Active addiction looks different for everyone. As diverse as human beings are, so are their experiences. While addiction can look glamorous through the lens of Hollywood or Wallstreet- it can also look like living under the bridge- maybe holding a brown paper bag. While these are two accurate depictions, it is more common somewhere in between the two.
It is also common to attempt to separate ourselves from the idea that we may really have a “problem.” It is important to connect with the feelings somewhere beyond our misconceptions of this disease.
The tricky part is deciding if it is time to reach out for help. Addiction is a self-diagnosed disease, which comes down to how unmanageable your substance (alcohol or drug) use is for you individually, even if it’s “just a six pack.” Remember, substance abuse is merely a symptom of the uncomfortable feelings we feel the need to cover up.
Want to take a deeper look? While this is not a diagnosis- it does help us gain insight to any drinking or using patterns that may be considered abnormal. If you cannot connect with alcohol use, simply change the word alcohol with your drug of choice.
https://www.ncadd.org/get-help/take-the-test/am-i-alcoholic-self-test
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