For hundreds of years, drinking has been accepted as a means to socialize with others, but at the same time, it is caused much misery and heartache for millions of people. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize they have a problem drinking until it is too late. At that point, recovery becomes more difficult than it would have been earlier.
There are ways you can determine if you have issues with alcohol. Below is some information that will help you diagnose if you have a problem drinking, how severe it is, your triggers, and much more. If you realize you have a problem drinking, remember that help is available to you if you need it.
Most people with a problem drinking feel shame about it. Shame doesn’t lead you to quit drinking, though, but has been shown to increase your risk of having a relapse. Studies have shown that recovering addicts will often become depressed and return to drinking because of personal shame.
If you feel you have a problem with drinking, or may be an alcoholic, be honest about it without beating yourself up. Know that problem drinking is a disease, not a moral dilemma. Being an alcoholic doesn’t make you a bad person, just someone who needs to get help. Understanding this can help make your road to recovery easier.
Having one drink daily isn’t typically a sign of problem drinking. The symptoms are usually much more severe and can create issues in your personal life, your career, and your health. The first way you can diagnose your problem is to watch for symptoms of the disorder. Some of the symptoms to watch for include:
After looking over the list above, if you have experienced more than one or two of these, you likely have a drinking disorder or you are getting close to developing one. If that is the case for you, contact us at Coastline Behavioral Health so we can help you get on the road to recovery. Just because you drink doesn’t mean you have a disorder, so knowing the symptoms above can help you understand better if you need help.