How To Tell If Your “Casual” Drinking Is Actually Alcohol Addiction
Are you worried that you are drinking more than you should be? Is alcohol dictating your life? It is easy to blur the lines between casual drinking and an actual alcohol addiction especially when drinking is a large part of Australian social culture.
Being alcohol dependent is a physical or psychological impulse to consume alcohol. Here are a few common signs that may indicate that your drinking has become a problem and it is time to seek professional help.
5 mental signs of alcohol addiction:
- Your first thought upon waking up in the morning is about drinking alcohol.
- You need to hide how much you drink from loved ones.
- Your relationships with loved ones begin to deteriorate.
- You can’t help but focus on having the next drink.
- You start to drink alone, regularly.
5 Physical Signs Of Alcohol Dependence
- You begin to feel nauseous and anxious when you haven’t had a drink.
- You need to increase your alcohol intake to get drunk.
- You sacrifice work or other activities that were once important to drink instead.
- You experience withdrawal symptoms such as a racing heart, trouble sleeping or being delusional.
- You have memory blackouts.
Is Your Answer Yes To Any Of The Following Questions?
- Do you drink to relax or to cope with challenging situations?
- Would you rather drink alone, than in company?
- Has your personal or work relationships suffered because of your drinking?
- Have you tried to stop drinking but couldn’t maintain it?
- Have you lied about drinking (how much and when) or hidden alcohol away?
You can recover from alcohol addiction with professional help from a psychologist. Psylegal has a team of experienced addiction specialists who can identify and manage alcohol addiction. Do you or someone you know need help in overcoming an addiction? Contact us to book an appointment today.