Signs you have a problem with alcohol no longer require homelessness, jail or hospitalization. In fact, more and more young people are going the way of sobriety without losing jobs, friends and family or health. We are realizing we might have a problem with alcohol and are choosing to quit drinking before the severe consequences. Below are seven signs you might have a problem with alcohol.
1.You try to moderate your drinking
If there is the need to moderate or quit drinking, you have a problem with alcohol. Depending on how serious the problem is will be up to you and time will tell. I so badly wanted to drink without having any problems from my drinking. I would try and moderate by drinking water in between drinks, removing hard liquor and only drinking beer or wine, taking “breaks”, counting my drinks, even taking charcoal pills.
2. When you quit, you can’t stay sober
It was easy to quit, it was impossible to stay stopped for long so it wasn’t always clear that my problem was alcohol if I could quit so easily. I would find some excuse to drink again, which sometimes were valid, justified reasons like a bad day at work, or a celebration like a wedding. Other times, I would find myself with a drink in my hand wondering how I ended up drinking when I had genuinely sworn off. The same problems I had with alcohol would soon return.
“My willpower was strong, I knew what the consequences were if I drank again so I believed it was impossible for me to drink…. but I would always find myself drunk again.”- Anon
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3.You can’t control the amount you drink once you start drinking
Ever think “I’ll just have one drink” and six drinks later…Yeah. How often you drink doesn’t determine if you have a problem with alcohol. It’s what happens when you drink.
“When I tried to control my drinking, I wasn’t enjoying it, and when I was enjoying my drinking, I wasn’t controlling it.”
4. You lie or hide the amount you drink
It can vary from having bottles hidden all over the house and drinking around the clock with booze hidden in your morning coffee, to simply saying you had only two drinks when you really had three or four… or five. If you feel the need to lie, or omit parts of your drinking, you might have a problem. Ask yourself why you are being dishonest.
5. You do things drunk you would never do sober
Alcoholics are notorious for being Jekyll and Hyde. The sober version is completely different from the drunk version. You find yourself cringing the next morning, scared to look at your phone because you don’t know what you will find. Pitiful, incomprehensible demoralization followed up with a period of isolation is something you’re familiar with.
6. Your quality of life is declining
You find yourself late for work, about to get fired, or not employable. Relationships and friendships are suffering. Your health isn’t a priority and people around you are making remarks and expressing concern for you.
“My friends and family didn’t really see that I had a problem, I hid it well since I lived alone. I didn’t have issues at work, and I wasn’t having major issues…. but it was something inside of me that knew being drunk nightly and hungover everyday was not normal and I had a problem with alcohol.” -Anon
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7. You are reading an article about having a problem with alcohol
If you think you have a problem with alcohol, you probably do. Take some time and think about your drinking and write out a list of issues you’ve had associated with drinking. Talk to a therapist or check out a 12 step group. Below are helpful sober resources.
Sober Books