How Do I Know if I Have a Drinking Problem?
It is not always easy to tell if you do have a drinking problem.
Alcohol is a normalized substance that is involved in celebrations, holidays, social gatherings, and other occasions. It is also used when someone needs relief from a stressful situation in many cases.
The normalcy of alcohol, its addictive qualities, and its links to underlying mental health disorders – and more – all contribute to the high rates of alcoholism in this country.
How Many Other People Have a Drinking Problem?
It is easy to feel like you are alone when you see others drink excessively without acknowledging that it may be a problem.
But, that does not mean that you are the only one around you who may have a drinking problem. Nearly 18 million American adults have alcohol use disorders. The normalization of the substance makes it easier to hide.
If you have been wondering, “Do I have a drinking problem?” then we will help you find the answer.
You Tell Yourself You Will Quit, But You Cannot Follow Through — Why?
There are many different signs that someone has a drinking problem. An inability to stop drinking on your own is one of the clearest. At some point in life, there will be an experience with alcohol that turns you off to it. Whether this experience is embarrassing, violent, or physically painful, the result is generally a promise to avoid drinking as much as you have been.
A verbal or physical fight with a friend or loved one, an inebriated fall, or a crushing hangover can be enough to make you want to avoid drinking so excessively ever again. But it is not always easy to follow through. If you have vowed to stop drinking time and again, but have found yourself repeatedly reliving the same situations due to excessive alcohol consumption, you could benefit from an alcohol rehab program. An inability to alter your drinking patterns is a clear sign of addiction.
You Are Always Late
Psychologists point to abnormal changes in behavior as signs of addiction. Being late or absent is not always a sign that you have a drinking problem. An inconsistency or a noticeable change in behavior related to these things is also a sign of a drinking problem. If you are someone who used to be punctual but can no longer make it to work, school, or social engagements on time due to your drinking, this is known as an alcohol use disorder.
You may have been someone who has always struggled with consistency and punctuality. This is not entirely abnormal. But if you have found that drinking made this problem worse, this is something that should be addressed. One of the lesser-known benefits of many substance abuse programs is the life skills training that will help you improve in areas like this one.
Your Social Life Revolves Around Alcohol
It is normal for alcohol to be present at parties, social gatherings, holidays, and happy hours. But, if you only attend events that revolve around alcohol, this is a sign of trouble. Altering plans to start with drinks, choosing only restaurants that have bars attached, and avoiding social gatherings that do not involve alcohol is problematic.
A well-rounded social life should include activities, plans, events, and locations that do not revolve solely around alcohol. It is not always easy to make new friends, come up with other appealing activities, or otherwise avoid drinking. At BriteLife Recovery, we dive into building sober social networks, choosing exciting and healthy activities, and finding balance in all aspects of your life.
Your Tolerance Has Increased
Have you noticed that you need to consume more alcohol to get drunk than it took you in the past? Do you need to drink twice as much as your friends or coworkers to achieve the same effects? This is a sign that your body has built a tolerance to the effects of alcohol. Over time, drink quantities and frequencies will continue to change. You will need more and more alcohol to achieve the effects that you are looking for. This can lead to alcohol poisoning, accidents, and other serious health complications.
You Find Yourself in Risky Situations
Alcohol can lower your inhibitions and make it easier for you to find yourself involved in a risky situation. While this could mean a slip and fall, unsafe sex practices, a physical altercation, or an arrest, the most obvious example is drunk driving. In the United States, 29 people die per day in motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers. That equates to one death every 50 minutes.
In 2016, 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. This accounted for 28% of all traffic-related deaths that year in the United States. Drunk driving incidents, even when they are not fatal, can have long-term consequences. You may suffer a job loss, relationship damage, financial ruin, or time in prison.
Your Personality Has Changed
Whether you recognize these personality changes in yourself or someone else sees them first, you most likely have a vastly different personality when you are drinking than when you are sober. You can become louder, more boisterous, or even violent. In addition, you may experience withdrawal. Alcohol is often abused in an attempt to cope with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
But the problem with this activity is that it can also cause these same emotional problems. Up to 80% of alcoholics experience mood disturbances. Of these mental illnesses, depression is one of the most common. Anxiety disorders are also common amongst alcoholics. When addiction and mental illness co-exist, we call this a dual diagnosis. Our highly specialized treatment programs can help address both of these conditions and help you avoid further complications.
You Experience Memory Lapses While Drinking
Most people refer to these memory lapses as “blackouts.” When you drink to the point of blacking out, you remain conscious while you drink. You do not lose consciousness. Blacking out and passing out is not the same thing. However, while you may remain conscious, there may be gaping holes in what you remember.
Needing someone else to fill you in on the things that you said or did the night before is never a good feeling. Sharing these stories with others in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings can help you gain a better understanding, find support, and build sober social networks. Our professional therapists, high-level programs based on proven therapeutic treatment methods, holistic remedies, endless activities, and impressive amenities can help with the rest.
Alcohol Treatment Options
We have a wide variety of alcohol treatment options available. These programs range from full-time, inpatient programs to part-time outpatient visits. In each program, we make use of proven therapeutic addiction care techniques, holistic remedies, and unbeatable amenities for a well-rounded approach to recovery. Our pool, courtyard, gardens, beach town, and seasonal activities alone are worth experiencing.
This is one reason why we see clients from all over South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and beyond. Our resort-style amenities and activities ranging from art therapy and basketball to kayaking and yoga help heal your body and mind. But our therapy methods, support groups, and aftercare options are the stars of the show. We offer inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, sober living, and aftercare options. We will work with you to choose the care program that will best suit your addiction and needs.
BriteLife Recovery Center
At BriteLife Recovery, we understand that each patient and each addiction is different.
That is why we offer customized treatment programs instead of one-size-fits-all solutions.
We will work with you to meet you where you are in your recovery and help you cross the finish line toward long-term sobriety.
Call today to get started with free insurance verification.