If you’re wondering if you’re alcohol dependent, it’s clear that you are aware that too much drinking is dangerous. Alcohol can eventually cause many health problems as well as psychological and social issues. It can be hard to know when your drinking crosses the line to addiction. If you plan your life around alcohol, it could be a red flag. Similarly, if you wake up thinking about alcohol, it can also be an indication of dependence. If you go a few days without drinking, do you have withdrawal symptoms? And finally, is it even possible to go a few days without drinking? All of these questions should help you be able to figure out whether or not you have an alcohol dependency.
Am I Alcohol Dependent? When Drinking is Too Much Drinking
Do You Plan Your Life Around Alcohol?
One sign that you might be alcohol dependent is if your entire life revolves around alcohol. Are you constantly wondering when and where you’ll get your next drink? If you tend to plan events based on alcohol, it could be a warning sign. For example, maybe every time you and your friends hang out, you need it to be at a bar or bring drinks along to somebody’s house. If you rely on alcohol for your social life it can be a bit worrisome.
Do You Wake Up Thinking About it?
Another sign that you might be alcohol dependent is if you are constantly thinking about alcohol. Is it the first thing you think of in the morning? Maybe you start drinking early in the day because you just can’t wait until the afternoon or evening. If you find yourself needing a drink before noon it could be a red flag that your drinking is becoming an addiction.
Do You Have Withdrawal?
Withdrawal symptoms are another clear indicator of alcohol dependence. If you go a few days without drinking, do you have headaches, irritability, sweating, shaking, nausea, or other withdrawal symptoms? Some heavy drinkers even start getting these symptoms early in the day. If your body goes into withdrawal relatively quickly, it means that it has built up alcohol dependence. Without alcohol in your system, your body doesn’t know how to react. This is a sign that you have an addiction.
Can You Go Without?
Finally, if you aren’t even able to go a few days without drinking, you probably are alcohol dependent. If the thought of going a few nights or even just one gives you anxiety, it could be a definite warning sign. Especially if you choose a weeknight where you aren’t out socializing with friends. If it’s difficult to go several days, or if the need to drink sets in after only a few hours, then it’s a definite sign that you should get some help
Finding out if you’re alcohol dependent can be the first step in recovery. If you plan your life around drinking it can definitely be a sign that you are dependent on alcohol. Similarly, if you think about it all day and feel the need to drink earlier and earlier it can also be a red flag. If you’re able to go a few days without drinking, do you suffer withdrawal symptoms? And if the thought of even going a few days seem impossible, it can definitely be a sign that you are dependent on alcohol. If you think that this is the case, there are tons of resources to help you quit drinking or cut back. Go to a counselor for support, join an AA meeting, or speak to a doctor. Find the support you need to get clean and start living your healthiest life free from alcohol dependence.