Many alcoholics — even those who have been fired from jobs, have been jailed for drunk driving, and have lost the love of their family and friends because of their drinking — cannot admit the damage done by their alcohol use. This attitude is commonly known as denial. Barbara McCrady, a professor of psychology and the clinical director of the Center for Alcohol Studies at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, explains that denial is the biggest obstacle to recovery facing an alcoholic: “If a person doesn’t recognize that his or her behavior is creating problems, then he or she wouldn’t see the need to change or seek assistance.”

Alcoholics use denial as a psychological defense mechanism to justify their continued drinking and to wipe away the painful reality of their drinking. This is how denial worked in the mind of Chris, who, despite her heavy drinking, believed her life was perfectly normal:

I went to Girl Scout meetings with a load on; held children’s parties while imbibing; even taught my daughter how to drive after I had belted down a few. My marriage was horrendous, and I saw no way out. And yet I still believed I was the All-American Housewife.

Sometimes the only way to get alcoholics to realize they have a problem is to directly confront them with their drinking. This can be a difficult, emotionally wrenching task for the people who are involved in trying to save the alcoholic.

Do You Have A Drinking Problem?

Many tests can help people determine if they have a drinking problem. This test, which uses a simple question-and-answer format, can be found in a booklet entitled “Alcoholism” from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

How can you tell whether you, or someone close to you, may have a drinking problem? Answering the following four questions can help you find out. (To help remember these questions, note that the first letter of a key word in each of the four questions spells “CAGE.”)

Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?

Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?

Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking?

Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (Eyeopener)?

One “yes” response suggests a possible alcohol problem. If you responded “yes” to more than one question, it is highly likely that a problem exists. In either case, it is important that you see your doctor or other health care provider right away to discuss your responses to these questions. He or she can help you determine whether you have a drinking problem and, if so, recommend the best course of action for you. Even if you answered “no” to all of the above questions, if you are encountering drinking-related problems with your job, relationships, health, or with the law, you should still seek professional help. The effects of alcohol abuse can be extremely serious — even fatal — both to you and to others.