You have worked hard on your sobriety and on maintaining a sober life. You should be proud of yourself and your accomplishments, but, if you have not yet formed the effective coping skills needed to deal with your drinking triggers, you may struggle to avoid relapse. If you do find that you are leaning closer to an alcohol relapse or have once again started to drink, it is vital that you get professional alcohol...

You may wonder if you are developing an alcohol addiction problem. If people around you have started to comment on your drinking habits, you may find that you are starting to question yourself. Learning more about alcohol abuse and addiction is important, if you are interested in quitting drinking. One of the first steps of addiction recovery is to acknowledge the fact that you have an addiction. Learning the...

The important thing to recognize with alcoholism is that every person’s problem is unique from another’s. No two people or addictions are alike; however, the stages of the alcoholism are usually similar. Knowing them can help you understand your problem and help you recover. The First Stage of Alcoholism Some of the early signs of alcoholism include the following: A slow increase in the tolerance to alcohol Using...

You may be concerned that heavy drinking indicates alcoholism. So how do you know if you are truly displaying the signs of alcoholism? There are ways to determine this and we can help. Signs of Alcoholism The symptoms and signs of alcoholism can vary greatly between individuals. There are, however, several behaviors and actions that are fairly common between those who are struggling with alcoholism. Ask yourself...

When the pressures of life become unmanageable and anxiety sets in, a person becomes susceptible to a variety of psychological problems. A certain amount of stress is unavoidable in life, but there are healthy and unhealthy responses to that stress. Anxiety can range from a mild but pervasive feeling of nervousness or worry to debilitating panic or terror. If left unchecked anxiety disorders can become life-threatening....

Family events are a prime opportunity for emotional flare-ups and family arguments over addiction. When there is an addiction in the family, it doesn’t just affect the person struggling with the addiction, it affects every involved member of the family in a variety of ways. Coping with Your Alcoholic Loved One at a Family Event Handling an alcoholic who refuses to admit that he or she has a problem or that...

Have you felt like you are stuck in a relationship and life rut due to your spouse’s addiction? Divorcing an alcoholic or drug addict can be a difficult decision to make, but if you feel as though you have exhausted all options to save your relationship and to provide your family with a stable, healthy and nurturing environment then the option of divorce may be the best option. Despite the fact that you are...

Is anger one of your addiction triggers? Whether you are angry at a family member, a coworker or a total stranger, your anger could quickly lead to a relapse unless you take swift action to prevent it. In order to stay sober you need to understand your drug or alcohol use triggers and also understand how to control them. Anger and Addiction Anger and addiction often co-occur, and your anger may be fueled by...

If you work in the food service industry, it may seem like alcohol is everywhere. In many cases alcohol is, in fact, all around you when you are at work. Whether you are a server, a restaurant manager, a hotel employee or a bartender, you probably handle alcohol at some point during your work day. Unfortunately many people who work in the food service industry begin unhealthy habits of smoking, drinking or even...

Alcoholism in the church is on the rise. Forty percent of evangelical leaders have said that they drink alcohol socially*, and many struggle with alcohol abuse or alcoholism. Church leaders and church employees are human, and they are not perfect. If a church leader or employee is struggling with an addiction, members of the church should consider planning an intervention. Alcoholism is a serious problem for...