While some drinking can be fun, too much can become a problem. Before we reach the stage of alcoholism, we’ll come to a point of being dependent on it. If you spot signs of alcohol dependence, it’s possible to receive help in order to avoid addiction. However, the signs of alcohol dependence are not always crystal clear.
Signs of Alcohol Dependence
A Drink Is All You Can Think About
While we all want a drink now and then, strong cravings can be a sign of alcohol dependence. It’s one thing to want a drink, it’s another thing for that to be all you can think of. This can mean just seeing or thinking about a drink will make you feel that you need one. If you find yourself only being able to focus on a drink, this could be a sign that you are becoming dependent.
Wanted to Cut Back, But Couldn’t
Being unable to cut back on your drinking habits can also be a sign of alcohol dependence. While cutting back on any habit may be hard, changing your drinking habits can be especially difficult if you’ve become dependent. Many times, we see that we are drinking too much and try to stop. But after only a few days or weeks, we are right back to drinking our usual amount. If you try to quit but can’t do so, you may not have as much control over drinking as you think.
Have to Drink More, Just to Feel the Same Effects
When alcohol begins to lose it’s effects, it can be a sign of alcohol dependence. For instance, you have to drink more than usual in order to feel tipsy or a buzz. Drinking more just to feel the same way can mean that you’ve built up a tolerance. In that case, it’s likely that you will continue to drink more and this can develop dependence.
In short, spotting signs of alcohol dependence is not always easy because they aren’t always clear. Just one sign may not mean you are becoming dependent. However, if you begin to experience severals signs, that could mean your drinking habits are becoming a problem.