How can you tell if drinking has gotten out of control? Do you have a problem with alcohol? Is it time to seek help for an alcohol use disorder? Does your loved one need help? What are the signs and symptoms of alcohol dependency? Let’s take the guesswork out of it. Diagnosing Alcohol Use Disorder…
In 2009, I made the worst decision of my life. I got behind the wheel one night after having way too much to drink. I had been at a bar, commiserating with a girlfriend about how nothing was going right in my life. I had a boss from hell and hated my job, my parents…
Pandemic parenting: it hasn’t been for the faint of heart. The pandemic is taking a toll on parents, and their stress is showing up in the form of increased alcohol abuse. Since the beginning of COVID-19, we’ve experienced the challenges of working from home (if we even still had a job), while tending to our…
I held a full-time job throughout my alcoholism which spanned nearly two decades. At least, I thought I did. I remember being so hungover on a near daily basis that I had to make up elaborate lies about why I was off my game and making so many mistakes. While initially that was easy, as…
It’s very common for people with substance use disorders to relapse during recovery, especially if they do not seek help when triggered.1 Factors such as depression, stress, and cravings can all make you vulnerable to relapse triggers, as well as levels of certain hormones and neurotransmitters like cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.2 Places or situations…
Picture this: you’ve been watching your partner, or someone in your immediate family, slowly succumb to alcohol addiction. Perhaps you found empty bottles of liquor hidden away, or you’re surprised to find the glass recyclables can full of beer bottles when you take out the trash. No matter what awakens you to reality, it’s a…
Chronic, heavy, and prolonged alcohol use carries the risk of developing addiction. But what other risk factors cause alcohol dependence? Is it simply a matter of drinking a lot during college, or is it something more biological like genetics? There are a number of risk factors that can lead to the spectrum of alcohol…
Getting sober can be one of life’s most difficult challenges. For many people, putting down their crutch can also mean a host of other life-changing actions. You may change how you socialize, not to mention how you cope without your trusted numbing agent. But do you have to drop all your friends if they still…
Grief is quite possibly the most difficult emotion one experiences in life. It is particularly difficult for those in recovery from substance use disorders, given the brain’s circuitry is wired to avoid pain, even if a person has been in recovery for a long time. Like any other triggers, it is important for a person…
Often, people with substance use disorders cause harm to others, either intentionally or inadvertently. Step 9 of AA’s 12-step program directs people in recovery to take accountability for actions that may have harmed others and to make amends when possible. In Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), making amends is considered a crucial component of long-term recovery. Understanding AA…
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