Are you worried about yourself or a loved one drinking too much? It can sometimes be difficult to tell whether or not you or a loved one is over-drinking. It’s hard to draw the line between social drinking and problem drinking. Even people who do not have a full-fledged addiction to alcohol may be at risk of developing alcohol use disorder. Professional help can prevent that from happening. If you already have developed alcohol use disorder, alcohol detox may be the safest way to seek help.
Have You Been Over-Drinking?
Here are 10 of the most common signs to consider:
1. Drinking to Take the Edge Off
Regularly using alcohol to relax or feel better is a slippery slope to possible addiction. If you drink to relieve daily stress, that is a red flag that you’re misusing or starting to misuse alcohol.
2. Hiding or Lying About Your Drinking
Do you lie or minimize how much you drink? Denial to oneself or others is a sign of over-drinking.
3. Being Unable to Stop Once You Start
Do you hate to see a drink left unfinished? Do you always finish a bottle of wine once it’s opened? This could mean you are losing control.
4. Regularly Blacking Out
If you have regular memory lapses after drinking, this is a significant red flag for alcohol misuse. A counselor or therapist specializing in substance use disorders may be a good source for taking a closer look at causes and effects.
5. Drinking in Dangerous Situations
Drinking at atypical times, such as before work, in the middle of the night, or on lunch breaks, are significant indicators of problem drinking. Drinking and driving and risky behaviors while under the influence are huge signs of over-drinking. This is also a risk to your safety and the safety of others.
6. Neglected Responsibilities
Has your drinking caused problems with your relationships at work, school, or the legal system? Has it hindered your ability to address responsibilities adequately? If yes, this means your drinking may be seriously impacting your life.
7. Relationship Troubles
Over-drinking will likely negatively affect your relationships. When drinking is causing rifts with family, close friends, or your significant other, it is a sign that your alcohol intake has become a priority. When alcohol is prioritized above the special people in your life, alarm bells should go off.
8. Being Able to Drink More Than Before
Have you ever bragged about your tolerance? Beware if you find yourself able to drink more than you used to, needing to drink more than in the past to get buzzed or intoxicated, or continuing to drink after friends have left the party or event or stopped drinking. Your liver, where alcohol is metabolized, and your neurochemistry centers may have adapted to compensate for your over-indulgences with alcohol. Left unchecked, this can lead to severe health consequences.
9. Experiencing Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms come in many forms:
- Do you feel irritable, tired, nauseous, depressed, or anxious as happy hour approaches?
- Do your hands ever tremble when you haven’t had a drink in a while?
- Do you have trouble falling or staying asleep?
- Have you noticed a decrease in your appetite?
- Have you been having hot and cold flashes?
- Are you noticing increased sweating without a change in environmental temperature?
If you are having withdrawal symptoms between drinking episodes, seek professional help. Alcohol cessation and withdrawal from it can lead to life-threatening medical situations.
10. Being Unable to Quit On Your Own
Have attempts to cut down or quit been unsuccessful? If this sounds familiar, we implore you to seriously consider finding professional help. You could benefit from support and guidance if self-directed attempts have not worked.
Find Help at Serenity Grove
If you are experiencing one or more of these signs, consider the free, no-obligation screening and assessment available at Serenity Grove in Athens, Georgia. Experienced and qualified members of our clinical team are available to help. Contact us today at 844.904.3485
