| Is your loved one an alcoholic? Are you angry | | | | The alcoholic is not seeking out someone to hurt. |
| that your life is so unhappy because of someone | | | | If you ask them why they drink, some don't |
| else's addiction? Most of us know what alcoholism | | | | really know, many will tell you they are simply |
| is, but do you ever think about what it is not? For | | | | medicating themselves the way you do with a |
| many people drinking is not all that they are, it is | | | | sleeping drug, or anxiety medication. Drinking can |
| a small part of what they are and a small part of | | | | be a double edged sword. People with depression |
| what they do. Many are fully functioning people in | | | | may drink, which increases the depression, which |
| the world, yet they cannot resist the urge to | | | | increases the drinking. Theoretically, they are |
| drink. Many have families that love them and | | | | trying to help themselves feel better. They are |
| would do anything for them, they are not | | | | not proud of their lack of self control, no one has |
| necessarily suffering from a lack of love, but they | | | | control over alcohol. |
| are suffering. | | | | Many of us drink to excess when we are out, |
| Alcoholics are good people, not mean people, at | | | | drive home and never get picked up for driving |
| least not intentionally mean. They don't wake up in | | | | over the limit that is acceptable by law. Imagine |
| the morning and ask themselves whose life they | | | | how horrible you would feel, or how bad you |
| can destroy along with their own. Your loved one | | | | have felt if this has happened to you? The people |
| is a victim of an irrational, non-caring disease. So | | | | who do this regularly feel guilty too. |
| the next time you are saddened by their | | | | Alcoholics are children, parents, siblings, and |
| behavior, you many not know what to do, but | | | | grandparents. They are smart, caring, creative |
| remind yourself of who and what they are not. | | | | and loving people. Normally we don't think about |
| Addiction is a scary thing in the world. Most people | | | | that, we are so wrapped up in our disappointment. |
| seem to have an addiction of some kind. The | | | | Treatment can help, but keep in mind that the |
| difference between the mega shopper, the | | | | failure rate is high. Interestingly enough, failure is |
| hoarder, the workaholic or the person with OCD is | | | | part of their eventual success. So does that mean |
| simply that those people are not driving and | | | | that your loved one is a failure? No, it just means |
| endangering other peoples lives. They are good | | | | that a good person has an addiction and |
| folks too, however they may be making their | | | | alcoholism takes no prisoners. |
| loved ones sad and angry also. | | | | |