Many of us like to play down our relationship with alcohol. We just do what our friends do, or we know people who drink far more. But that is a rather dangerous position to be in, especially when it is estimated that there are almost 300 million people worldwide thought to have a problem with alcohol.
Believe it or not it is far more normal than you think, and it’s so very important to address it, with over three million each year dying as a result of abuse to alcohol.
But what are the tell-tale signs of denial? What are the behaviors that suggest you perhaps need alcohol detox treatment to ensure you don’t become one of those three million?
Playing down the consequences of drinking
If you find yourself downplaying how much you drink, then it is almost certain that you have a problem.
People who do not have a problem rarely have to justify or rationalize their alcohol intake, so if you find yourself saying, “I only drink at weekends”, “I can handle it”, or “it was just a one off”, then you are perhaps underestimating the role alcohol does play in your life.
You’re being defensive over your drinking habits
Many alcoholics feel on the back foot when they discuss their drinking, often becoming defensive or irritated by people expressing concern or asking “how much have you had to drink? Or ”don’t you think you’ve had enough?”.
It is essentially avoiding facing the true reality, but actually being open about it could be crucial in recognising the problem and breaking through the denial.
Playing the blame game
If you are beginning to rationalize your drinking, then there is certainly dependency going on. Justifying excessive drinking, such as blaming it on a stressful day at work or that you were out with your friends could very well be a major red flag.
What is more, in the case of the former, it is not going to help either and only going to make you feel more anxious about what’s going on in your life. It’s not a healthy way to tackle life’s problems.
You’ve tried and failed to cut down
It is of course ok to try and fail to cut down. It is a sign that you need help to do so. However, those addicts in denial will often offer excuses to try and justify why they failed rather than admitting they have a problem.
Excuses like “it was my best friend’s birthday” or “I managed three weeks” are commonplace, and if you find yourself in that position, then maybe you should seek out help.
There are tons of help available to you if you need it, from rehab treatment to counseling and support groups, as well as so much information online.
It is a huge problem globally, and the last thing you really want to be is part of it. It doesn’t end well…
