Personality Changes: A Story
Carolyn's Story: How Alcohol Changed My Brother
My brother Chuck was always so outgoing and friendly. And always organized! He made everything look easy, from throwing a party to keeping his checkbook balanced. My sisters and I started to worry about Chuck when he stopped coming to family gatherings and let important dates slip by. What was really upsetting was how he acted when we told him we were worried about him. We stopped by his condo one Saturday morning to check in on him. The house was a mess and he got angry and told us to mind our own business. It was so unlike him!
After talking to some of Chuck's friends, we learned that Chuck had been drinking more than his usual glass of wine each day. We realized the alcohol was causing the differences in his personality. With some help from his friends and his doctor, we got him into a treatment program and he is doing well. It was really tough to watch my brother's personality change in front of my eyes.
Some personality changes you may see in a loved one who is drinking are:
• Anger or jealousy
• Anxiety
• Denial
• Depression
• Self-neglect
