Worried You or a Loved One Is Drinking Too Much? Ask These Questions

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Alcohol abuse is a serious health concern that can influence an individual’s professional as well as personal life. It impacts not just the one who is diagnosed, but also the caregivers around experience a lot of concerns because of alcohol abuse. In extreme cases, it might lead to risk towards oneself or others as well. Thus, it is important to seek help at the right time. You can begin by reflecting upon the following questions to gain insight about drinking behaviour:

1. Do you or the loved one feel depressed or anxious when unable to consume alcohol?

2. How is the drinking influencing your overall well-being?

3. What happens to your body if you do not get a drink despite a strong desire?

These questions can help you get some insight into the level of concern that might be there because of drinking. To get a proper diagnosis in case of alcohol abuse, you can reach out to psychiatrists or clinical psychologists.

Understanding When Drinking Becomes a Problem

It is rightly said that anything in excess can lead to problems. Similarly, even for drinking, it becomes essential to be able to identify when drinking is turning into a health concern so that one can take steps effectively.

The Fine Line Between Social Drinking and Risky Drinking

There is a clear distinction between social drinking, wherein the person is consuming a moderate amount of alcohol that is not putting their life at risk and can control the consumption of alcohol as needed and risky drinking, wherein these aspects can get blurred for the individual. Risky drinking can turn into alcohol abuse if not taken care of at the right time!

Common Warning Signs of Alcohol Misuse

1. Intense craving to consume alcohol

2. Difficulty regulating the consumption of alcohol

3. Using alcohol despite being aware of severe health consequences

4. Prioritising alcohol consumption over activities of daily living

5. A person may also start becoming tolerant to certain amounts of alcohol

Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Drinking Habits

Self-reflection can be very useful to become more accepting of one’s concerns and seek disorder treatment. There are a lot of reflective questions you can ask yourself based on your own journey. Some of these questions, along with their purposes, are given below.

Do I Rely on Alcohol to Relax or Handle Stress?

There is a common misconception that alcohol helps in easing stress; however, if you look at the long-term effects of alcohol, you may want to find alternative ways of relaxation. Some alternative stress reduction techniques can include:

1. Physical exercise

2. Meditation

3. Spending time in nature

Have My Drinking Habits Changed Over Time?

At times, there might be some changes in drinking habits that can lead to alcohol abuse in the long run. You might want to explore and specify your drinking pattern as any one or more of the following:

1. Social drinker

2. Binge drinker

3. Harmful drinking pattern

4. Hazardous drinking pattern

5. Dependence on alcohol

Is Alcohol Affecting My Work, Health, or Relationships?

This is a very crucial question to ask yourself: How is alcohol influencing different aspects of your life, such as work, physical health, mental health, social relationships, overall wellness, etc?

If you feel there has been a decline in different aspects of your life since you started drinking or increased drinking, then you can connect with a suitable mental health professional for guidance and support.

Questions to Ask About a Loved One’s Drinking

Given below are some reflective questions for you to explore to better understand the drinking behaviour.

Are They Drinking More Frequently or in Larger Amounts?

The frequency of substance consumed and the amount in which it is consumed have a major role in influencing substance use disorder diagnosis. Over here, the purpose of these questions is not self-diagnosis or diagnosing others, but just to become more aware of the drinking habit.

Have Friends or Family Expressed Concern?

A lot of times, due to alcohol abuse, there can be strain in relationships such as workplace colleagues, friends, family members and romantic partners. Those who are around the individual can share their experience or how recently they sensed a shift in the relationship.

Are They Becoming Defensive About Their Alcohol Use?

A common concern often shared by the caregivers is that the individual lies or deceives about their alcohol use. At times, even the money with which alcohol is bought might be stolen from others or gotten through wrong means. Because of such behavior, the individual may become defensive when asked about their alcohol use.

Health and Lifestyle Consequences to Watch For

Alcohol use can influence different facets of a life, including mental and physical health. You can become more aware of these warning signs to support yourself and your loved ones.

Physical Health Warning Signs

Some physical health problems that may be caused because of alcohol abuse include:

1. Gastrointestinal issues

2. Cancer

3. Liver-related concerns

4. Muscular weakness

Emotional and Behavioral Red Flags

There can be some emotional and behavioural changes in individuals as their drinking frequency and amount change. These changes can include:

1. Impaired memory

2. Blackouts

3. Blurred vision

4. Slow reaction time

5. Depression

6. Anxiety

7. Suicide risk

Similarly, as one goes through the treatment process, some withdrawal symptoms may show up; however, the team of professionals can help the person cope with them effectively.

The Financial and Social Impact of Excessive Drinking

Excessive drinking can lead to financial strain as one may want to spend more and more on the substance. Apart from this, as a consequence of substance use disorder, one might also lose job, which can increase financial stress. As a consequence of being intoxicated, one might also engage in domestic abuse, emotional abuse and thereby the entire home environment can get negatively influenced.

Taking the Next Step Toward Help and Recovery

Take a step towards wellness with one of the leading rehabilitation centres in Delhi NCR – Athena Behavioral Health. Our team specialises in supporting clients and caregivers through a systematic approach. We have a team of healthcare professionals with expertise in helping with substance use disorder.

Connect with us today via a simple call at +91 9289086193, and we look forward to walking with you in your wellness journey!

When and How to Talk About Concerns

The right time to discuss your mental health concerns can be whenever you can identify them and feel ready to be able to work on them. You can start this conversation with a trusted person – It can be a family member, a friend or a healthcare professional. As you move ahead, it becomes essential to reach out to a qualified mental health professional for structured support.

Professional Resources for Alcohol Use Support

Some of the professional resources for alcohol use support include:

1. Psychiatric support

2. Counselling sessions

3. Support group sessions

4. Alcoholics Anonymous

5. Mental health crisis helpline

Hope and Possibility of Recovery

You are not alone in this journey – If you or your loved one is experiencing challenges because of substance addiction, then do not hesitate to reach out. There are several mental health organisations, one of those being Athena Behavioral Health, wherein you can seek both inpatient and outpatient support. We shall make our best possible effort to help you on your recovery journey.

The Power of Asking the Right Questions

There were a lot of reflective questions in this, which can help you better understand your own and your loved one’s drinking habits. When you seek support from a professional at Athena Behavioral Health, the team can ask further, deeper questions to understand the intensity and nature of your concerns. The power of the right questions is remarkable and can help with the treatment process of diverse disorders, such as alcohol abuse disorder treatment and depression treatment.