’s sad, but, when you do see a glimpse of the gentle sweet person you love, he is swiftly swallowed up by the devil and your relationship is dust! There is nothing you can do here you are not in control, nor will you be able to control this addiction to drag him out of the quick sand he is in. Better to continue your journey and fill your life with happiness. This man is a cave dweller and you are not. It is a boring and mundane life to spend your times in bars and everywhere alcohol is at knowing his compatibility lies in his friends who drink, the bar maid, fellow woman drinkers and the drink itself. You cannot get into this circle because you do not worship the bottle. Sorry. Move along. Happiness and Alcoholism do not make compatible bed partners.
Is typical alcoholic behavior to lie and manipulate? I am not sure if my girlfriend just drinks socially (a lot) or if she really has a severe problem. She says she doesn’t need a 30 day program but can do her own do it yourself rehab program. But I think she is more messed up then she admits because sometimes she’ll have a beer before meeting her sister on the weekend because they always argue.
I think alcoholic behaviour patterns are learned from our society. It is in so many shows, even soap operas. Even my dad drinks more than he should, but he won’t admit he has an abuse problem because he likes to think he’s in control of everything.
Yes, lying and manipulating are all part of an alcoholic’s behavoir. Please understand that try as you might, there is nothing you can do to help. The alcholoci must want to stop. I am realizing this myself…our family is being torn apart by beer….
I’m an ex girlfriend to someone that is an alcoholic.He claims he doesn’t have a problem but in reality he does.He can be a real sweet guy but when he gets half lit he turns into a monster.He looks to get that buzz feeling on every night.He was drunk for the last 4 nights in a row and calls me on the phone all drunk trying to start a fight.Loves to call women names such as sl**,who**,bitch you get the picture.Claims he loves me but treats me like crap so that isn’t love.Treats people with no respect at all.All he does in lie and manipulate people.I’ve been telling him he has a drinking problem but denies it.He lives with his parents and they all drink hell for that matter i think the whole neighborhood does so he has it around him all of the time.You cant help someone if they don’t help them self and he isn’t gonna get help.He lost a good friend but i don’t surround myself for the kind of treatment he has been giving me.I had to be the bigger person and walk away and let him do whatever he wants to do.I can’t take the mental abuse no more from him.He has hurt me more than he knows and just thinks it’s a joke.Some people you can help but others you can’t.He will never be happy in life unless he meets a drunk as a girlfriend but no normal girl with put up with his LIES and his mental abuse towards women.I love this person very much but there is nothing i can do to help him.
I was in a relationship with a guy who is much older than me. I started seeing him in college, and the relationship progressed, as my education fell apart. We eventually broke up because I became to see life in a different light, the monotony of drinking became boring and confusing. He continued to drink excessively, In fact it became worse. He is on his way to losing his livelihood and denies everything, he lies, he manipulates, he blames others for his mistakes, he has more health problems, for the most part he seems heartless, and I will be another woman raising one of his many children. I fear the child will never see their father or maybe not want to.
I’m in my third marriage, each one has been destroyed by alcohol. I hardly ever drink, maybe the odd glass of wine if I ever go out. Ironically I don’t go out very often. Living with an alcoholic not only stops them living, it also stops you and your children having a nice life. As a partner of an alcoholic you can become isolated, lonely and depressed, the rollercoaster is a nightmare. I love my husband so much and my first instinct is to stay and help him, I tried this twice before and I was the one that ended up in a psychiatric ward. This time I have to keep well for my children, it’s a choice we make as adults, do we put up with alcoholic behaviour and abuse or do we escape from it? Our children don’t have that choice so we have to make it for them. Last week I told my husband I can’t help him anymore, it’s not good timing just before christmas, but as anyone who lives with a drinker will know christmas is always miserable - there’s even more drink available!
I’m now filled with a huge sense of relief but also I feel so sad, I’m going to miss Dr Jekyll so much, will only get my strength by reminding myself of Mr Hyde, that’s when I know I’ve done the right thing.