When to Seek Help for Alcohol Use: 7 Warning Signs and Treatment Paths

Are you seeing the person you once knew and loved turn into someone completely different? Are they neglecting their responsibilities, making excuses that don’t add up, behaving like they are drunk continually, unable to hold down a job, or exhibiting any other little nuances that indicate a problem? In this blog, we will highlight the warning signs of addiction while offering helpful solutions through our alcohol rehab programs.

The Warning Signs of Addiction

Alcohol abuse can quickly take over your life if left unchecked. It is at the point where alcohol negatively impacts your life and causes harm to those around you and yourself that it becomes diagnosed as alcohol use disorder (AUD). Learning the warning signs can assist either you or a loved one to get help before issues become serious or potentially life-threatening.

1. Tolerance

“Do you feel you need to drink more alcohol to produce the same feeling you had previously with only a few drinks?”

Homeostasis (tolerance) is your body’s natural ability to create a balanced, stable internal environment despite ongoing changes. In a positive light, it is the body’s survival mechanism. However, in the context of alcohol, it can be dangerous.

Homeostasis in an alcoholism context means the body is disruptively attempting to stabilize itself against being constantly exposed to drinking. This constant exposure can alter a person’s brain chemistry (neurotransmitters, adenosine) and disrupt hormone function (HPG [hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal] axis, NPA [neuropeptide/neuroendocrine axis]). This disruption is responsible for withdrawal and cravings, as the brain has concluded that the only way to stabilize itself is by drinking more.

A new form of normal is generated, leading to impairments in organ functioning (endothelium, liver, metabolism) and sleep disruption. It causes the body to demand more alcohol just to alleviate the stress placed on the body (withdrawal).

2. Withdrawal signs

“Do you drink to avoid experiencing withdrawal?”

Stopping drinking can cause the body to go into withdrawal, and sometimes, the effects are highly unpleasant. Symptoms can begin from several hours to a few days after the person’s last drink. The symptoms may range from mild to severe discomfort, depending on how much was consumed and how often.

Symptoms can manifest as:

• Sweating
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Tremors
• Nausea
• Hallucinations
• Delirium tremors
• Seizures

Seeking help and support can help a person manage withdrawal symptoms safely, making transitioning into recovery easier and more manageable.

3. Needing to drink constantly

“I feel like I need a drink every day. Why can’t I stop thinking about drinking? Why do I need alcohol several times throughout the day?”

It is not unusual for someone with alcohol dependency to feel this way. Furthermore, it can translate into wanting to stop without being able to. However, it can severely impact your well-being and health. If you feel like you are drinking too much or can’t stop, you should seek treatment from a professional, try an outpatient program, or become a part of a support group.

4. Using alcohol as a coping mechanism

“I drink to relax, calm down, or destress.”

Depression, stress, and anxiety can be overwhelming, causing a person to experience a sense of hopelessness or be consumed by their own negative thought patterns. An SUD (substance use disorder) can also co-exist with other mental health disorders, wherein alcoholism masks a greater underlying issue.

When this occurs, alcohol is used to cope with stressors that the person cannot deal with on their own. Alcohol becomes an avenue to dull the pain, provide relief, and temporarily escape for a while. However, the danger in this coping mechanism is that it can quickly become a dangerous habit that exacerbates the underlying mental health issue.

Instead of using alcohol to cope, it is essential to address the cause of negative feelings and find treatment. Treatment is the only healthy way to improve emotional well-being.

5. Shame/guilt about drinking

“Do you hide how much you drink, or deny drinking too much to others out of shame, fear, or guilt?”

Shame and guilt can occur, making it difficult to make positive changes. It is, however, essential to note that these emotions are understandable and normal. Admitting that there is a problem with alcohol takes self-awareness, honesty, and courage. Seeking help from family, friends, and medical experts is essential in moving forward.

6. Neglecting activities/responsibilities

“Are you making excuses as to why tasks aren’t being completed? Are you frequently absent from family and/or work responsibilities because of drinking?”

Drinking can become a regular habit for some people. In fact, it can become so much a part of your life that it interferes with your work, school, or family responsibilities. It can look like work absenteeism masked as “sick days”, skipping school, or not showing up to social functions because you are too drunk to properly function or are hungover.

It can also manifest as failure to complete essential household chores or forgetfulness in performing responsibilities (e.g. picking children up from school) due to preoccupation with drinking. By failing to fulfill their obligations, a person faces consequences such as job loss, academic failure, or damage to relationships and/or physical health.

7. Social acceptance

“Everyone drinks, and I don’t want to lose my friends or be labelled as unsocial.”

Some people drink to fit in with those around them or because they lack confidence around others. This person will almost do anything to gain acceptance, even if it comes down to doing something they don’t want to do, like drinking alcohol. Drinking becomes an outlet to reduce social anxiety and to demonstrate confidence to others.

When consuming alcohol interferes with daily functioning, comes at the expense of your relationships, or causes problems with work, school, or the law, it may indicate a problem. Trying to do it on your own, while admirable, doesn’t always work. For some people, withdrawal symptoms can become so severe/intolerable, the environment is not conducive to change, or there is another co-dependency issue, that there is an increased chance for relapse.

New Dawn Medical Is Here to Help With Expert Alcohol Rehab

While this is not an exhaustive list, it can help you identify whether a problem exists. Thankfully, there are many ways to get the help you need. At New Dawn Medical, our alcohol rehab program starts with medically-assisted programs to ease withdrawal symptoms while ensuring your safety or that of your loved one.

Our treatment plans support long-term sober living by removing the discomfort of addiction, which is one of the primary reasons why people return to drinking. Yet, we don’t just stop at medical detoxification. Once complete, we ensure our patients’ success by offering recovery programs tailored to each person’s needs, which may include counselling or peer groups.

Contact us at 647-625-8799 or 1-833-456-DAWN for more information on how we can help you or to schedule an appointment. We have locations throughout the GTA for your convenience. Additionally, you can fill out our online form or email us at info@newdawnmed.com.