Seven myths about being an alcoholic

An Alcoholics Anonymous member uses their experience to bust some of the common myths surrounding alcoholism as AA launches its first London-wide advertising campaign.

An AA member busts some of the common myths about alcoholics. Picture: Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Images

I don’t think I’m an alcoholic so it is unlikely that I am one

Most alcoholics are in denial about the disease. They think they are a social drinker and can control their drinking. This goes on until life gets so depressing for them that they either have a medical scare, lose their job or marriage or isolate themselves totally from society and continue to drink.

It is a progressive illness. Sometimes people recognise that they have a problem earlier on and get help from their GP or a counsellor. They then get into recovery sooner. Or often they carry on going down the spiral. Some people become homeless before they get help.

I don’t look like an alcoholic so I can’t be one

Often people think an alcoholic is a person in a rain coat, living on a park bench. But it can be a professional, a skilled person, teenagers, students, doctors, men and women. Anyone.

I can’t be an alcoholic because I have a job

Many alcoholics can have a job for many years and control their drinking. But the bouts of binge drinking get closer together and the binge quantities become greater in order to find the happy effect alcohol gives.

Most alcoholics in the earlier stages of alcoholism have jobs. They lose them because they do not recognise they have a problem and the problem gets worse, not better.

I can just have one drink

An alcoholic cannot take the first drink as it triggers the compulsion. A heavy or social drinker can. The real test is for an alcoholic is to try controlled drinking.

I often stop drinking for a bit without a problem so it’s unlikely I am an alcoholic

Most alcoholics from time to time can stop drinking for a while but when a problem occurs they turn to alcohol to find relief. The cycle then starts all over again.

I do drink too much but that’s my only problem

An alcoholic usually has a lot of problems and issues. Until the drinking problem is acknowledged, these problems go round in a vicious cycle.

Alcoholics can never get help

Alcoholics can get help through Alcoholics Anonymous. We identify and understand the problem. Working as a group and as individuals, we help each other a day at a time to stay sober and live normal happy lives.

This article appeared on our sister title iNews.