Today we decided to take a look at some of the things people think make them an alcoholic. If you’re wondering, “Am I an alcoholic?” remember that these things do not automatically make you one.
Loss
Everyone goes through life and loses something. We have yet to meet a person who hasn’t lost at least something. Most people think that just because they lose friends, family, jobs, or whatever, that they are an alcoholic or addict. That simply isn’t true.
Losing friends very well may just be a matter of having the wrong friends, or losing a job may be the result of a whole host of issues. It happens. Especially in this economic climate, a lot of people are going through the same things that are surely not alcoholics or addicts.
Not Getting Something
Similar to the above, just because you missed out on a promotion does not necessarily mean that you are an alcoholic. It may very well be that way, but it isn’t automatic. Everyone loses something, and similarly, everyone fails. It is part of life. It is what builds character. Rewards and outside circumstances are not what make us alcoholics or addicts, and even though they can be very good indicators that there may be a problem, ultimately this is not a deciding factor.
Being held back
Not reaching your full potential might be a result of drugs and alcohol, but if someone doesn’t go anywhere in life, that doesn’t mean they are an addict or alcoholic. It may sound brutal, but it also might simply just be a matter of being lazy.
Of course there are some people who just catch a rough break in life, and for whatever reason, things just don’t work out. However, this is not always because of drinking or using. It could be a whole variety of other reasons as well.
Not making friends
Again, like the above, just because you have trouble making friends and you drink or use does not mean you are an alcoholic or addict. Some people simply just have a hard time interacting with people. They call alcohol a social lubricant, but just like a wheel, there has to be something to lubricate for there to be an effect.
Getting Arrested
Finally, and perhaps most commonly, getting arrested does not necessarily mean you are an addict or alcoholic. It could be that you just have extremely poor judgment and tend to participate in risky behavior. It certainly doesn’t help a person’s case in determining whether or not he or she is an alcoholic or addict, but unmanageability in life is not the same thing as alcoholism and addiction.
If These Do Not Make You an Alcoholic, Am I an Alcoholic?
Being an alcoholic or an addict is based solely on the fact that, for whatever reason, once you start drinking or using, you cannot stop no matter how much you want to or how hard you try.
All these things tend to follow the alcoholic or addict, but that does not mean that these things inherently mean someone is an alcoholic or addict.