The history of alcohol use is expansive, dating back thousands of years. It’s not uncommon for people to casually drink at various times of the day, only on social occasions, or to savor the nuances of different types of alcohol and sip them slowly.
Some people, however, are tied to drinking. They might even find themselves becoming dependent on it. While there are plenty of resources to help those who struggle with alcohol consumption, the first step is assessing your relationship with alcohol. You’ll need to determine if you are drinking too much or even relying on alcohol to get through the day or manage your emotions.
These aren’t always easy questions to answer or even think about. However, understanding some of the warning signs of drinking too much, especially over time, can help you reevaluate how you view alcohol and the role it plays in your life. Let’s take a closer look at some of those red flags so you can get ahead of any negative issues with alcohol while prioritizing your physical and mental well-being.
How Alcohol Dependence Changes Your Behavior
It’s unlikely that anyone starts drinking with the intention of becoming dependent on alcohol. Unfortunately, almost 15 million people over the age of 12 in the U.S. meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder. That might be an alarming statistic because many people don’t understand some of the earliest signs of addiction.
You can begin to notice both behavioral and physical warning signs of alcoholism, but these probably won’t all occur at once. There’s often a slow shift from alcohol dependence to addiction, and many of your behavioral changes will be subtle, making it easy for them to go unnoticed. Understanding some of the behaviors you may exhibit during that shift can help you pause and reassess. Some of those signs include:
- Drinking more than once a day;
- Hiding how much you drink;
- Feeling anxious or having a hard time functioning without drinking;
- Justifying alcohol use;
- Requiring more alcohol over time to get the same experience as you build a tolerance.
You might even start to recognize how alcohol is impacting your life slowly but surely. Dependency on alcohol can cause your performance at work or school to suffer, and it can impact your relationships if you’re trying to hide your struggles with how much you drink. While these issues might seem small at first, ignoring them can lead to excessive binge drinking, consuming alcohol in risky situations — such as while driving or spending time around children — or even prioritizing drinking over your everyday responsibilities.
Managing the Physical Signs of Alcohol Abuse
Most people understand that drinking too much at once can cause temporary physical issues. Noticeable patterns like slurred speech, a lack of coordination, and drowsiness are all common when someone is drunk.
However, if you have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, you might start to notice different physical symptoms show up over time, including things like:
- Stomach cramps;
- Weight fluctuations;
- Dry skin;
- More wrinkles and age spots.
These are all signs of long-term alcohol abuse and will only continue to get worse over time. Drinking excessively can also cause serious health conditions, including liver disease, high blood pressure, and digestive issues.
Having an alcohol dependence can also weaken your immune system, making it easier to get sick over time. That heightens your risk of developing serious illnesses, including certain cancers or heart disease. Over time, alcohol addiction can impact your vision, leading to conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts.
This list is just the tip of the iceberg. There are almost countless ways that alcohol abuse can affect the body. From the central nervous system to sexual and reproductive health, drinking too much over time can wreak havoc on your body.
Drinking too much over long periods can also impact your mental well-being and put you at higher risk of mental illness. It’s not uncommon for people with an unhealthy relationship with alcohol to develop insomnia. That can take a toll on your physical health, of course. However, not getting enough sleep is often also linked to mental health conditions, like depression. Unfortunately, the more depressed you are, the more you might depend on alcohol to “escape” or to numb your symptoms. It’s a vicious cycle that will only get worse with time.
How To Change Your Relationship With Alcohol
Most people understand the risks of drinking too much at once. However, fewer recognize the subtle — and not-so-subtle — warning signs that can occur when you’re dependent on alcohol, on the verge of facing addiction.
Taking these red flags into account should be your first step if you’re worried about your relationship with alcohol. If any of them sound familiar or you’re regularly experiencing them, it’s time to take a step back and think about your drinking habits.
Ask yourself the following questions if you think you drink too often:
- Why do you drink?
- Do you drink more when you’re triggered by something?
- Has it become a habit?
Again, these can be difficult questions to ask yourself, and even more difficult is facing the reality of needing help. However, admitting that you’re struggling will make it more likely that you reach out for addiction assistance.
Managing your relationship with alcohol looks different for everyone. Once you recognize that you might have a problem in that relationship, you can choose to cut back on your own or lean on friends and family members to offer support and hold you accountable. You can also seek help for alcoholism from a mental health professional, your doctor, or an addiction rehabilitation center. You don’t have to wait until you’ve become fully addicted to seek professional help. Reaching out sooner rather than later will help you prevent the downfalls of alcoholism.
It’s not always easy to assess your relationship with alcohol. However, if you’re worried you might be drinking too much — and for unhealthy reasons — taking the time to evaluate that relationship could end up saving you from continuing down a dark and damaging path.
