Most people believe that they are able to drink "socially", meaning that they feel they are able to have a drink or two on social occasions without drinking too much alcohol. The fact is, most people who drink overdo it. It is the rare person who can have a glass of wine or beer or a cocktail occasionally and not drink too much.
The reason for this is that alcohol lowers a person's inhibitions and impairs good judgment. A person may intend to have one or two drinks, but the alcohol causes the drinker's convictions to falter. Often, the more a person drinks, the more he or she wants to drink.
Alcohol abuse doesn't always look like this, though. Some alcoholics may not drink a lot, but they do drink in a prescribed and ritualistic manner. This type of alcoholic may have a cocktail upon arriving home, a glass of wine with dinner and a brandy before bed every single day.
In this case the problem is not so much the amount the person is drinking but rather that the person must drink the same drinks at the same time every day. Interference with this "drinking schedule" causes the drinker to feel anxious and/or angry, and that is a sign of alcohol abuse or alcoholism.
A person who drinks too much or who drinks in a rigid and ritualistic manner should seek to change the situation. Alcohol can ruin a person's life, and it can ruin the lives of the person surrounding the alcoholic.
Alcoholics make poor decisions. They tend to squander money. In fact, the mere act of financially supporting a drinking habit squanders money. Alcoholics may become secretive and self-centered, especially if their alcohol abuse is challenged by others.
It is hard to stop drinking on your own, and it is impossible to stop drinking just because someone else wants you to. If you suspect you may be abusing alcohol, your suspicion is enough reason to seek help. Alcohol abuse treatment centers offer a variety of programs. Enrolling in a program can help you gain perspective on your situation and get your drinking under control.
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