When Does Healthy Indulgence Cross The Line? 6 Signs of Alcohol Problems.
The COVID-19 pandemic transformed 2020 into a year like few others — and it’s no secret that people have been looking to alcohol to cope. Orders at brick-and-mortar liquor stores were up 41% over last year, and online sales of liquor are booming, rising over 300% since the start of the pandemic. For many, a beer or glass of wine at the end of the day seems harmless. But there’s a danger that comes with using alcohol to self-medicate, especially in the era of social isolation.
The Hazards of Using Alcohol to Cope
Alcohol-related illnesses kill over 95,000 Americans every year — more than all other drug overdoses combined. Additionally, experts estimate that 15 million Americans were suffering from Alcohol Use Disorder before COVID hit.
One recent study of alcohol use during the pandemic found that 3 out of 4 adults were drinking one more day per month than before the crisis. One more day a month may not sound like a lot — but that’s the average, meaning many people are consuming much more.
So how much is too much? How do you know if you should be concerned about your alcohol consumption? This psychological evaluation and assessment can help you determine whether your relationship with alcohol is harmful to your health. In addition, here are 6 signs that you need help.
1. You’ve Noticed Lapses in Your Major Responsibilities
We’re living through tough times — and the stress of the pandemic can certainly cause things to fall through the cracks. But if you’ve missed out on any major responsibilities because of your drinking, that’s a significant red flag. For example, if you’ve missed college classes or work-related meetings, these could be early warning signs. If you’ve been terminated from a job or have faced other dire consequences as a result of drinking, you should be evaluated for drinking patterns that are seriously affecting your health.
2. You Have No Memory of What You Did While You Were Drinking
Alcohol can impact the brain in significant ways — especially memory centers. As a result, you may experience memory loss related to your alcohol consumption. Some refer to these as “blackout” incidents. If you’ve ever experienced this type of memory loss, or if you have no memory of what you experienced while drinking, you should consider that a warning sign. If you continue drinking despite such repeated blackout incidents, you may be at very high risk for alcohol addiction.
If you live alone and are socially isolating, it might be challenging to notice when memory loss occurs, so check in with friends or loved ones. Pay careful attention to events or conversations they reference that you don’t remember.
3. Day Drinking
There’s no doubt that time moves differently during a pandemic, especially when you’re working from home every day or your activities are otherwise curtailed. As a result, it might be easier to slip into some day drinking here and there. However, being drunk in the morning or early in the day — or for long periods of time during the day — can be warning signs that you’re developing an alcohol addiction. This is especially true if you find yourself doing this with frequency.
4. You Have Trouble Cutting Back
If you’ve noticed that your drinking has increased over the last few months of the pandemic, it’s possible you’ve considered cutting back, either on the days you drink or the number of drinks you consume. If you’ve found it difficult to stick to your self-imposed limits, or find yourself resorting to drinking when you feel stressed, it’s time to assess your relationship to alcohol.
It’s also possible that you mean to cut back but find you’re continuing to drink excessively almost without realizing it. These can both be indications that you’re developing an alcohol addiction and you should seek treatment as soon as possible.
5. Is Your Drinking More Important Than Your Hobbies?
It’s likely that COVID-19 changed how you spend your free time, at least temporarily. You probably don’t go out to eat nearly as often. Attending sporting events or going to the movies are also no longer as attractive as they once were — at least until a vaccine becomes widely available. So it might be challenging at this moment to know if alcohol has replaced your hobbies.
When things slowly return to normal, pay attention to how often you choose alcohol over the activities you used to enjoy. Do you cut out on family dinners early to make sure you can stop at the liquor store on the way home? Would you rather drink than go work in your garden or enjoy some knitting? The more alcohol subsumes what you enjoy, the more likely you’re dealing with an addiction.
6. You Keep Drinking, Despite the Consequences
People often miss early signs of addiction. This can lead to serious consequences with your health, career, and relationships. If you keep drinking despite those consequences, you should get a more professional evaluation.
Denial Is Common with Addiction
It can be challenging to look objectively at your own behavior. So you may not be able to diagnose yourself very accurately when it comes to your own alcohol addiction. That’s why taking an objective assessment tool or seeing a medical professional is essential. It will give you a much better idea of whether you need professional medical help.
COVID-19 has changed a lot about our day-to-day behavior, and it’s true that drinking at home has become markedly more common. But that doesn’t change the dangers of alcohol addiction — or how perniciously this disease can hide.
If you suspect that you have a dependence on alcohol, quitting on your own can be challenging. Talking to a medical professional can help you find a sustainable, healthy way to overcome your addiction. To get started, contact us.
