Do I Have an Alcohol Problem?
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 6.4 percent of people ages 18 or older reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime; 70.1 percent reported that they drank in the past year; 56.0 percent reported that they drank in the past month. That being said, drinking alcohol is extremely common. However, many people find themselves drinking much more alcohol than seems normal. But, what is normal and how do you know if you have crossed the line into having an alcohol problem?
If you feel like something is amiss with your drinking habits, you are not alone. Alcoholism can look different from person to person. About 20 percent of alcoholics are high-functioning, meaning they work full-time jobs, are successful and have families.
Casual Drinking VS Alcoholism
Having a glass of wine to unwind at the end of a long day, enjoying some bubbly at a wedding or grabbing drinks with friends for a birthday celebration is all commonplace these days, and there’s nothing wrong with it. The alcohol problem begins when you start abusing it, rather than using it responsibly.
Drinking excessively may happen to everyone at some point, especially when you first start drinking and are learning your tolerance levels. However, when drinking excessively is commonplace, it may be a symptom of a much larger issue.
Warning Signs
If you are wondering whether or not you may have an alcohol problem that needs attention, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I drink alone or in secrecy?
- Have I lost interest in activities that were once enjoyable?
- Do I have alcohol cravings?
- Do I experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating and anxiety?
- Have I had a drink first thing in the morning?
- Do I make drinking a priority over responsibilities, such as my job and family?
- Do I continue to drink, despite health, financial and family problems?
- Do I have the inability to stop or control the amount of alcohol that I drink?
- Do I drink at inappropriate times, such as during the day, before work, at work, before important events or before driving?
- Do I have extreme mood swings or am irritable?
- Do I have feelings of guilt associated with drinking?
What to Look Out For
If you answered yes to most (or all) of the questions above, you may have an alcohol problem that needs to be treated. Chances are, you have known for a while that your drinking habits are not right. Constantly contemplating whether or not you have an issue with drinking means that you are feeling guilty about your habits. Take a moment to think about your relationship with alcohol and how it has changed over time.
Constantly Hungover?
Hangovers are quite common the next day after a long night of drinking. Feeling nauseous, having a headache and even a little bit of anxiety the day after drinking is normal to have happen every once in a while for casual drinkers. However, if you are feeling hungover all the time and need alcohol to rid yourself of your withdrawal symptoms, take note. This should alert you that your drinking habits have far surpassed casual drinking.
Negative Consequences?
If you have experienced negative consequences because of your drinking, chances are very high that you have an issue with alcohol. Constantly being late to work, having a poor performance or actually being fired because of problems related to your drinking should cause major concern. If you have had any relationships fracture such as divorce or have had your children taken away, it is important to seek treatment for your issue with alcohol.
Treatment for Alcoholism
Alcohol is the third leading cause of death, right behind tobacco and poor diet. This means that getting treatment is extremely important. Chances are you have tried to tone down your drinking habits, only to find it to be too difficult. Alcohol is prevalent; there is booze at every store and bars and restaurants with it everywhere. Avoiding it can be extremely difficult, so being able to learn coping skills and the tools to stay sober from a treatment facility is the only way to ensure long-term sobriety.
Quitting cold turkey can be very difficult to do, and can actually be dangerous. Alcohol is the only substance with possibly deadly withdrawal symptoms. Getting medically supervised detox is extremely important so that you can detox safely. There are medications available to make detox more comfortable, as well as medications to help curb your cravings.
About Pinelands Recovery Center
If you are ready to get help for your issue with alcohol, or to learn more about treatment options, we are here for you. Our admissions specialists are available 24/7 to speak with you confidentially about any questions you may have, as well as working out payment and health insurance logistics.
Pinelands Recovery Center of Medford is widely known as one of New Jersey’s finest, most respected addiction treatment facilities. With comfortable 30-bed accommodations and a 24-hour professional staff, we can offer clients a serene, relaxing environment amid the lush piney woods. This stress-free setting with its sense of warmth and welcoming enables you to feel comfortable and confident about your clean and sober life ahead.
We will establish clear goals, both general in nature and specific to your needs. We continue to monitor those goals, to make sure that our clients are progressing and buying into their recovery plan. We thrive on assisting clients in feeling connected to the recovery community, share and demonstrate effective coping techniques, help clients to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior and everything else you will need to be happy and productive living a sober, healthy life.
We ensure that clients complete their planned concrete tasks, encourage hope, optimism and
healthy living. Our recovery program is not a revolving door treatment program; it is a recovery model designed to help clients go on to lead productive, happy lives. For more information, visit pinelandsrecovery.com