10 Signs of Alcohol Abuse And That Is Ruining Your Life

Do your drinking habits signal a serious problem with alcohol?  It isn’t always easy to tell.  The progression from social drinker to “problem drinker” to alcohol addict can happen so gradually that you may not realize the serious effects alcohol is having on your life.  If you’re experiencing any of these signs of alcohol abuse, it’s time to consider getting help.

1. You abuse alcohol to feel better

It’s true, a drink can often help in stressful situations, but someone who is addicted to alcohol doesn’t stop there.  Drinking becomes a problem when it’s the go-to solution whenever you feel stressed, anxious or down – and you can’t imagine facing those kinds of feelings without alcohol.

2. You lie about your alcohol abuse

If you’re telling lies to cover for your drinking or taking action to hide your drinking from others, then it’s likely a problem.  Alcoholics lie about how much they’re drinking and how much money they’re spending on drinking, and they make up excuses such as being sick to cover for a hangover at work.

3. You drink alcohol even in risky situations

Ruining Your Life

Alcoholism can make you lose touch with loved ones.

Alcohol addicts continue to drink even when they might be putting themselves and others in danger, such as while driving or operating machinery.  They may drink before work even though they risk getting fired, or before important meetings. The desire to drink becomes more important than any other consideration.

4. You’ve lost touch with friends due to your alcohol abuse

If your non-drinking friends are no longer in your life, or if you’re skipping out on activities and events you used to enjoy because of drinking, it’s a sign that your drinking is most likely slipping into the danger zone.

5. You’re neglecting your usual responsibilities

You may be showing up to work late or skipping work. If you’re a student, you’re cutting classes and failing to do assignments.  You may be forgetting to pay bills, keep appointments or fulfill family obligations because of drinking.  As these things snowball, you drink to deal with the stress.

6. You have conflicts in your relationships because of alcohol abuse

As drinking escalates, so do relationship problems.  You and a partner may fight about your drinking, or about other problems that drinking has caused.  Your relationships with family members might become strained because you’ve neglected your connections with them. You might get angry when these people tell you they’re concerned about your drinking.

7. You can’t stop once you start drinking alcohol

For someone addicted to alcohol, there’s no such thing as “just one drink.”  Though you may tell yourself you’ll have just one more, it never ends there.  Alcohol abusers typically drink until something – or someone- stops them.

8. You have repeated alcohol-related legal problems

If you keep having run-ins with the law for drinking and driving, disorderly conduct or other issues caused by alcohol, your drinking has become a serious problem.

9. You can drink much more than you used to

Over time, alcohol abusers develop a much higher tolerance for alcohol as the body and brain adapt.  You may find that it takes more alcohol to feel the same way you used to, or that you’ve consumed far more than you expected to in a drinking session.

10. You black out

Having “blackouts,” or periods of time you don’t remember while drinking, is a sure sign your alcohol use is out of control.  During blackouts, you may do risky things or end up in dangerous places with no memory of how you got there.

From social drinking to problem drinking or alcohol abuse it can be a very slippery slope. But if any of these behaviors look a little too familiar, alcohol could be ruining your life –and your relationships.  Do you recognize any of these signs in your life?  Are you looking for help to break the cycle of addiction? Call 800-948-8417 Info iconCalls are forwarded to paid advertisers for the answers you want today.

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