Alcohol dependency can be difficult to identify for some people, even as they are battling with it. It isn’t always easy to know that you’ve crossed a line from casual drinking into a dependency or addiction. It can be even harder to accept when you’re struggling with a socially acceptable substance like alcohol. If you drink regularly or heavily, it’s time to start evaluating yourself and accept that it’s time to get help with alcohol near Brookline, MA.
Signs of Alcohol Dependency & Abuse
It’s estimated that around 14.5 million people suffer from alcohol use disorder (AUD). Some may show only mild symptoms, but the severity of symptoms does not always indicate the damage being done or how destructive the dependency will end up being for that person. Here are some of the most common signs to look for, but please note that not every person will display all of these, and not having all of them does not mean you shouldn’t seek help.
- Drinking alone or drinking in secret
- Having the desire to cut back on drinking but being unable to do so
- Feeling a strong craving for alcohol
- Mood swings and irritability
- Finding reasons or excuses to drink (to relax, to handle stress, etc.)
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms (shaking, sweating, nausea) when not drinking
- Failure to honor commitments or responsibilities because of your drinking
- Developing a higher tolerance to alcohol, so you drink more to get the effects still
These are only a handful of the commonly seen symptoms of alcohol dependency. It is not a comprehensive list, and some people will have symptoms not written here. It can also be hard to realize that some of these symptoms are caused by alcohol, so it’s important not to dismiss them as something else if you’ve been experiencing them.
How Much Alcohol Is Too Much?
Another reason it can be difficult for some people to realize they need help with alcohol is that there is no easy answer to “how much is too much” when it comes to drinking. Some people may drink heavily occasionally and never develop a dependency, while others who consume less have a genuine addiction.
People tend to progress through stages of drinking that often lead to dependency or addiction. What begins as binge drinking at parties can progress to problem drinking, when a person starts to experience the actual effects of alcohol abuse and continue to dependency, addiction, and alcoholism.
There is no magic number of drinks that can cause this. The effect alcohol determines it has on a person’s body, mind, and life. It’s important not to evaluate your experience based on someone else’s, as your journey and your relationship with alcohol are unique. Generally speaking, alcohol addiction does have specific symptoms associated with it, including those listed above.
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Use in Brookline, MA
Alcohol abuse begins young for some people. They may even begin drinking in childhood, which makes it especially difficult to grasp the severity of the long-term health effects it can have. The truth is that abusing alcohol can and does kill people. Alcohol abuse can have terrible effects on your body and mind. These can include, but aren’t limited to:
- Worsening mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression
- Liver disease
- Heart disease and stroke
- High blood pressure
- Problems with memory, like dementia
- A weakened immune system
- Higher risk for several types of cancer
What might begin as a way to have fun on weekends can ultimately be the same thing that begins breaking your body down. If your alcohol use spirals out of control, it wreaks havoc on many important systems within your body. But, in addition to what it does to you physically, it can separate you from the people you love and who love you. Even those with a robust support system can find themselves pulling away. Those struggling with alcohol, or any addiction, often feel isolated and go on to further distance themselves from important people in their lives.
Social problems, whether they’re problems with your family, friends, or loved ones, or issues with your job, can feel as debilitating as the physical symptoms you might show.
Conclusion
Did any of this strike a chord with you? Does it feel familiar, or as if it applies to your life or the life of someone you care about? If so, it’s time to seek treatment. Getting help with alcohol near Brookline, MA, is the right answer. Seek out a treatment center or program like you’ll find at Northstar Recovery Center. You don’t have to let alcohol rule your life any longer − there are ways to get on the road to recovery and begin healing.