Can social drinking be a problem?

What is social drinking?

Getting together with friends on the weekends to catch-up over drinks is a very normal social activity, for a great many people. They may drink to relax after a long, hard week, or just to feel more sociable. However pleasant this might be, it is important to be aware of whether your social drinking is crossing the line into problem drinking. Studies have shown that social drinking should consist of alcohol consumption – for women – less than 7 drinks per week, and no more than 3 drinks a day. For men, it means no more than 14 per week and no more than 4 a day. If it is more than these recommendations you could be in danger of crossing the line into a problem area.

The difference between problem drinking and social drinking.

If you are drinking too much in a social setting, your priorities for drinking may change. There are some risk factors for social drinking, easily slipping into problem drinking:

·        A family history of alcoholism, where drinking of alcohol was the order of the day when you were growing up.

·        Major life changes such as a death of a loved one, divorce, or job loss. You may drink more to cope with stress.

·        Mental health conditions such anxiety and stress, when alcohol might provide temporary relief from the symptoms. However, studies have shown that such alcohol dependency could result in a cycle of issues that might make the symptoms worse than they were before.

Heavy drinking can put your life in danger, especially if you are careless about, drinking and driving.

Some signs that you are struggling with social drinking.

There are many signs that your drinking has gone from social to problematic. These include:

·        You feel that even if you wanted to, you cannot stop drinking.

·        Having memory lapses, or occasional blackouts from heavy drinking.

·        Cravings for alcohol.

·        Difficulties at work, and at home, because of alcohol abuse issues.

·        Risky behaviours such as driving under the influence, or partaking in unprotected sex.

·        Possible arrest for disorderly behaviour when out in the public.

·        Over time, needing more alcohol to feel the same effects.

·        Withdrawal symptoms when you have to go without alcohol for a period of time, that can include shakiness, trembling, sweating, nausea, and extreme irritability.

Binge drinkers are not always all that physically dependent on alcohol. However, the binge-pattern of drinking can be just as dangerous, leading to irrational behaviour, as well as stress and anxiety issues.

Treatment options.

You do not have to suffer from a severe form of alcohol addiction to benefit from treatment for the dependency. Treatments can involve counselling by a professional therapist, a potential detox program in a medical facility, as well as medications which reduce the desire for alcohol. Although treatment can help, alcoholism is not a condition which can be completely cured. It is a chronic condition, which has a potential to last for a long time, perhaps even years. Experts agree that because of the psychological nature of alcoholism, a professional therapist should always be part of the treatment plan.