Many people find themselves questioning their relationship with alcohol at some point in their lives. It’s common to wonder if your drinking habits have crossed the line from casual drinking to something more concerning.
Today, we want to help you identify the signs of alcohol addiction so you can determine whether you might have a problem. We’ll also give you some advice on what steps to take next if you suspect you are an alcoholic.
If you’ve been secretly wondering “Am I addicted to alcohol?” or are concerned about a loved one, then this blog is for you.
What is Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a chronic condition where you are unable to control or stop your drinking even when there are negative consequences. Alcohol addiction goes beyond an occasional drink or even regular social drinking.
Heavy drinking doesn’t always mean that a person is addicted. However, heavy drinking can quickly turn into an addiction if the behavior persists.
So, how do you know someone is an alcoholic? The difference between casual or social drinking and alcohol addiction is dependence.
A person who is addicted to alcohol will experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking. They need to drink more to achieve the same effects over time (increased tolerance) and find it difficult to cut back even when they want to.
9 Signs of Alcohol Addiction
There are physical as well as behavioral and mental addiction signs that you shouldn’t ignore:
- Increased Tolerance: Needing to drink more to feel the same effects is one of the physical signs of alcohol addiction.
- Withdrawal Symptoms: Experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating, nausea, and irritability when not drinking is another clear addiction sign.
- Physical Cravings: Feeling a strong urge or need to drink, often at the expense of other activities or responsibilities is another one of the physical signs of alcohol abuse.
- Drinking Alone: Consuming alcohol in isolation, away from social settings is a behavioral sign of alcohol addiction.
- Neglecting Responsibilities: Failing to meet work, school, or family obligations due to drinking also hints at alcohol addiction.
- Continuing to Drink Despite Negative Consequences: Continuing to drink despite problems in relationships, legal issues, or health concerns is another sign that help is needed.
- Anxiety or Depression: Feeling anxious or depressed, especially in relation to drinking or the consequences of drinking, is a mental sign of alcohol addiction.
- Using Alcohol to Cope: Turning to alcohol as a way to deal with stress, sadness, or other emotional challenges is another mental addiction sign.
- Obsession with Drinking: Constantly thinking about alcohol, planning drinking sessions, or worrying about when the next drink is a reason for concern.
The Functioning Alcoholic
So, what if you are experiencing some of the signs that you are an alcoholic but not all of them? Maybe you’re still maintaining your daily responsibilities and appear to function normally in society. This could hint at you being a functioning alcoholic.
A functioning alcoholic is a person who can hold down a job, maintain relationships, and fulfill obligations, all while drinking heavily or frequently.
High Functioning Alcoholic Signs
Signs of a functioning alcoholic can be harder to spot because they often blend in with everyday life. However, some specific functioning alcoholic signs include:
- Hiding Drinking Habits: Drinking in secret or lying about the amount of alcohol consumed.
- Rationalizing Drinking: Justifying drinking as a reward or a necessity, even in situations where it’s inappropriate or harmful.
- Using Alcohol as a Reward: Treating alcohol as a reward for getting through the day or completing tasks, rather than enjoying it socially.
Why It’s Dangerous
Being a functioning alcoholic is very dangerous because your addiction can go unnoticed or unaddressed for longer. Since you might appear to others and to yourself to be handling life well, there’s less pressure to seek help. This can lead to a deeper addiction.
Eventually, you may reach a point where you will find yourself unable to maintain your responsibilities, and your health will start declining.
What to Do If You Suspect You Have a Problem
The first and most important step you should take when dealing with alcohol addiction is reaching out for help.
Detoxification (detox) is often the first step toward getting better. Detox helps to remove alcohol from your system in a safe environment while managing withdrawal symptoms. This is why it’s very important to do a medically supervised detox and not go cold turkey on your own.
However, a home detox can be a great solution if you prefer not to enter a traditional rehab program with its drawbacks. A medically supervised home detox can reduce the discomfort of withdrawal and increase your chances of a successful recovery. It is also the most comfortable and private way to detox.
Take the First Step Toward Recovery
Once you recognize that you have a problem with alcohol, you’ve already taken the first step toward recovery. You should be proud of that. It really takes courage to face the truth about your drinking habits. By doing so, you can help yourself get on the path to a healthier and happier life.
If this blog helped you realize that you have an issue with alcohol addiction, don’t hesitate to take action. Reach out to Detox Concierge for a free consultation and more information about our at home alcohol detox and treatment options.
If you think that you have an issue with another drug dependence, we also offer at home opioid detox and at home cocaine detox as well as at home Kratom detox.
We provide our in home detox services all around the United States. We are located in Newport Beach in Orange County, but we can come to your city as well – no matter where.
Reach out to us so we can help you get better!