Americans love their glass of alcohol. A 2018 survey established that about 70 percent of adults in the United States drink — at least occasionally.
Whether you’re a wine lover or it’s whiskey or brandy that speaks to your soul, there’s nothing wrong with drinking alcohol moderately. In fact, moderate consumption reduces your risk of heart disease.
Unfortunately, not everyone drinks in moderation. If you drink one too many every other day, there’s only one destination for you: addiction.
Knowing the signs of alcohol addiction is key to preventing yourself or a loved one from being an addict. In this article, we’re sharing some of the most common signs.
You might want to put that glass down for this!
1. You Feel You’re Drinking Too Much
Most of the time, you don’t need professional evaluation to know that you’re slipping into alcoholism. You can feel it within yourself.
Perhaps you used to catch a glass of wine after work. You progressed to two glasses, then a quarter a bottle. Now you drink a full bottle in one sitting.
You’ll probably begin feeling that you’re drinking too much and you need to cut back. But you don’t cut back. Every day, you seem to have an even bigger appetite for your drink.
If you’re in this situation, it’s a sign you’re becoming an alcoholic. It’s not too late to reclaim yourself. You might still be able to reduce the drinking on your own, but if you’re like most people, you will need a professional to intervene.
2. Your Social Relationships Are Getting Worse
Ruined relationships are a classic consequence of alcoholism.
Perhaps you’re always drinking late, something you never used to do. Your spouse has complained about this, but you’re not doing anything about it. Resentment starts growing and your relationship starts getting worse.
The same can be said of your other relationships. In fact, the only relationships that will thrive are those you have with your drinking buddies, and those aren’t healthy relationships anyway.
If you’re losing friends and/or failing to make time for your loved ones, it’s a sign alcohol is getting in the way.
You’re better off checking yourself into alcohol rehab and getting help before you lose everyone, including yourself.
3. You’re Engaging in Potentially Harmful Activities
Another thing about excessive alcohol is it impairs your judgment.
As a result, you might find that you’re engaging in potentially harmful activities that you otherwise wouldn’t engage in when sober. Some of these activities include driving under the influence and having unprotected sex with people who aren’t your spouse.
If you’re having thoughts of engaging in these activities or you’ve already engaged in them, alcohol is probably getting the better of you. You need to get help immediately.
Know the Signs of Alcohol Addiction and Take Action
These aren’t the only signs of alcohol addiction, but they are the most common. If you’re seeing or experiencing any of these signs, don’t second guess or rubbish them offer. Alcohol addiction can have deadly consequences, so take action as soon as possible.
Keep reading our blog for more health and lifestyle insights.
