So, perhaps you don’t have any of the signs of an alcohol disorder, but you enjoy drinking. Does that mean you don’t have to worry about alcohol problems? Not quite. Alcohol problems don’t simply happen overnight, and you could still develop a problem with alcohol over time.
Studies have shown that it doesn’t take much for occasional drinking to turn into a serious disorder or an addiction. Those in danger of forming alcohol problems tend to use drinking to relieve stress or to simply beat boredom. Their occasional drinking can quickly become a habit. There are a few questions you can ask yourself to assess if you are in danger of developing a problem with drinking. Those include:
If you answered positively to more than one of the questions above, you may be on the path to developing an addiction to alcohol. It’s not too late for you to cut back now, though. If you don’t, your chances are good that your drinking habit will soon turn into a drinking problem.
When you are not paying attention, your minor drinking may develop into a serious drinking problem. For instance, many college students will drink heavily, so their tolerance to alcohol increases, thanks to the liver enzymes that break up the alcohol. As tolerance builds, your body will require more alcohol for you to experience the same effects. Your brain can also build up a tolerance to alcohol and require you to intake higher doses.
As your alcohol tolerance increases, your body needs more alcohol to give you the same effect. This need leads to drinking heavily to get the desired effect, and can quickly cause a downward spiral towards addiction. Your occasional partying can quickly become a daily necessity to the point where your body is unable to operate effectively without alcohol.
If you have found yourself in this downward spiral, or are concerned that your drinking is creating alcohol problems, contact us at Coastline Behavioral Health. We can provide you with the tools needed to help you overcome your alcohol problems.