Understanding Dry Drunk Syndrome and How to Deal with Dry Drunk Symptoms

The term dry drunk syndrome can seem a bit confusing; after all if someone isn't drinking how can they possibly be a drunk? Well the dry drunk definition refers to a form of negative behavior that some people can exhibit even though they are not drinking alcohol.

Dry drunk definition

When we say that somebody is a dry drunk we usually mean that they are behaving in much the same way as they did as an addict. They may not be actually ingesting alcohol but in many other ways it is business as usual. This is a dangerous type of behavior for reformed addicts because a dry drunk syndrome can easily lead to a real return to addiction.

Dry drunk symptoms

- Frequent anger outbursts

- Self-pity

- Resentment about being classed as an addict

- Denial about the extent of their former addiction problems

- Secretive behavior

- Isolating themselves from other people

- Manipulative behavior

- Blaming

- Looking for evidence that they can drink safely again

- Spending time in bars in an attempt to recapture the "good old days"

- Romancing the drink - thinking about the good times drinking

- Losing interest in hobbies

- Constantly complaining about recovery

The above dry drunk symptoms are only a selection of the possible behaviors exhibited by someone in the midst of this syndrome. Just because people exhibit some of these dry drunk symptoms does not necessarily mean anything; we all have bad days. A dry drunk is a pattern of behaviors over a period of time.

Why is dry drunk syndrome a problem?

The big risk is relapse. Many addicts start to exhibit these symptoms just before they hit the bottle again. During my early twenties I managed to stop drinking for two years. At the end of this period though, I began exhibiting a lot of the above symptoms. I began feeling resentful for being labeled a reformed drunk; this led to denying the extent of my former problems. I began scouring books and online for anything that would support my belief that I wasn't an addict; or to at least give me hope that I could drink again. It was probably inevitable that I ended up getting drunk in a bar shortly afterwards- I took me ten years to put the bottle down again.

What to do if you are experiencing dry drunk syndrome?

A dry drunk does not mean that you have to relapse; it is a warning sign that something is wrong. If you pay attention to message you can get your recovery back on track; maybe even make it stronger than it was previously.

Here are some things to do if you are experiencing dry drunk symptoms.

- Read recovery literature that will motivate you again

- Speak to people about it - this is vital

- Do some volunteer work that will bring you in contact with suffering addicts

- If you don't belong to a recovery group you might want to join one

- Join an online recovery group

- Exercise

- Don't isolate

- Do anything; just don't drink again.

Remember that this could be your last chance of recovery - don't mess it up.