Alcoholism is a chronic disorder in which a person becomes dependent on alcohol. At first, the person may drink at parties, but he gradually begins to drink alone and increases the amount consumed on a daily basis. Becoming sober and refraining from alcoholic beverages does not mean that the alcoholism has been cured. It may be a lifelong struggle for the person.
Driving
Driving after having imbibed alcohol may occur unintentionally because the person does not realize while she is drinking how much is too much and how much is too little. The person's judgment is impaired by the inebriating effects of alcohol, and driving a vehicle becomes a danger for her and anyone within range of her vehicle. She may stop at a bar for a drink and leave intoxicated, then attempt to drive home.
Anxiety Relief
Drinking to relieve anxiety is a common excuse of the alcoholic. Emotional problems are some of the most common reasons people self medicate with alcohol, the Mayo Clinic reports. Undiagnosed underlying issues associated with mental health also are known causes of alcoholism. Relationship problems and work issues may make him feel he has a need to drink to unwind.
Concealment
As the alcoholic's drinking increases, she may attempt to hide it from her friends and family members. This may lead to drinking alone and hiding containers of alcohol in places where she feels others are unlikely to find them. By sneaking drinks no one else knows about, she may be able to deny she has a problem.
Socializing
While one alcoholic may drink alone, another may socialize with other heavy drinkers. This allows him to deny he has a problem because everyone else is drinking the same amount or more. He also may talk about his problems at bars or social gatherings where there is a large amount of alcohol consumed by many people. It is less noticeable this way because one person drinking a lot does not stand out within a crowd of heavy drinkers.
Oversized Drinks
Drinking alcohol in large oversized cups is another way for the person to feel less guilty about the amount of alcohol being consumed. The large containers take longer to consume; therefore, because she is getting refills less often, she may rationalize that she is drinking less.
