9 Signs You Have a Drinking Problem

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Medically Verified: August 10, 2024

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9 Signs You Have a Drinking Problem

9 Signs You Have a Drinking Problem

Recognizing and addressing a drinking problem is a major step toward a healthier life. Whether it’s for yourself or someone you care about, proactively understanding the signs of a drinking problem can make all the difference.

Types of Drinking

When it comes to alcohol consumption, there’s a broad spectrum of use patterns. It can range from casual drinking to severe forms like addiction. Understanding the different types of drinking can help identify where someone might be on this spectrum and whether their habits could be a cause for concern.

Casual or Social Drinking

The most common form of drinking involves moderate alcohol consumption during meals or social events. For the majority of people, drinking socially doesn’t cause significant problems. However, even being a casual drinker can become problematic for some.

Problematic Drinking

Problematic or problem drinking describes when alcohol consumption starts negatively affecting your life. It might impact your relationships, health or work, for example. You don’t have a full-blown addiction at this point, but it can include behaviors like binge drinking or drinking more than recommended limits regularly.

Alcohol Abuse

A more severe form of problem drinking, alcohol abuse, means your consumption is leading to harmful consequences like legal issues or neglecting responsibilities. If you’re abusing alcohol, you might be drinking to cope with emotional pain or stress. You could notice that you prioritize drinking over other parts of your life.

Dependence

Alcohol dependence is the stage where your body physically relies on alcohol. If you suddenly stop drinking at this point, you will experience withdrawal symptoms.

Addiction (Alcoholism)

Alcohol addiction (alcoholism) is the most severe type of drinking problem. It includes a compulsive need to drink and a loss of control over your consumption. 

When you’re at this stage, alcohol dominates your life, and you keep drinking even though you know the severe, negative consequences. 

Signs of alcoholism include problems in your relationships, impairment in how you function on a day-to-day basis, and health issues.

9 Signs of a Drinking Problem

It’s not always easy to see the signs of a drinking problem or even the signs of alcoholism because of how socially accepted it is to use alcohol. However, certain behaviors can serve as red flags that drinking has become problematic.

1. Drinking More Than You Intend

You might drink more alcohol than you planned to, or you can’t cut down even though you feel a desire to.

At this point, you could have developed a tolerance, and your body needs more alcohol to get the same effects. It can also be a sign that you’re losing control over your drinking habits.

2. Increased Tolerance

As mentioned, needing to drink more than you used to to get the same desired effects is a tolerance. Over time, your body adapts to alcohol being present. 

Increased tolerance is a warning sign of developing dependence, and because your alcohol intake is going up, it can lead to increasingly severe health risks.

3. Experiencing Withdrawal Symptoms

Symptoms like nausea, anxiety, sweating or shakiness that occur when you reduce your intake or stop drinking can be signs of a drinking problem. These symptoms start because your body has become physically dependent on alcohol, struggling to function without it.

4. Neglecting Responsibilities

If you notice that you aren’t fulfilling responsibilities in different parts of your life, such as work or home, because of drinking, it’s potentially problematic. Alcohol can impair your motivation, and even recovering from its effects can make it hard to manage things in your daily life.

5. Drinking Despite Problems

If you keep using alcohol, even if it’s causing or worsening personal, health, social or legal issues, it is one of the signs of a drinking problem and potentially one of the signs of alcoholism as well.

You may be in denial or unable to see the connection between drinking and negative outcomes.

6. Drinking As a Way to Cope

If you’re using alcohol to deal with stress, depression, anxiety or difficult emotions, you might want to evaluate your relationship with it. In the short term, alcohol might help you relax or alleviate unpleasant feelings. However, relying on it as a source of emotional relief can lead to a cycle of dependence. It can also worsen your mental health overall.

7. Isolation and Secretive Behavior

Drinking alone or trying to hide how much you’re drinking can occur because you want to avoid criticism or because of shame or guilt.

The secrecy surrounding your drinking habits can be a strong indicator that, on some level, you’re aware it’s problematic. Isolation can also worsen the issue because it reduces your availability of social support.

8. Losing Interest in Other Things

Maybe you’re losing interest in your hobbies or other activities you once thought were enjoyable. You could prefer to drink instead. Alcohol can become your main focus and overshadow other interests.

9. Blackouts or Memory Loss

Not being able to remember conversations or events that happened while you were drinking can show there’s a potential problem. Alcohol impacts your brain’s ability to make new memories, especially when you consume large amounts.

Blackouts are not only a warning sign of heavy or problematic drinking, but they can also be dangerous to the health of your brain and put your safety and well-being at risk.

Get Help for Alcoholism Today

If you recognize these signs in yourself or someone else, approach the situation with understanding and empathy. Seek professional help if you start to see the signs of a drinking problem in yourself or encourage a loved one to do so.

At The Living Room, we provide comprehensive treatment for alcohol use disorders.

Rather than waiting for the situation to worsen and the consequences to become more severe, reach out today to take the first step to reclaim your life.

References:

  1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Alcohol Use and Your Health

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