If you are concerned about your use of alcohol or other mood altering substances or if someone close to you has expressed concern for you in this area, you may be experiencing a level of alcohol or drug involvement that is interfering with your life. Before we look at some of the indicators of dependency it is important that you know that these are only indicators. They are not meant to provide a definitive assessment but to give you information to help you begin the process of addressing your concern about substance use. If you find that your level of concern has increased with this information please consider accessing help to gain a more thorough assessment and support.
Isolation can fuel an alcohol or drug dependency.
Often the first step to breaking the vicious cycle involves reaching out and asking for help. Part of the nature of alcohol and drug dependency involves the tendency to not see the impact of substance use in one's life. This tendency to rationalize can be quite extreme and may involve a range of reactions from complete denial to blaming people, places and things. Moving through this aspect of dependency can be difficult and takes time and often assistance. This is an area that can create pain for family members, as they are often the objects of blame when the real source of problems is the addiction.