Show Understanding the Alcoholic By fly Dr Ur Vincent VincentA A reader from Vernal wrote me concerning a problem she Is experiencing with her husband specifically relating to drinking alcohol She wondered if It he was an alcoholic and if there were any symptoms she might look for In understanding what was happening Other readers have wondered about the use of alcohol by youth This concern about alcohol and related problems has led me to do some research into the problem nationally and locally and to formulate a series of articles about alcoholic behavior The first of these deals with understanding the alcoholic Material for this has been derived from the many helpful resources of the Utah Alcoholism Foundation Local agencies including the Uintah Basin Association of Governments have been most cooperative In providing assistance THESE ARE Aim some of the evidences of alcohol problems which can be observed which might be helpful in assessing the magnitude of the drinking problem These include 1 Personality changes Increased increased increased in In- creased irritability depression 2 Blackouts from 3 Gulping and sneaking of drinks 4 Loss of control over the quantity of alcohol consumed 5 5 a system of alibis and excuses 6 Drinking in the morning 7 Drinking alone 8 social Anti-social or ora ora ora a social behavior TilE THE ALCOHOLIC exhibits several psychological characteristics which can assist in understanding his behavior 1 Bondage to the present The alcoholic seems to have little regard for the past and the future is too remote to be used as a guide or limit or behavior 2 Denial of reality because of his low self-esteem self and feelings of inadequacy He is filled with excuses and rationalizations 3 Estrangement and alienation The alcoholic typically feels separate and andal andaline al aline ne 9 4 4 Dep Dependency o The alcoholic is dependent upon the chemical substances of alcohol physically and psychologically and upon people around him 5 DEPRESSION Typically the alcoholic has a deep sense of hopelessness and helplessness He often covers this with a facade of gaiety 6 Aggression and hostility The alcoholic seems unable to externalize his hostile feelings and sits on them keeping them inside Drinking becomes a way of inflicting self punishment 7 Blurred sexual identity in alcoholics causes a sense of anxiety and tension 8 Anxiety and tension is often manifested in talking with alcoholics They often have a alow alow alow low frustration tolerance are sensitive and handle tension by withdrawing into drink THE TIIE ALCOHOLIC has been regarded as having a defective character and stereotyped as a vagrant skid row type in ragged clothes Alcoholism presently is regarded as a disease entity with definable symptoms and treatment alternatives Treatment techniques make alcoholism hopeful and helpful This column appears on a bimonthly bimonthly bimonthly bi bi- monthly basis in the Vernal |