Social Drinking: Blurring Lines into Alcoholism
Social drinking is a mainstream activity in the United States, and it’s an expected activity whether you’re celebrating, gathering, eating, having a meeting or mourning. Alcohol has become a staple at any get-together, making it much easier to build a dependence to alcohol even in the subtlest of ways. If you’re not careful, however, you could get much more than a fun evening with friends – the line becomes much blurrier when social drinking develops into dependency – and that’s when alcoholism is at high risk. The University of Rochester Medical Center highlights the fact that alcohol disrupts mental and motor skills; by reducing inhibitions, lessening tension and inviting greater ease in social situations, it can become even more challenging to take a night off of drinking – especially when it seems to be so “normal”. There are many signs that a person should watch out for that signal problem drinking, however:
- Going to work drunk
- Drinking until drunk
- Having frequent, uncontrolled drinking episodes
- Using alcohol to decrease feelings of depression, anxiety, anger, etc.
- Lying or trying to hide one’s drinking habits
- And more
Johnny Baker, a man who grew up in a family where alcoholism is involved, explained to CBN that he began relying more and more on alcohol to dampen the intensity of his painful emotions. He explained, “I didn’t know how to stop, you know? And to not have it wasn’t an option. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, maybe I just won’t drink tonight’. You know what I mean? It was like ‘No, this is – this is what I do, this is how I do it’.” If you believe you or a loved one has crossed the line into alcohol dependence or alcoholism, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today. It’s never too late to begin your journey to recovery.
Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed mental health and substance abuse recovery center. If you are ready to seek treatment to develop the tools you need to overcome life’s obstacles and be on the road towards happiness, health, and well-being, call us today at 888-958-7511 for a consultation. It’s never too late, and there are people here ready to help you.
