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Early Behavior
Overview
In the early stage of chemical dependency, individuals may notice that alcohol and drugs help change uncomfortable feelings or moods such as anger, fear, anxiety, hurt, or depression. If they develop an obsessive need to diminish painful feelings, they often cannot control the amount of alcohol or drugs they take. The ability to control the amount of alcohol consumed is a good way to distinguish a normal drinker from an addicted one.
Progression of Chemical Addiction
Eventually, obsessive use increases as the chemically dependent person's tolerance increases, and the person needs more and more of the drug to produce the same effect. Now more obvious problems of abuse are associated with the alcohol or drug use. The addicted person may not be willing to look at the relationship between chemical use and increasing problems. Certain defense mechanisms such as denial may prevent the person from realizing that the cause of the problems is drug and alcohol use.
Typically, as chemical dependency progresses through the early stages, personal behavior patterns change for the worse. Unfortunately, addicted individuals are often unable to do the work needed for recovery until confronted with a severe crisis. A crisis experience sometimes encourages addicted individuals to quit drinking or using and to begin the process of recovery.
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