It’s not uncommon for Americans to end their day with an alcoholic drink such as a glass of wine or a beer. There’s an immense amount of information out there that talks about what makes someone an alcoholic, and that can make it difficult to determine if there’s a problem. Alcoholic Use Disorder (AUD) is defined as the consumption of alcohol that goes beyond ‘in moderation.’ But what exactly is ‘in moderation’?
Alcohol Addiction And You
There are two ways of defining moderation by the day and by the week. In general, moderation is described as one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men. So what does this mean if you only go out drinking with friends on the weekend or once in a while? Simply put, if you drink in excess of 7 or 14 drinks a week (depending on your gender), you are not drinking moderately. You are also considered to be drinking out of moderation if you consume more than three or four drinks on any given day out of the week.
A drink is typically classified as:
- 5 oz of wine
- 12 oz of beer
- 1.5 oz of liquor
How We Can Help
We specialize in helping our clients who are struggling with substance abuse problems, including alcohol addiction. Our team of mental health experts is able to provide multiple approaches to the rehabilitation of those who are suffering from alcohol abuse. We can help you make changes to those behaviors that trigger your need to drink, including handling stress. We can help you establish a strong support system to stand by you through these challenges and work with you to establish goals and aid you on your road to achieving them. Your treatment path will be determined by the severity of your symptoms and the decision of you and your provider.
How Do I Know If I’m Addicted To Alcohol?
Over 16 million Americans suffer from Alcohol addiction, a number which includes all adolescents and adults affected by this condition. There are a number of indicators that can tell you if it’s time to see a professional for help. Some of the most common include:
- Drinking in situations that put you at risk
- Drinking when it demonstrably worsens your problems
- Negativity when not consuming alcohol
- Failing to meet obligations due to drinking
- Inability to control your consumption
- Failure to admit how much you’re drinking to loved ones
- Blackouts, or the inability to remember your activities when drinking
- You’ve had legal problems as a result of alcohol
- Mixing medications and alcohol
- Relaxing or falling asleep is impossible without alcohol
- Drinking and driving
- Inability to socialize without drinking
- Constant thoughts about drinking
- Symptoms of withdrawal when you’ve gone without alcohol for too long
The more items on this list that you can identify with, the more likely you are to be suffering from alcohol addiction.
Side Effects of Alcohol Addiction
Aside from the social and financial consequences associated with the immoderate consumption of alcohol, there are some medical side-effects. Many of these side-effects are life-altering or even life-threatening even without considering the potential of an alcohol-related accident. Common symptoms of alcohol addiction include:
- Hangovers
- Blackouts
- Memory Loss
- Scarring of the liver (Cirrhosis)
- High Blood Pressure
- Stomach Problems
- Heart Problems
- Cancer
- Permanent Memory Loss
- Pancreatitis
If you’re worried that you may be working through alcohol addiction, it’s time to reach out to our office to get help. Our team of expert mental health care providers has extensive experience in helping people address and overcome their struggles with addiction. Don’t let an addiction to alcohol take control of your life; call us today to get started on your road to recovery!
