There is absolutely nothing wrong with drinking a few alcoholic beverages while having a good time, but you still need to be cognizant that you are consuming a highly addictive substance. It is very easy to develop drinking problem without ever realizing you have a problem. It is even harder to spot the troubling signs if you do not know what to look for. These are the seven biggest signs that you may have a drinking problem.
Using Alcohol to Relax
Almost everyone has grabbed a drink after a long day at work. While this may seem like a perfect way to relax, it is actually an extremely risky behavior. It is impossible to avoid stress and anxiety in life, so you do not want to rely on alcohol to help you get through these tough times. This is just going to lead to excessive drinking. Try to find a healthy hobby that can help you relax and unwind after a tough day.
Lying About Your Drinking to Others
Lying about the number of drinks you have consumed to your friends and family is a huge red flag. The problem is even worse if you start to hide your drinking from them. This is a common way to deny that you have a problem, but there would not be a reason to lie if everything was alright. While the secretive drinking is extremely bad for your health, it also has the potential to destroy your most important relationships.
Inability to Stop After First Drink
In order to safely consume alcohol, you need to know when it is time to stop drinking. If you are unable to stop drinking until consuming all of the alcohol in the house, then you are clearly not in control. You may not even realize that you are drinking this way, but constantly having to replace the wine or beer is a key sign you have a problem. Having no memory of the previous night is also a troubling sign that you are drinking too much.
Ignoring Important Responsibilities
Alcohol should never come before the important responsibilities in your life. Alcohol is meant to be a nonessential treat that you have at special times. It should not consume your entire life. If you are neglecting your work or family duties to drink, then you clearly have a serious problem. It is only a matter of time before this dangerous behavior comes back to haunt you.
Drinking and Driving
Drinking and driving is one of the most dangerous things you can do. Spatial awareness and quick reflexes are two key components of driving, and these skills will be compromised after you have a few drinks. This means you are risking the safety of everyone on the road every time you get behind the wheel after drinking. Risking your own safety is bad enough, but putting the lives of everyone else in jeopardy just to have a few extra drinks is a serious problem.
Built Up a Tolerance
Being able to drink more than ever before is not something to celebrate. It is actually a huge health risk. The body gradually learns how to deal with alcohol after prolonged exposure. This is called building up a tolerance. Once the body is tolerant to alcohol, you will have to consume more drinks to feel drunk. Since it takes a lot of exposure to alcohol to build up a tolerance, this is a big sign that you may be drinking too much.
Experiencing Withdrawal Symptoms
The final sign of a major drinking problem is the feeling of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Some of the most common alcohol withdrawal symptoms are headaches, nausea, shakiness, anxiety and irritability. These symptoms will commonly occur after you go a day or two without consuming alcohol. Withdrawal is completely different than a hangover. It only occurs when the body is desperately craving alcohol.