Mar 27 2009
Addiction Recovery: The Disease of Self-Diagnosis
To diagnose alcoholism and drug addiction, certified counselors in the chemical dependency field interview clients asking a series of questions to complete a biopsychsocial assessment and administer diagnostic screening tests.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fourth Edition, the symptoms of Alcohol Dependence include:
A maladaptive pattern of alcohol use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three or more of the following seven criteria, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:
- Tolerance, as defined by either of the following:
- A need for markedly increased amounts of alcohol to achieve intoxication or desired effect.
- Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of alcohol.
- Withdrawal, as defined by either of the following:
- The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for alcohol (refer to DSM-IV for further details).
- Alcohol is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
- Alcohol is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended.
- There is a persistent desire or there are unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol use.
- A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use alcohol or recover from its effects.
- Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use.
- Alcohol use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the alcohol (e.g., continued drinking despite recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption).
Keen Insight to the Obvious
Alcoholism is a disease of denial, and alcoholics are notoriously inaccurate historians.
Client: “Every now and then I might have a drink.”
Regardless of the results of an assessment by a clinician, or concerns expressed by physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, pastors, probation and parole officers, judges, employers, co-workers, wives, husbands, children or friends, recovery is an inside job which begins with self-diagnosis.
From the chapter More About Alcoholism, Alcoholics Anonymous , Fourth Edition affectionately called The Big Book:
We do not like to brand any individual as an alcoholic, but you can quickly diagnose yourself. Step over to the nearest barroom and try some controlled drinking. Try to drink and stop abruptly. Try it more than once. It will not take long for you to decide, if you are honest with yourself about it. It will be worth a bad case of jitters if you get thoroughly sold on the idea that you are a candidate for Alcoholics Anonymous!”
Recovery Rocks!
Roxie
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