The stereotypical image of an alcoholic isn’t always true. Although you can definitely find alcoholics that are narcissistic and uncaring, the truth is that most heavy drinkers appear perfectly friendly and calm. Functional alcoholics are often so good at hiding their drinking habits that you could even be shocked to find them living in your house or working alongside you in the workplace. An alcoholic can have many different personality traits, but there are a few characteristics that you’ll find are common among people who have gone through addiction treatment. Asking what are some of the characteristics of former alcoholics can give you or your loved one hope about what a sober future can do for someone’s happiness.
Personality changes are common when a person begins to move from social drinking to alcoholism. For some people, being in an inebriated state brings out personality traits that they normally keep hidden deep inside. Or, you may notice that having a hangover or dealing with withdrawal symptoms makes you act in ways that you wish you didn’t. Anger, frustration and even selfishness can all come out when you aren’t in control over your emotions or behavior.
How Does Alcohol Change Your Personality?
Chronic alcoholics do tend to undergo personality changes, and this happens for a variety of different reasons. Alcohol is a chemical that has a dramatic impact on the brain. It can suppress certain parts of your brain functioning and cause you to lose your sense of inhibition. This is why someone who is drunk is more likely to say or do things that they regret later when they sober up. At first, these changes aren’t constant. A mild drinker will usually return to their normal personality in the morning when alcohol leaves their system. However, people who drink the majority of the day never get the chance to have their brain functioning return to completely normal.
Being an alcoholic can also lead people to begin engaging in behaviors that alter their personality. For example, you might stop being honest if you feel like you need to lie about your habits. You could even resort to stealing or other types of unethical behavior to support your need to drink. If someone confronts you about your drinking, then you might also react with anger or refuse to hear their side of the story. These changes often lead to damaged relationships and careers.
Is It Possible to Stop Being an Alcoholic?
If you ask someone who has been through alcohol treatment this question, they may tell you that they are still an alcoholic. This is because many alcoholics are only one drink away from falling back into their former habits. Many people who misuse alcohol choose to avoid drinking completely to make sure that they don’t end up back in the situation that they were before.
Whether or not you can ever drink again is based upon factors such as your relationship with alcohol and general health. However, it is possible for anyone to get sober. Choosing to put yourself into an environment that supports your sobriety helps you to regain the positive personality traits that you’ve somehow lost along the way. You’ll also discover that you can gain new characteristics that help you to become a better person.
What Characteristics Emerge In Sobriety?
Someone who describes themselves as a former alcoholic is a person that has passed through the fire of addiction and emerged on the other side. They may still have occasional cravings, but they’ve made a firm commitment to continue to live a healthier lifestyle. This process results in a person becoming better and stronger than they were before.
People who get sober after a period of excessive alcohol use often notice that these traits begin to emerge.
- creativity
- compassion
- honesty
- friendliness
- confidence
The positive characteristics that you find in former alcoholics is related to the work that they did to get sober. An alcoholic is more understanding of other people since they know that they aren’t perfect. They’ve also learned how to practice compassion and empathy from listening as other people talk about their challenges. Resilience and perseverance are a couple more characteristics that you’ll find among the people who live within a sober living community. Once you get to know someone who embraces sobriety, you’ll quickly find that they can become one of the best friends that you could ever know.
Are you ready to live in a supportive environment that is filled with people who truly care about each other? Call us now at 833-285-1315. We’ll help you find a place to live that helps you thrive in sobriety.
