How to understand that alcohol in your life has become "too much"

Whether you have a problem with alcohol can be understood by several signs. Experts recommend to decide and, if there is an addiction, to take available measures in a timely manner.

Alcohol is present everywhere in our life – both at sad events and festive events, just at a friendly party or in the evening with family. There is a real risk that he will gradually “dominate” and dictate his terms. Is it possible to determine the emerging alcohol addiction? Check if you have certain signs that it’s time to “sound the alarm.”

There is always a reason

Even the smallest event encourages you to celebrate or relieve alcohol concerns. And the point here is not at all in the dose, it can be small, but in the very fact of drinking alcohol in connection with any episode – sad or joyful. This criterion is almost guaranteed to be an indicator of the presence of problems with alcohol, but it is difficult to detect it on your own – it is better to turn to relatives.

Ritual

For some, alcohol consumption is associated with various rituals: a football match, the end of the work week, etc. However, over time, the number of rituals increases and they are performed more often, providing an extra opportunity to drink.

Hiding alcohol from loved ones

Hiding the fact of alcohol consumption or its quantity is a clear sign of existing problems. At the same time, questions from relatives about the amount of alcohol consumed, as a rule, cause a negative reaction. A person comes up with various excuses, hiding behind good intentions. One of the manifestations of concealment is the “stash” of the cherished bottle from loved ones.

Change of priorities

Gradually, all emotions without alcohol seem to fade. Increasingly, a person refuses previously loved activities and hobbies, from communication with the family in favor of drinking alcohol – in any form and in any environment. Past activities that previously gave pleasure cause only irritation and are perceived as a “duty”.

Consumption control

A person seems to be planning himself how much alcohol he will drink today, but invariably exceeds the bar set by himself and experiences, in connection with this, a strong sense of guilt.

Thoughts on alcohol

The very idea that it will soon be possible to drink, in people with alcohol problems, causes a surge of energy and an uplift in mood. They are pleasantly excited, and thinking becomes clearer.

Temporary withdrawal from alcohol

“Abuse” and “dependence” on alcohol – to distinguish between these concepts is quite difficult, but possible. It will help to give up alcohol for a short period – two to three weeks is enough. If abstinence is easy, the person does not become extremely irritable and tired, and his thoughts do not revolve around a single topic – when the ban finally ends, then everything is in order: there is no addiction.

Negation

All people suffering from any kind of addiction deny the very fact of its existence. Psychologists call this “anosognosia” (lack of a critical assessment by the patient of his defect or disease). As a rule, from the side of a person who has problems, phrases are heard: “Yes, everyone drinks so much, or even more”, “I can stop at any time”, “You are just jealous.”

Now try to be honest with yourself, how many points matched what you are experiencing or doing? Doubt? Ask family or friends. If the answer is yes, acknowledge the problem. This will be the first and main step in the fight against addiction, experts say.

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