It can be hard to tell when some drinking is too much drinking. The line between a social drinker and an alcoholic can be difficult to find. However, if you are here searching for answers, it might be an indication that something is amiss. There are some other classic signs that drinking is becoming too much. For example, if you spend a lot of your mental energy focused on alcohol and getting alcohol. It’s also a warning sign if you’ve tried to stop in the past and have not been able to. If you feel the need to hide your habits, that can be an issue as well. And finally, if you go through withdrawal when you refrain, it’s an indication that your body is addicted. Hopefully, you can find the help you need to get the drinking under control.
When is Some Drinking Too Much Drinking? How to Know If You Have an Alcohol Addiction
Spending Much of Your Mental Energy On Drinking
One way to know if some drinking is too much drinking is if you spend a lot of mental energy on alcohol. If your day revolves around when you’ll be drinking. Or if you schedule activities just knowing that alcohol will be a part of them. It can also be dangerous if you feel like drinking is taking up a significant portion of your money. If you’re focused on where you’ll drink, how you’ll drink, and how you’ll pay for your drink, it’s probably a sign that things are getting out of control.
If You’ve Tried to Stop and Can’t
Another way to know that your drinking is too much drinking is if you’ve already tried to stop and failed. It can be very hard to quit on your own. Even if you don’t suffer withdrawal symptoms, the temptation to drink can be very strong. It takes a lot of focus and determination to quit if you have a problem. And many people are not able to do it alone.
If You Feel the Need to Hide
Feelings of shame are another indication that the drinking is too much drinking. If you feel like you need to hide your habits from others, it’s because deep down you know that it’s a little out of hand. Otherwise, you’d be fine with others knowing your habits. If you feel embarrassed or guilty, you might have a problem. Hiding is usually an indication that you have an alcohol problem.
If You Go Through Withdrawal
Finally, one last way to know if your drinking is too much drinking is if you go through withdrawal when you stop. Withdrawal happens because your body has become dependent on a substance to function. When you take the substance away, your body doesn’t remember how to function on its own. It can cause your body to go into panic mode or shock, which in turn give you the symptoms of withdrawal. These can include shaking, nausea, irritability, and in some cases, stroke or heart attack. If you experience withdrawal symptoms, speak to a doctor about quitting safely.
If you struggle to know when some drinking is too much drinking, there are some classic signs. However, if you are already wondering this question, it’s probably a clue that things are already getting out of hand. If your mental energy is spent trying to figure out how and when you’ll get your next drink, it can be a warning sign. So is being unable to quit when you want to. If you have feelings of shame and try to hide your habits, it’s probably because you know deep down that they are really addicts. And finally, if you go through withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop, it means that your body is addicted to the substance. Hopefully, knowing the signs of an addiction can help you get the help that you need quickly so that you can prevent doing lasting harm to your body and can get sober.
