Северный государственный медицинский университет
Без категории · 22 августа 2026 г.
❓How to Recognize the Onset of Alcohol Dependence in Yourself? — 22 августа 2026 г. в 07:58:01.476
❓How to Recognize the Onset of Alcohol Dependence in Yourself? If you convince yourself that a daily drink after work or mandatory alcohol consumption on weekends is just a way to relax, perhaps it's time to think about the problem of incipient alcohol dependence. It's important to understand: the line between "relaxation" and addiction is very thin. ❗"Regular alcohol consumption 'for relaxation' is the first warning sign of developing dependence, even if a person doesn't see a problem in it yet," notes psychiatrist, professor of the Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology at NSMU, Doctor of Medical Sciences Kirill Valeryevich Shelygin. Today he will talk about the signs that cannot be ignored. These are "red flags" signaling that it's time to sound the alarm and seek help from specialists before the situation gets out of control. Psychological Signs: 🔹Justification of consumption: "I can't relax after work without alcohol, this is the only way to relieve stress." 🔹Decreased interest in former hobbies: a former football fan no longer watches matches or goes to the stadium. 🔹Emotional instability: sharp mood swings from euphoria to aggression in a short time. 🔹Memory impairment – started forgetting important dates, don't remember what you did the day before. 🔹Social isolation – refusal to meet friends, no desire to communicate with family. Behavioral Signs: 🔹Planning the day around the opportunity to drink: choosing a route considering the proximity of alcohol stores. 🔹Not drinking during weekdays but eagerly awaiting weekends for the opportunity to drink. 🔹Getting irritated if circumstances prevent drinking. 🔹Secrecy: hiding empty bottles, lying about the amount consumed. 🔹Changing social circle – distancing from non-drinking friends, finding like-minded company. 🔹Loss of control – planned to have one drink but end up consuming significantly more. 🔹Observed increase in alcohol dosage over time. Social Signs: 🔹Work problems: mistakes appeared in reports, work quality decreased. 🔹Family conflicts: quarrels due to alcohol smell, hidden purchase of alcohol. 🔹Absenteeism and tardiness – missing important meetings, being late for work. 🔹Decreased responsibility – not fulfilling household duties, forgetting about important tasks. ❗A person may not acknowledge the problem for several reasons: 🔹Denial of dependence as such. 🔹Fear of public condemnation. 🔹Belief that they are "in control of the situation." 🔹Lack of visible consequences. If you've noticed several signs in yourself, seek advice from a specialist. Remember: it's better to prevent the problem now than to deal with its destructive consequences later! ✅ This post was created as part of Alcohol Abstinence Week.