You may brush it off when the thought enters your head, or explain it away. You’re not an alcoholic. You’re a heavy drinker. You’re a binge drinker, but certainly not every day. You can drink a lot without getting drunk and that means… something, right? Most societal constructs are designed to make drinking alcohol look like a fun and harmless pastime, but this is simply not the case for everyone. The line between casual drinking, alcohol abuse, and flat-out addiction is often a very blurry one, especially when you are drunk. Let’s take a look at the top 10 signs that are letting you know that you need to check yourself into rehab.
WORRY
The first sign that something isn’t quite right often comes from your own instinct which, unfortunately, is very easy to ignore. If you have ever spent time contemplating your drinking habits this is a very good indicator that it may be time for you to look into rehab.
BLACKOUTS
How many times have you woken up with only a patchy recollection of the night before, if any recollection at all. How many times have you been filled in or things that you have said or done that you would otherwise have no idea about? If these nights are becoming so common for you that you are actually used to them it may be time to seek treatment.
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
If other people around you, whether they are friends, family, or coworkers, have expressed concern about your drinking, or health or social issues that stem from your drinking it may be time to start listening to what they have to say.
INJURY
If you have ever harmed yourself or others while you were drinking consider it a warning sign. From depressive, suicidal thoughts that you attempted to take action on because you were drunk to unnecessary bodily harm caused by acting foolish and disregarding your safety and the safety of others, sustaining an injury that would not have happened otherwise is definitely a signal that you need to get help.
NO SHOW
Has your drinking ever caused you to miss an important event? Your son’s school play? Your wife’s birthday? No? What about calling out of work and saying you were sick because you were too hungover to manage it? Missing these important life events means drinking has become a priority over your loved ones and over the quality of your life. Seek treatment
BACKLASH
Drinking to excess can often have negative consequences. Saying things you wish you hadn’t, making ill-advised phone calls, acting in a manner that is wildly out of character causing people to pull away from you… All of these actions can come with a wide range of negative consequences. If this course of events is becoming par for the course, you need to look into a rehab program sooner rather than later.
THE BASICS
If you find yourself neglecting the most basic of responsibilities such as personal hygiene and paying your bills then you can be sure that alcohol has become a serious priority in your life and it is starting to affect other areas of your life. Don’t let this go on any longer. Please, reach out to someone for assistance.
LIAR, LIAR
If you have found yourself lying in order to cover up your drinking (pouring whiskey into a coffee mug counts here) then you have ventured into some very unhealthy territory. You have begun putting your alcohol abuse over the basic respect that your family and friends deserve from you. Treatment is vital at this point.
ISOLATING
Pulling away from your family and friends in order to drink alone is a major red flag. Whatever your reason for drinking alone may be, you are tired of hearing their concerns, you know in your heart that you shouldn’t be drinking at 9 on a Monday morning… Whatever is causing you to isolate yourself away from the people around you is a major cause for concern. Looking into alcohol rehab programs is your best option.
YOU TRIED
If you have attempted to quit drinking on your own before and have been unsuccessful then please contact a recovery center for help. This shows that you have recognized that you have a problem and you are ready to do something about it. Good for you! Move forward with that.
It can be difficult to recognize when a behavior turns into addiction. It can be hard to admit to yourself that things have gotten out of hand and that you cannot fix the problem all by yourself. Come and talk with the staff at Asana Recovery. You don’t even have to do it face to face. You can give us a call at 949-438-4504 or contact us via our website where we offer live chat. Whatever is easiest for you. Here at Asana Recovery we just want to help you overcome your addiction and get your life back together, in whatever way works for you.
