Some people drink alcohol casually and never develop an addiction, but that’s not always the case. While everyone who drinks starts out as a social drinker, some people develop an addiction without realizing it. How can you tell if you should consult an alcohol treatment center in Florida? You should begin by learning the warning signs of addiction and honestly evaluating your behavior. It’s not easy to look inward and be critical of one’s actions. However, taking the time to assess your situation will help you determine if alcohol use has become a problem for you. In particular, be wary of the symptoms of addiction listed here.
- Increased Alcohol Consumption
- Hiding Substance Use
- Withdrawal from social activities
- High risk behavior
Increased Alcohol Consumption
While you might start out drinking casually on the weekends, the amount you drink may increase over time. What may start as having one or two drinks at a weekly social gathering may increase over time. You may begin looking for other reasons to drink, even if it means drinking alone. You may also start to increase the amount of alcohol you drink. As you drink alcohol, your brain builds up a tolerance to its effects. This is why you can never quite achieve the same euphoric state you experienced with your first drink. Over time, you will have to drink more alcohol just to achieve that same level of intoxication. Often, this process continues until you either overdose or seek addiction treatment.
Hiding Substance Use
As you do begin down the path to addiction, a part of you will recognize that your drinking patterns have changed. As a result, you’ll feel uncomfortable drinking in the presence of loved ones. You might fear criticism or feel as though your family and friends won’t understand. In any case, you begin to hide your drinking. This can include hiding beer, wine, or other types of alcohol, so others won’t even know you have it. You may often wait for others to leave you alone, so you can drink in solitude. If you look forward to being alone and having the opportunity to drink, you are likely beginning to develop an addiction.
Withdrawal from Social Activities
There are a few reasons that alcohol addiction results in withdrawing from social activities. As mentioned previously, you may feel uncomfortable drinking around others. Even close friends who also drink socially may become concerned by the frequency of your drinking. As a result, you may choose to spend less time participating in group activities. Additionally, you may withdraw from activities you enjoy, because it takes time away from drinking. You may find you would rather drink and obtain that euphoric feeling than participate in other enjoyable activities. It may begin to feel as though playing sports, going to events, or pursuing a hobby is a nuisance that’s keeping you from drinking.
High Risk behavior
Another strong indication that you need addiction treatment is that you have started engaging in high-risk behavior. This can include stealing money to pay for your alcohol and driving under the influence. Since building up an alcohol tolerance means you require more alcohol to get intoxicated, you may drive under the influence to go buy more alcohol to fulfill your need. In addition to taking risks that could result in legal trouble, high-risk behavior also includes failing to meet obligations. Your drinking may begin to interfere with your ability to do your job, which could end up leaving you unemployable. Your behavior might also risk your personal relationships and can cause you to lose custody of your children. Even though you may care deeply about these parts of your life, alcohol addiction affects reasoning and judgment. Before you really understand the consequences, your addiction may cost you deeply.
Get Help Before It’s Too Late
If any of these situations do sound familiar, you may already be struggling with addiction without realizing it. If you’re ready to end a cycle that’s making your life seem out of control, contact our counselors at 844-639-8371. We can be reached 24 hours a day, so getting help is convenient and always available. While treatment will be a challenge, our professional caregivers can help you get sober and stay clean. As you go through treatment, you’ll learn how to cope with stress and enjoy life without resorting to alcohol abuse.