If you drink a lot, you may be unsure if it’s too much. Could you be an alcoholic? Are you worried about a loved one that is often drinking? Alcoholism is hard to define in terms of quantity. This is a disease that can impact people in different ways. For some, it takes much less to lead to addiction and dependence than others. So, how much do alcoholics drink? Generally speaking, the amount they drink is enough to satisfy a craving.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder, formerly called alcoholism, is a condition in which a person cannot stop using alcohol on a consistent basis. They understand that continuing to do so is worrisome for their health and may lead to bad consequences. At the same time, they may not feel as though they can stop using. A person with this type of addiction may also be dependent.
Dependence on alcohol occurs when a person drinks because they cannot stop. If they try to stop, they feel intense pain, withdrawal symptoms, and cravings that make them want to use again. Dependence on alcohol means the brain and body need the presence of alcohol at the proper level to feel normal and to accomplish common tasks. Without it, your body revolts, and your mind focuses heavily on nothing more than getting another drink.
Drinking Too Much Alcohol Symptoms
How much do alcoholics drink to get to that point? It’s not that easy to pinpoint. That’s because some people may find themselves needing to drink all of the time to maintain focus and to quell the cravings. Other people just need to seek out a drink each day.
What’s better than considering the number of drinks is to consider the drinking too much alcohol symptoms a person may display. These are things you observe in yourself or in another person that’s using alcohol on a consistent basis. Here are some examples:
- How often do you drink alcohol? Drinking daily is a clear sign of dependence, even if there’s not a lot of alcohol being consumed.
- How many drinks do you drink at a time? Binge drinking can lead to alcoholism even if you do not binge drink daily.
- Are you able to control the number of drinks you have? A person with this addiction typically has no ability to stop drinking. They may say they’ll just have one, but they end up drinking numerous drinks.
- Do you drink at odd times? This may include drinking at school or work, drinking alone, or drinking in the morning.
- Do you have periods of lost time? In some situations, a person with this disorder drinks so much they lose track of time. They may black out and not remember where they are or what they were doing.
- How often do you miss responsibilities? Another indication of alcoholism occurs when a person is missing responsibilities, such as not attending family functions or not completing work on time. Are you late to work often? Do you find yourself struggling to meet your home or work obligations?
- Do other people tell you you’re drinking too much? Sometimes, other people can see what’s happening easier than you may be able to, especially people you are around often.
It’s Just a Beer – Socialization of Alcohol Use Disorder
One key thing to consider when it comes to alcoholic development is the belief that alcohol is normal, not a problem, and something everyone does. For example, what happens when you drink alcohol every day after work? You may think it is helping you to deal with the stress at work or just having a drink with friends. Yet, that consistency puts you at risk for the development of alcoholism, even if it is just one drink a day most days of the week.
So What Happens When You Drink Alcohol Everyday?
If you are finding yourself drinking every day, whether it is alcoholic mixed drinks, beer, or wine, consider what could occur.
- Consistent use like this can lead to the development of addiction. That means you’ll want to drink often as your brain wants you to do what’s making it happy.
- Over time, your brain chemistry changes. You may find yourself needing to drink every day.
- Tolerance grows. You’ll need to drink more and more often to reach a level of satisfaction.
What Can You Do If You’re Facing These Challenges?
Recognize the signs of alcoholism in yourself or your loved one. Then, reach out to get help as soon as possible. Here at First Step, we’re dedicated to helping individuals battle their addiction. Contact us here or give us a call today at (866) 971-5531.
