Drinking alcohol has long been a part of society. Unfortunately, with that comes many cases of alcohol abuse. It is drawing the line between the two that is sometimes difficult. As a result, many people who need help don’t get it in time. Drinking excessively causes a lot of damage – physically, mentally, and spiritually. It can completely ruin your life. It also ruins the lives of people around you.

The Line Between Social Drinking and Alcohol Abuse

The most important think you can do for yourself is know when you need help for alcohol abuse. Many people live in denial, thinking that it is normal to get drunk regularly. Well, there is a clear difference between having one cocktail too many for a celebration and drinking until you blackout on a regular basis. Some things that indicate you have a drinking problem include:

• You aren’t able to control how much you drink. If you find yourself trying to set limits on your alcohol intake and failing, this is a good indicator that you have a problem. Most people can have a drink or two and be done with it. Alcoholics won’t stop until they throw up or pass out. Drinking to that point has terrible consequences.
• You hide your drinking. Do you find yourself sneaking drinks when no one is looking. Or, would you rather stay home and drink to your heart’s content instead of going out and being social? If you hide your drinking, it means that you are aware that you drink too much and you don’t want others to see it.
• You drink to feel normal. If you do this, there is a big possibility that you suffer from a mood disorder like anxiety or depression. Drinking to feel better is called self-medicating. It created a dangerous cycle where you become dependent on alcohol. You will keep needing more and more to feel normal.
• You drink to a point where you make bad decision. When you are drunk, you can do a lot of regrettable things. Often, these are things you would never even consider doing while sober. If you drink to the point where you act like a different person, that is a problem.

What Alcohol Abuse Does to You

Many people consider alcohol to be less dangerous than street drugs. In fact, it can be just as dangerous, if not more so. Alcohol is a poison, so when you ingest it your body works overtime to get it out of your system. Alcohol is infamous for its effect on the liver. In mild cases, it causes fatty liver, which is reversible when it is caught in time. In the worst cases, it causes Cirrhosis, which requires a liver transplant and may cause death. Alcohol also causes cancer, damages your brain, your stomach, and even your eyesight.

Getting addicted to alcohol is no joke. Coming off of it isn’t either. Alcohol is one of the only substances that causes delirium tremens, or DTs. DTs are a medical emerg16ency brought on by quitting alcohol suddenly. Symptoms include hallucinations, severe anxiety and mania, seizures, coma, and even death. This is why it is essential to go through a medically supervised detox when you are getting off of alcohol.

The good news is that help is out there for people suffering from alcohol abuse. It is important that you know when you need it. Don’t be shy to ask for help. Getting help in time can actually save your life. It will also save your loved ones a lot of heartache and suffering. Talk to someone you trust, and look into treatment options before it is too late!