Dry drunk
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Dry drunk is an expression coined by the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous[1] that describes an alcoholic who no longer drinks but otherwise maintains the same behavior patterns of an alcoholic.[2]
Description
A dry drunk can be described as a person who refrains from alcohol or drugs but still has all the unresolved emotional and psychological issues which might have fueled the addiction to begin with. These unresolved issues continue to have a hold on their psyche and hence, while they do not seek intoxication, they exhibit many of the other behavioural traits associated with addiction.[citation needed] In most cases, alcohol dependency is a substantial factor in the lives of the alcoholics and accepting sobriety comes with its own challenges and understanding of their personality. Despite leaving alcohol and de-addicting themselves, most of their personalities are an embodiment of their previous selves.[3]
The dry drunk is portrayed with feelings of profound depression and frustration and with the indecisive feeling of wanting a drink that they have given up. Many alcoholics drink for long periods before maintaining sobriety for a period and become accustomed to the personality and character traits that are embodied by their behavior during addiction. During this phase of "dry drunk", the addicts face restlessness, frustration, anger, impatience and cravings. The symptoms of dry drunkenness are irregular and in some individuals can be less intense while others remain unchanged as the period of sobriety increases. Some of the symptoms of dry drunkenness can be noticed in the initial phase of sobriety, while others can manifest themselves later as some addicts work to suppress their dry drunk emotions. These patterns of behavior can be treated and alleviated through professional assistance.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ↑ "What to Know About Dry Drunk Syndrome".
- ↑ David W. Brook; Henry I. Spitz (23 September 2002). The Group Therapy of Substance Abuse. CRC Press. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-7890-1782-6.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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Further reading
Need support? This page covers a topic that some readers may find difficult. If it affects you or someone you know, you do not have to deal with it alone. Help is available from the NHS and from free, confidential helplines: see Where to get help at the end of this page, or the Wellness hub. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Where to get help
If you are worried about your mental health or someone else's, these services can help. The numbers below are for the United Kingdom.
- Emergency: if someone is in immediate danger or has been seriously hurt, call 999.
- NHS 111: for urgent help or advice that is not an emergency, call 111 or use NHS 111 online. It is free and open day and night.
- Your GP: a GP can talk with you about how you are feeling and can refer you to services, including NHS Talking Therapies.
- Samaritans: call 116 123, free, day or night, to talk to someone who will listen.
- Childline: children and young people under 19 can call 0800 1111 free, or talk online at childline.org.uk.
- Shout: text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential text support at any time.
- Outside the UK: Find A Helpline is a free directory of helplines in other countries.
For support in other countries, and for more services, see the Wellness hub and Pip's support guide.
Attribution
Copied from English Wikipedia: Dry drunk; authors and revision history. Text available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0. Images omitted.