SUNDAY ‘NOIRE: Signs You Might Be Drinking For The Wrong Reasons

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Quitting alcohol for even a short period of time can leave your body and mind feeling better. And, taking a break from libations gives you a chance to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol. If you want to get back into drinking, there doesn’t need to be shame around it. The important thing is to have a healthy relationship with the substance and be cognizant of what place alcohol holds in your life.

According to Gallup, 60 percent of American adults drink alcohol. But do they all have a healthy relationship with it? Determining that is slightly more difficult than taking a simple poll. Every person’s relationship to alcohol is personal. What we do know is that an extensive study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence showed that drinking alone is a strong indicator of future alcohol problems. That is just one sign of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Misuse of alcohol doesn’t have to turn into alcoholism. But it is important to keep your eyes open and remain aware of why and when you drink. Here are signs you might be drinking alcohol for the wrong reasons.

You Drink To Self-Soothe

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While one drink can serve as a nice way to unwind after a long day, alcohol shouldn’t be used as a form of self-soothing during difficult times. This can lead to dependency. Instead, look for alcohol-free ways to alleviate stress or work through tough emotions such as meditation, journaling, speaking to a friend or even speaking to a professional. Because unpleasant emotions and experiences will always be a part of life, it isn’t sustainable to lean on alcohol to get through these.

You Drink To Relieve Social Anxiety

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Living with social anxiety is not easy. And many people drink alcohol because it acts as a social lubricant, lowering inhibitions and making people feel chattier. While having a drink or two to loosen up might be okay for those who already feel at ease in social settings, it should not be used to treat social anxiety. In fact, research published in Alcohol Research Current Reviews shows that those with anxiety disorders are at a heightened risk of alcohol dependency.

You Drink For The Camaraderie

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Alcohol is often at the center of so many social and cultural traditions: bottomless mimosa brunches, margarita Mondays, happy hours, beer and tailgates, sip and paint parties. It’s not out of the ordinary to have friends you gather with exclusively around alcohol. However, it is important to have friendships that can exist without alcohol. One night of a few too many tequila shots can create some fun memories, but if all of your social interactions rely on booze, you can wind up feeling like you aren’t truly close to anyone.

You Drink To Fall Asleep

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Alcohol can be relaxing, which is why some people have a nightcap before bed. It’s worth noting that Piedmont medical group explains that alcohol can, in fact, cause insomnia. But even if you are finding that it helps you sleep, it isn’t healthy to become dependent on a substance to get some rest. Instead, look for more natural ways to ease into your REM cycles. Meditation can again come in handy, as can a warm bath or reading a book.

You Drink To Be Creative

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Alcohol and creative flow have, anecdotally, gone hand in hand. We all know that some of the greatest artists were alcoholics. But, that can create the illusion that alcohol is the key to creativity. Alcohol might make you feel a bit looser when you’re trying to write that short story or craft a poem. But, you don’t want to get to a place where you feel you cannot be creative without alcohol.

You Drink When Angry

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According to the rehabilitation group Abbeycare, alcohol intensifies emotions. That’s why it can be fun to drink when you’re in a celebratory mood – you become even happier. However, that is also why it’s dangerous to drink when you’re feeling angry. Alcohol can only strengthen feelings of anger, and increase the chances that you respond to that anger in a destructive way.

You Drink To “Excuse” Problem Behaviors

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There is a societal understanding that “Sorry, I was drunk,” is a good enough excuse for certain behaviors. And, perhaps you’ve leaned on that to excuse problematic behaviors that sober you wants to engage in, such as gambling, unsafe sexual encounters, or physical confrontations. Having the “excuse” that you were drunk doesn’t undo the consequences of those problematic behaviors. If you do find that you do things you regret when drinking, it might be time to speak to a professional.