![]() No family member or friend commenting on my drinking? No risky behavior (driving after drinking more than 2 or 3 drinks)? No physical effects (hangover, memory loss, loss of control)? What do I expect from my alcohol consumption?Ĭan I honestly say that there are no negative consequences of my drinking? Has drinking become an important priority? How will you know if you are drinking too much? Here are some key questions to ask to help you in your self-assessment:Īm I drinking alcohol as a beverage or using it as a drug?ĭo I need alcohol to relax or relieve the stress of working with clients?ĭo I use alcohol to cope with negative reactions and emotions?ĭo I use alcohol to manage social functions or relationships?ĭo I make sure that there is always time for alcohol in my schedule? So a key to assessing when you are drinking too much has as much to do with why and how you are drinking as it has to do with how much you are drinking. Most problematic expectancies related to alcohol are connected with drug effects, not beverage characteristics. At the same time, it is a restricted and regulated substance that one should learn to use responsibly only after reaching the age of 21. Alcohol is viewed as a most effective social lubricant, a tension reducer, an inhibition releaser, a sexual enhancer, a courage builder, and a communication facilitator. ![]() Part of the problem lies in shared ambivalence and attitudes about alcohol and what we expect from it. However, if use of alcohol has transitioned from beverage to drug, from use to abuse, from drinking in moderation to drinking too much, the individual will likely have problems.Īlcohol is a drug with specific mechanisms of action in the brain and documented neurocognitive, behavioral, and emotional effects. Having a drink can be a socially acceptable way to escape from the stress of patient care, the loneliness and burden of confidentiality, and the tension of an overextended work schedule.Īs long as alcohol remains a beverage and does not become a drug, it does not pose a problem. Some may be vulnerable to the lure of alcohol to relieve stress in order to deal with the daily exposure to the toxic emotions and problems of patients. Psychologists are not immune from the problem. SeptemMany very successful and competent individuals have found themselves in trouble with alcohol and have had to free themselves from problem drinking. DiClemente, PhD, and the Advisory Committee on Colleague Assistance
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