If you’re reading this and have been considering going through detox for alcohol or drug detox, I’m sure you’ve asked yourself if you’re an alcoholic lately. The answer to this question is complicated because only you can answer it. It’d be even better if a mental health professional helped you figure this out, but not everyone has that luxury. Here are some things to think about when asking this question.
What does your relationship with alcohol look like?
- Do you only drink when you’re sad?
- Do you drink alone?
- Do you try to schedule when you’re going to drink throughout the week?
- Do you find yourself thinking about alcohol for most of the day?
- Is your drinking affecting your closest relationships?
- Does drinking make you feel invincible?
What does your relationship with your thoughts look like?
You may have heard this already, but alcoholism is also referred to as the thinking disease. All alcoholics have a very negative thought process about themselves and the world around them. This is not to say that we’re completely void of happiness or positive thoughts, but the negative always dominates. This usually stems from childhood wounds and critical voices from growing up. It could’ve been parents, siblings, friends, other adult figures, or all of the above. We may have developed an unhealthy perception of the world that stayed with us into adulthood.
Regardless of whether or not you label yourself an alcoholic, if you’re in need of detox, please reach out to us ASAP for an assessment. Please do not consider how to safely detox from alcohol at home. There is no safe way if you’re trying to do it without the help of professionals.
By Clint Fletcher