Alcohol is the most socially acceptable substance, with cultural and social practices built around consumption. As such, it can be insidious, making it difficult to detect what’s acceptable and when a line has been crossed— especially after quarantine and the pandemic.
Alcoholism and addiction are serious medical conditions that require treatment by trained professionals. However, there are some things that you can do to help a friend or loved one who is struggling with these diseases. If they are experiencing hangovers and dehydration from drinking alcohol, IV fluids can help to alleviate their symptoms, and especially banana bag IV contents’ are essential vitamins and minerals that help alcohol addicts to get back quickly. So if someone is struggling with alcoholism or addiction, you can encourage them to seek professional help.
So, how do you know if you or a loved one has crossed the line? Here are some notable signs that your alcohol consumption is out of control.
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It’s Impacting Your Relationships
One of the most telling signs of overconsumption is when alcohol starts to impact your relationships. If you find yourself fighting with loved ones or acting out in a damaging manner, it’s a sign that something is wrong. Everyone makes mistakes, but engaging in the same destructive behaviors, again and again, is a choice.
The experts at Brookside indicate that substance abuse primarily impacts children in the home. Additionally, it increases incidents of domestic violence. If your relationships and family are impacted by alcohol— either via your consumption or your partner’s— it’s time to reach out for help.
You’re Not Reaching Your Goals
If your alcohol consumption impacts your ability to meet your goals and responsibilities, it’s time to re-evaluate your habits. If alcohol limits your ability to get to work on time (or at all), it’s a problem.
Keep in mind that failing to accomplish minor goals is still a reason for concern. For example, if your hangovers limit you from accomplishing your household chores, fitness goals, familial duties, etc., this is a problem. While people over-indulge every now and then, it should be a rarity rather than a habit.
It’s Impacting Your Finances
Drinking alcohol can be expensive. If your consumption habits impact your ability to pay rent or cover extras as they arise, it’s time to regain control.
Sometimes awareness is all it takes to help course correct back to a better path. Download an app like Mint to evaluate how much you’re spending on alcohol each month and consider whether that amount is acceptable to you. Then, try to set goals to cut back.
If you have the financial resources to cover your alcohol consumption, take some time to reflect upon your priorities. Is there something else you’d rather spend that money on?
You’re Struggling to Stop or Cut Back
What happens when you see the problem but struggle to change your behavior? There’s a lot of stigma and shame in admitting that you don’t have control over your alcohol intake. Remember that your body is designed to become dependent on this substance and that it’s ok to ask for help.
If you know what steps you should take and can’t overcome the compulsion to drink, reach out for help.
You’re Experiencing Emotional Dysregulation
One of the significant indicators that alcohol is negatively impacting your life is if you’re experiencing emotional dysregulation. This experience could come in the form of mood swings or depressive states. Alcohol is a depressant that attacks your central nervous system. It can create or exacerbate feelings of stress and anxiety while removing the natural coping methods we possess.
If you experience emotional outbursts while drinking or find your mental health suffering during periods of sobriety, reconsider your consumption. Other triggers and factors may cause your mental health struggles, but alcohol isn’t going to help you get through them. In fact, it may have the opposite effect.
You’re Binge Drinking
Binge drinking is defined as consuming more than four or five drinks in two hours for females and males, respectively. Again, it’s also important to consider patterns when evaluating your consumption through this lens. If you’re at a wedding and overdo it, it’s not necessarily a sign of alcoholism. However, if this happens monthly, it’s time to reflect and evaluate your consumption habits.
You’re Drinking Alone
If you find yourself drinking alone rather than in a social setting, it could be a sign that your consumption has reached a point of concern. Again, there’s a difference between having a glass of wine with dinner and regularly drinking a bottle alone in the evenings.
Take some time to evaluate your behaviors and determine the cause of drinking alone. If you enjoy a drink to unwind, consider why one drink isn’t enough. Do you struggle to resist once the bottle is open? Have you created a habit that you could correct with intentional behavior changes? Doing some self-exploration will help you determine the next steps.
It’s Dominating Your Thoughts
Finally, if alcohol dominates your thoughts, you should be concerned. If your first thought during a stressful day or experience is “I need a drink,” consider what other coping methods you could put in place. If you’re continuously looking at the clock so you can leave work for a drink, this is another concern.
