Doug Thorburn Tells How To Spot Hidden Alcoholics
Part Two:
IS THERE A HIDDEN ALCOHOLIC IN YOUR LIFE?
Doug Thorburn, in his excellent, informative book How To Spot Hidden Alcoholics—Using Behavioral Clues to Recognize Addiction in its Early Stages explains why most attempts to conquer problem drinking fail.
He uses numerous examples and case histories to demonstrate how subtle, seemingly innocuous behaviors are often early indicators of alcoholism that occur long before the alcoholic has lost control over his drinking.
JUST AS CANCER STARTS IN A FEW CELLS AND SPREADS, ALCOHOLISM STARTS SMALL AND PROGRESSES TO A FATAL DISEASE
Some EARLY WARNING SIGNS include:
- Lying or twisted logic
- Belittling others
- Poor conduct
- Assigning inappropriate blame to others
- “Supreme Being” Complex
- Sense of “invincibility
Thorburn notes in the introduction that “One of the surprising things about alcoholism is how little most experts know. The main problem is that the definition they have agreed upon fails to describe the affliction in its early stages.
As a result, the current practice of identifying alcoholism is comparable to ‘waiting until tumors become the size of basketballs before diagnosing cancer.’ Yet, almost every alcoholic shows signs of the disease years or even decades before it progresses into obvious latter-stage alcoholism.”
The premise of Thorburn’s book is that we can, and must- identify early-stage alcohol and other drug addiction if we are to prevent tragedies. These include the breakup of families, domestic violence, highway slaughter, the destruction of financial and emotional health and even murder.
By identifying alcoholism in its early stages, proactively imposing consequences and intervening, we significantly increase the odds of stopping the inevitable progression of the disease before an all-too-common tragic end.
Charlene’s Note:
I have been studying alcoholism for years, and find Thorburn’s ideas on the subject to be the most progressive and sound.
The ignorance that prevails in our society on this disease is mind-boggling. It usually “takes a tragedy” to lead people to become educated on this complex disease.
Alcoholism affects every aspect of a person; mind, body and soul. It behooves us all to learn as much as possible on the subject. Social drinking can easily cross over into alcoholism, if one is genetically predisposed.
Doug Thorburn’s work can truly prevent tragedy. Visit his website and learn all you can. Subscribe to his excellent, free newsletter too:
Alcoholism
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alcoholism education, Doug Thorburn, early intervention for alcoholics, hope for alcoholics, insights for families of alcoholics, preventing progression of alcoholism, preventing tragedy, recognizing addiction in its early stages, spotting hidden alcoholics, symptoms of alcoholism
Themocracy
I wish I knew all of this years ago. What a well written article. There is so much help today for the families of alcoholics to understand and help their family members.. Thank You..
Hi Charlene,
Thank you for sharing this information! As a Human Services major with a concentration in alcohol/substance abuse, I’ve read up on alcoholism and addiction quite a bit. The more I learn, the more it saddens me that alcohol and drug use is largely overlooked by society and cast aside as something commonplace and socially acceptable. Sure, many people can have a drink every now and then and never become problem drinkers, but what about the individuals who don’t fall into that category? Isn’t it unfair that the majority of the population, including medical and mental health professionals, don’t know enough about the disease to spot its initial signs? It’s a real shame that not enough emphasis is placed on prevention!
Far too few people take alcoholism seriously as a DISEASE. That is why I think the analogy between cancer and alcoholism is a perfect one. Once you have a grasp on that concept, I think it’s hard to look at drinking in the same way.
My personal experience has been that my education on the subject has changed my attitude drastically. I can’t have a drink anymore without thinking about the risks involved and the potential damage I am doing to my mind and body. With a history of addiction in my family, I feel fortunate that I have enough information to be mindful in those situations. I just wish I could say the same for everyone else.
Back in the early 80s I became involved with an alcoholic. That’s when I learned that he had a disease. How did I learn that? I read everything I could get my hands on, attended Alanon and prayed for guidance. The retchedness of this man knew no bounds. Charmingly and hilariously funny, he used my emotions until I realized I could not help him. I showed him the door and never looked back. For years he had an enabler who told me, in a phone conversation that he initiated, that he told her “He would use me as long as he could, then come back to her.” She was a married woman hopelessly in love with him. I met him in a singles class at the church I attended. He had just come out of “another” 28 day program. Little did I know what I was in for and what I would have to do to keep my sanity. What an eye opener that whole experience was.
My heart goes out to anyone who has an alcohol of drug addition. They do not need pity, they need intervention and guidance. Thank you Charlene