5 signs you might have a drink problem

Most of us imagine that people with drink problems are those who swill down alcohol in the mornings - or whose hands shake helplessly when they can’t have a drink.

But those are extreme symptoms - and there are other, more subtle, warning signs that your drinking is out of control.

Alcohol dependence is surprisingly common, with 9% of men and 3% of women in the UK thought to be dependent on alcohol to some degree, according to the NHS.

Charities such as DrinkAware suggest that the best way to avoid alcohol dependence is to ensure you have regular breaks from drinking.

If you’re worried you might have a problem, a good first step is to see your GP. Further NHS advice on how to deal with drinking can be found here. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-misuse/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Do you find it hard to sleep if you’ve been drinking for a few nights?

If you feel a bit edgy and hyper - or you find it difficult to drop off - after a few days of drinking, it could be a warning sign.

These are signs of alcohol withdrawal.

During withdrawal, drinkers’ brains experience a surplus of a brain chemical, glutamate, which can cause agitation, anxiety and trouble sleeping – along with high blood pressure and racing heart rate.

Around 50% of heavy drinkers will experience these symptoms – with the likelihood increasing over the years as a person continues to drink.

Lorenzo Leggio of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism said, ‘If at some point in your life, when you stop drinking, you see your hands shaking, you feel that you don’t sleep well and are more agitated, don’t wait months and years. Your body will develop more severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome.’

Can you drink more than you used to?

In Britain, being able to ‘handle’ your drink is a rite of passage - and part of growing up.

But being able to drink more isn’t a good thing - and can be a warning sign of alcohol dependence.

Bosco Rowland of Deakin University, Victoria says in an essay for The Conversation,‘A sign of dependence is that, over time, greater amounts of alcohol are required to achieve intoxication.

Have you dropped other hobbies because of booze?

If someone asked you to the cinema, not the pub, on a Friday night, how would you react?

One of the early signs of alcohol dependence is that other activities and hobbies fall by the wayside.

Dr Nick Sheron of Southampton University says, ‘At one end of the scale you have people who are mildly dependent.

‘That’s people who, for example, can’t conceive of a Friday night without having enough drinks to get a bit tipsy. At the other end, you have people where alcohol is more important than their jobs, their families, than pretty much anything, including being alive.’

Do you feel guilty after drinking?

If you’ve wakened up after a drinking session with a feeling of dread - or guilt - it could be a warning sign that you need to cut down, or stop.

Bosco Rowland of Deakin University, Victoria says, ‘If you feel guilty after drinking, you should also consider talking to someone about your alcohol consumption.

Have other people advised you to slow down - and you’ve ignored them?

One of the key signs that your drinking is not healthy is how it affects your relationships with other people.

If other people are advising you to cut down on your drinking - and you ignore them - it could be a warning sign that you should think about how much you consume.

Bosco Rowland of Deakin University, Victoria says: ‘If you have injured someone because of your drinking, or someone has suggested you reduce your drinking, you should also consider talking to someone about your alcohol consumption.’

Read more:
This is what actually happens in your body when you give up drinking