Alcohhol addiction is a huge national problem. Many people recognize alcoholism as the unkempt person living in a box under a bridge. This is the life alcohol addiction may lead to but is not the majority of active alcoholics. Alcoholism is a "cunning, baffling and powerful " disease. Alcoholism doesn't care if you are smart, tall, rich, poor, male, female, employed, unemployed, old, young, married or single.
Some of the symptoms of alcohol dependence include: increased tolerance, increased usage, withdrawal 12 hours after use, relying on the substance to manage feeling or alter mood, using alcohol even when the consequences are large, acting in ways the person would not do when sober, not being able to recognize the effects or the extent to which alcohol runs choices. There is evidence that it has a genetic predisposition. Although there is no cure for this disease, but it can be kept in remission by not drinking. If an alcoholic begins to drink again, he/she will return to the previous level of disease quickly and it will likely get worse soon. It is the nature of the disease, not a matter of morals or an issue of intent. some alcoholic drink daily, even large amounts, and keep a job. They may be business owners, lawyers, doctors, teachers, waiters, police officers etc. The family and the alcoholic are affected by the disease anyway. (More about that next time.) There is a good books on the subject - Understanding the Functional Alcoholic, The Invisible Alcoholic and Drinking, A Love Story, the "big book" Alcoholics Anonymous, to name a few. Grown ups forget sometimes that playing has a strong positive power. Watch children at play. It is a time to create, invent, be who you dream of being. Play is a way of working out feelings. For example, a young boy who has been hit by a caretaker might benefit from slaying dragons. There is a lot of power in being a dragon slayer. A child might feel "less than" if he/she has a handicap or less resources than other children. Playing king or queen levels the field. Children like to make up or change the rules of game so they can win or have the power to set the rules. Adults do this sometimes in card games or golf.
As people get older, they still work out things by playing. For adults it is called role playing. It is helpful to rehearse how you want to be at a job interview so you will present yourself as the competent, knowledgeable person you can be... even if you don't feel that way when you are anxious. People learn from trying different things. The more fun it is, the faster they learn and the easier it is to try new things. I recommend finding some ways to play. Relax. Let your imagination loose. Do something different and see how much power you have had locked inside. |
Archives
April 2018
Categories |