Need to Stop Drinking Alcohol
Excessive drinking can wreak havoc on your life. Learn 5 reasons why you need to stop drinking alcohol now.
How many times have you kicked yourself after indulging in a night of heavy drinking? You may feel so awful you question whether you are hungover or have alcohol poisoning. Chances are if it’s morning and you are still alert you will be fine. What you are feeling are just the nasty effects of a hard night of binge drinking.
When this happens only now and then it may not point to a larger problem. But when you find yourself having hangovers regularly, then that is a sign that you need to stop drinking alcohol. In other words, it means you have a drinking problem.
The reasons to give up alcohol are many. Alcohol has a toxic effect on your health, your mind, your relationships, your job, and your finances. Keep reading to learn the signs that it’s time to stop drinking alcohol.
What is Heavy Drinking?
When chronic alcohol abuse begins to cause negative consequences or impairment it is considered an alcohol use disorder (AUD). According to the NIAAA, about 15 million U.S. adults battle an alcohol problem in a given year.
So, how is “heavy drinking” defined? The CDC offers a handy set of guidelines that can help people know when they are drinking within safe limits, or not. The CDC defines a “drink” as a12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of spirits or liquor, or 8 ounces of malt liquor.
The CDC guidelines include:
- Moderate drinking is defined as 2 drinks per day for men; 1 drink per day for women.
- Heavy drinking is defined as 15 drinks or more per week for men; 8 drinks per week for women.
- Binge drinking is defined as 5 or more drinks in a single session for men; 4 or more drinks in a single session for women.
The NCADD has created an online questionnaire based on the question, “Do I have an alcohol problem?” It provides this list of questions based on the common signs of AUD.
Signs of AUD Include:
- Do you avoid friends and family while drinking, preferring to drink alone?
- Do you consume higher quantities of alcohol as time goes on?
- Do you drink in response to stress, sadness, anger, or disappointment?
- Do you have hand tremors in the morning?
- Do you not remember things you said or did the night before?
- Do you experience financial, legal, career, or family problems due to your drinking?
- Has your doctor advised you to cut down on alcohol?
- Do you lie about how much alcohol you drink?
- Are you preoccupied during the day with drinking or do you crave alcohol?
- Do you get drunk several days in a row?
Depending on how many of the questions you answered “yes”, the AUD is classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
Signs You Have a Drinking Problem
When alcoholism takes root, there are notable effects that include physical signs, behavioral signs, and psychological signs.
Behavioral Signs of Alcoholism:
- Neglects obligations.
- The decline in work performance.
- A DUI arrest.
- Irritability
- Avoids friends and family.
- Money problems.
- Lying about drinking.
- Drinking alone.
Psychological Signs of Alcoholism:
- Mood swings.
- Obsessed with drinking.
- Trouble in relationships.
- Symptoms of depression.
- Symptoms of anxiety.
Physical Signs of Alcoholism:
- Nausea and vomiting in the morning.
- Blood in the urine.
- Having blackouts.
- Bloating
- Shaking, tremors.
- Headaches
- Sweating
- Increased heart rate.
- Increased cravings.
- Neglects hygiene.
- Withdrawal symptoms emerge when the alcohol wears off.
5 Reasons to Stop Drinking Alcohol Today
As the drinking problem escalates, so do the effects on your life. Here are 5 good reasons to quit drinking:
- Alcohol is toxic to your health. Alcohol can have serious effects on your health. It can cause nutritional deficiencies, like thiamine, that lead to health problems. Alcohol also causes long-term illness, including liver disease, heart disease, cancer, and brain damage.
- Alcohol harms mental health. Alcohol can lead to a co-occurring mental health disorder. Depression is very common in alcoholics, as is anxiety.
- Alcohol hurts your career. Missing work often due to hangovers can lead to reduced productivity on the job. Poor performance at work can result in loss of your job and major money problems.
- Alcohol is bad for relationships. A drinking problem can lead to strife in relationships. This happens because drinking takes priority over relationships.
- Alcohol can cause harm to others. Alcohol tends to cause tempers to flare and angry outbursts. This can result in violence and physical harm to others.
Benefits of Getting Sober
Within weeks of quitting alcohol, a whole host of positive changes will emerge. These effects are even more enhanced when your new sober lifestyle includes a healthy diet and regular exercise. Some of the benefits of getting sober include:
- You will lose weight
- You will think more clearly
- You will have more energy
- You will sleep better
- You will be in a better mood
- You will save money
- You will be healthier
How to Safely Stop Drinking Alcohol
When it comes to giving up alcohol, it is critical that you do so in a safe way. Quitting cold turkey can be quite risky for some people and should be avoided. Instead, a team of medically trained providers will oversee your alcohol detox to help you if any problems should occur.
During the alcohol detox, your withdrawal symptoms will be carefully observed and managed. Medications are offered to help reduce the discomforts caused by the symptoms. The detox experts will guide you safely through the process and into the treatment phase of recovery.
The consequences of an AUD can pile up quickly. When you know without a doubt that you need to stop drinking alcohol, it is time to take that first step. Get the help you need and deserve today.
Journey Hillside Provides Effective Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
Journey Hillside uses the most current evidence-based treatment methods for guiding clients toward a new life in recovery. Medical detox is the first step toward freedom from an AUD. Contact our team today at (877) 414-1024 to learn more about the program.
