What Is Dry Drunk Syndrome
What is dry drunk syndrome? There is a little mystery around this peculiar phrase, so lets clear that up.
Whenever somebody looks at their drinking and say enough is enough, the objective is straightforward: quit drinking alcohol.
This initial step toward addressing problem drinking signifies a turning point in the individual’s life. This readiness to escape from the harmful loop of daily drinking is definitely grounds for respect and recognition.
People who have not coped with addiction directly might not realize the long road that stretches out in front. They might believe that as soon as they quit alcohol, their life will miraculously turnaround. This is not always the case!
For instance, problem drinking is often covering up something bigger and deeper. The path to permanent recovery is typically rugged, and one problem that might occur is known as dry drunk syndrome.
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If you drinking to cover up a bigger emotional pain, taking action is the best thing you can do. Only when you get this attractively packaged poison out of your life can you address other problems. Alcohol will keep you trapped in misery if you let it.
Click here for more information on our online ‘go at your own pace’ quit drinking course. Or if you would like to come to a live seminar, the dates are here.
What Is Dry Drunk Syndrome: Background
The phrase dry drunk syndrome was initially created by the designers of the Twelve Step program, Alcoholics Anonymous. Creator R. Solberg described the phrase in his 70’s publication, The Dry Drunk Syndrome, as “the existence of practices and mindsets that defined the problem drinker before rehabilitation.”
Somebody battling with dry drunk syndrome might still sustain problematic relationships with their family and loved ones. They can continue to struggle with undesirable practices, both internally and externally.
Simply put, while they might have stopped drinking, the person has yet to address the psychological baggage that led them to booze initially. Dry drunk syndrome is more usual amongst people who quit their problem drinking by themselves, as they do not have a coach to help them out of this challenging adjustment in their lifestyle.
People who go through specialist therapy for alcoholism and dependency are less likely to establish the problem.
Symptoms and signs
There are a couple of indications that signify an individual is dealing with dry drunk syndrome:
- Animosity toward friends or loved ones
- Temper and pessimism surrounding recovery
- Sadness, anxiousness, and worry of relapsing
- Envy of colleagues and friends who appear to drink without issue
- Glamorizing their drinking days
- Living in what Craig Beck calls ‘Victim Mode’
- Switching out the dependency with a new bad habit (e.g., sex addiction, overeating, and pornography use).
Dry drunk syndrome runs practically exclusively in a person’s mind. As a matter of fact, psychotherapists since the fifties have upheld that dealing with one’s “inner life” is fundamental to quitting drinking. Using extensive therapy that incorporates counseling is advised by most.
Also, it’s important to get the right tools to make the process painless. Online programs like The Stop Drinking Expert, allow drinkers to uncover the pain behind their alcohol use.
The Mindset of Dry Drunk Syndrome.
Many dependencies derive from an attempt to escape reality or deal with life.
When an individual comes to Quit Drinking Bootcamp or starts the online course, their loved ones often expect that without having the destructive drug in the individual’s life, everything will be okay; nevertheless, the truth is that somebody battling with problem drinking did not feel “alright” to begin with.
When their emotional support (alcohol) is removed, things might become worse before they improve.
Coping with Dry Drunk Syndrome
Folks coping with dry drunk syndrome can feel overloaded as if they are white-knuckling through life without their drink of choice. Rehabilitation is always a profoundly private, and in some cases uncomfortable, process, as folks work to fight their inner demons and inevitably achieve a degree of self-awareness they did not have before. While detoxing from alcohol is part of the experience, the task of dealing with the challenges that resulted in dependency calls for far deeper work.
Dealing with problem drinking is a process best grasped as an individual voyage of socially bargained identification change that takes place through adjustments in social networks and associated significant activities.
An individual quitting drinking is not just saying “no” to a drug. They are altering their whole lifestyle.
This is a terrifying prospect for anybody to deal with trauma in their past. Remember, they are doing this without the prop of drug use that they have come to know so intimately. This by itself can explain why an individual may establish dry drunk syndrome.
How Can Loved Ones Help?
If you observe a loved one displaying signs of dry drunk syndrome. Your initial responsibility is to support them to carry on with therapy.
The Encyclopaedia of Drug Abuse Reduction, Therapy, & Recovery stated in 2008 that often. Somebody battling with dry drunk syndrome is more likely to relapse from sobriety. Consequently, they are more likely to reduce their therapy initiatives and even quit entirely.
This action can make a person’s temperance more hard to sustain. Inevitably undoing all the effort carried out up until that moment.
One way to fight dry drunk syndrome is to guide your loved one towards a more healthy, more exhilarating lifestyle. Many people dealing with alcohol problems also struggle with depressive inclinations. Therefore, they have a challenging time finding things they take pleasure in outside drinking.
If you can encourage them to rediscover old hobbies and passions you will be doing them a great service.
A couple of good examples include:
- Keep your brain active and distracted by taking a course.
- Discover spiritual teachings and methods.
- Rediscover an old hobby you used to enjoy.
- Take some time to work out.
- Spend time with friends and family.
- Check out therapy through rehabilitation courses and counseling.
The main duty of a friend or relative to an individual in rehabilitation is to give encouragement. But also to mirror the positivity one can discover in sobriety, lead by example. This is particularly important when a person is coping with dry drunk syndrome.
If you continue to interact with and help your loved one during this challenging period. They might find it less troublesome to make headway with the difficult yet satisfying task of recovery.
Ready to take action
The Stop Drinking Expert works exclusively with problem drinkers rather than full-blown alcoholics (who require 24/7 inpatient care). If you are in what feels like an unbreakable loop with your drinking. Perhaps turning to wine-o-clock every evening when the kids are in bed?
The online how to stop drinking course or the live Quit Drinking Bootcamp can be a powerful solution.
On the second day of Bootcamp, we focus entirely on the underlying reasons why you use alcohol. The Dry Drunk masterclass on day 2 of my live event is designed to leave you not only sober. But also full of happiness, peace, and purpose.
The most important thing is that you don’t put this off again.
Join me for a free quit drinking webinar today and get my bestselling book ‘Alcohol Lied To Me’ Free at the same time.
