For many people, having a drink in social settings, such as a wedding or birthday party, is absolutely normal. However, many Americans struggle with their relationship with alcohol and may not understand that their drinking behaviors can actually be destructive to their livelihoods. Unfortunately, many Americans drink more than the appropriate amount of alcohol just to get through the demands of everyday life.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 16 million Americans have an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). In 2015, 15.1 million adults had an AUD and 623,000 adolescents were diagnosed with an AUD. These astounding numbers only truly represent the individuals that were actually diagnosed with an AUD. These numbers are not representative of the many individuals who are in denial or go untreated and unrecognized for alcohol abuse.
But how do you know if you have a problem with alcohol? How much alcohol is too much and is your behavior normal?
Understanding the signs of someone who abuses alcohol is critical in encouraging them to seek effective treatment. The good news: alcohol abuse treatment programs like the one at Covenant Hills Treatment can be effective in helping you get sober, restore your energy and purpose, and help you regain your life.
Signs That You May Have a Problem with Alcohol
The following may be signs that you or someone you love is exhibiting alcohol-related problems. Becoming aware of these signs is the first step in recognizing the problems associated with alcohol dependence and the first step towards recovery.
- Having an inability to perform daily life tasks in school, work, and home settings
- Drinking alone
- Engaging in hidden behaviors surrounding alcohol related activities
- Joining a new social group that engages in heavy alcohol consumption
- Experiencing a detachment from friends or family due to alcohol related activities
- Getting angry or defensive when someone approaches you about your alcohol consumption
- Consuming alcohol to deal with the stress and demands from work or relationships
- Spending a lot of money on alcohol
- Drinking in the morning
- Making excuses for behavior
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Joking that you have an alcohol problem
- Craving alcohol
- Believing that you need alcohol to relax or have fun
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when in the absence of alcohol
- Consuming large amounts of alcohol in a very short period of time
Questions to Consider When Determining if You or Someone You Love May Have an Alcohol Problem
- Do you need to consume alcohol to relax in social settings or to be more fun?
- Do you often drink alcohol and not remember how you behaved or what happened during that time?
- Do you experience cravings for alcohol?
- Are you tired of people asking you about your alcohol consumption?
- Did you stop taking part in activities you enjoy and replace them with alcohol-related activities?
- Did you change social groups so that you can drink more often?
- Do you drink to feel better or to release stress?
- Are you experiencing relationship problems due to your drinking?
- Do you try to hide your drinking behaviors from your family and friends?
- Are you experiencing anxiety or depression and use alcohol as a way of coping?
- Are you in denial about how much you drink?
How Much Alcohol is Too Much?
The moderate drinking level is one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. However, some individuals rely on alcohol to release the stress and pain from everyday life and this may result in drinking more than the appropriate amount.
Binge drinking is when individuals drink a large amount of alcohol in a very short period of time. For men, it is typically when they consume more than 5 drinks in two hours. For women, it is when they consume more than 4 drinks in two hours. When these binge drinking behaviors persist multiple times a month, it can cause a serious chemical dependence on the drug and can lead to addiction.
If you or someone you love is coping with stress, relationships, trauma, or a psychological disorder with alcohol, it is time to take immediate action and seek a faith-based approach to treatment.
A Faith-Based Approach to Alcohol Abuse Treatment
The use of alcohol is not only detrimental for your health, but it will also strain the relationships you have with your friends and family. Recognizing the signs of alcohol abuse is essential to being proactive and helping you or someone you love seek the treatment needed to be a healthy individual again. This begins with finding a treatment center that supports you or a loved one throughout the entire process.
At Covenant Hills, the dedicated staff understand the emotional and physical toll alcohol abuse can have on the mind, body, and spirit and will create an individually-designed plan to help you avoid a relapse. Covenant Hills Treatment Center offers a faith-based treatment approach to helping anyone recover from their alcohol addiction. Our professionally trained staff include pastors, therapists, and counselors to provide the spiritual support needed to fully recover from addiction.
If you or a loved one are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, call Covenant Hills treatment specialists today at (800) 662-2873 for a free and confidential assessment.
