4 Tell-Tale Signs You’re Living With an Alcoholic
Did you know that 60 percent of people increased the amount they drink during the Covid lockdown? While many people drink with no problem, drinking can quickly become an addiction for others.
Are you worried that someone you live with might have a problem with alcohol? It can be challenging to spot an alcoholic, especially if they are a functioning alcoholic. However, there are some signs you’re living with an alcoholic that you can watch for.
Keep reading to learn more about how to help an alcoholic and what some of the signs could be.
One: Why Do They Use Alcohol?
There’s a difference between kicking back with a beer or two to watch the game and drinking alcohol to reduce stress or feel happy. For many high functioning alcoholics, early signs of alcoholism include using alcohol as a coping mechanism. This is a form of self-medicating and is dangerous.
If the person you live with heads home after work and the first thing they do is grab a drink, watch how they respond if they don’t get their drink. If they become anxious or irritated, there’s a clear sign of a problem.
Two: Does Family Ignore Red Flags?
Family roles in addiction are complicated. While you might notice the signs, you could choose to enable and ignore them.
If you know what it’s like living with an alcoholic, you know that causing conflict by speaking up can feel scary. You might not know how the person you live with will respond.
If you spot red flags and make excuses for them, that’s a sign there’s a problem. If you’re scared to have the conversation consider getting someone close to your family to help.
Three: Withdrawal
If the person you’re living with is going through withdrawal when they can’t drink, they have a problem. If you’re worried that they have a problem, learn withdrawal signs.
This can include:
- Anxiety
- Headache
- Shaky hands
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Confusion
- High blood pressure
- Racing heart
- Fever
Each of these symptoms has its own timeline. You can start watching for signs of withdrawal as early as six hours after their last drink.
Four: They Are in Denial
When someone loses their job, their family walks out, and they lose their home, it’s hard to be in denial that there’s a problem. However, high functioning alcoholics can hold down jobs, maintain relationships, and function normally most of the time.
That makes it easier to be in denial. It’s easy to brush it off as just enjoying kicking back with a few drinks when it’s not causing significant problems with functioning.
Getting the person you live with to get past their denial can be a struggle. Often it takes a significant event to realize they do have a problem. However, if they can get past their denial, they can begin getting the help they need.
Know the Signs You’re Living With an Alcoholic
If you’re worried that someone you love is drinking too much, it’s essential to educate yourself. Know the signs you’re living with an alcoholic and learn how to help them get the help they need.
Was this article helpful? Keep reading more articles to learn how to help your family and yourself get healthy.