9 signs that you are drinking too much in isolation

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Test yourself to keep the situation under control.

1. You reach for a bottle to relieve stress

If in difficult life circumstances you start drinking more, this is a bad signal. “Even during the coronavirus pandemic,” explains Amanda Brown, a psychiatric nurse. "This suggests that you are trying to deal with negative emotions with alcohol."

During times of stress, we experience new emotions, often uncontrollable. We do not know what to do with them, our inner balance is disturbed. To adapt, we turn to various mechanisms of psychological adaptation. But not all of them are healthy. “Drinking alcohol, for example, is an unhealthy coping mechanism,” Brown continues. "In the end, he does more harm than good to the person."

2. You drink when you get bored

The thought of having to spend another Saturday night at home in front of the TV seems overwhelming. So maybe brighten it up with a bottle of wine? But the urge to drink out of boredom is also a warning sign.

If you started to say to yourself: “I'm bored at home, I'll drink,” then you've gone too far.

Andrew Mendonza clinical psychologist

When sad or anxious, Mendonza advises to go for a walk (while observing safety measures) or call loved ones.

3. You drink while you work

Going remotely can be tricky if you've never worked from home before. You have to learn new ways of communication and tools, and even more difficult to concentrate. When you don't have to drive to work, where your coworkers and boss can see you, you might be tempted to add a stronger coffee to your morning coffee or have a beer in the afternoon.

If you think you can take a sip, since you work from home, then you are wrong. Behave just like in the office. If you drink to get through the day, you're in trouble.

Brian Wind clinical psychologist

4. You are constantly worried about whether you have enough alcohol

You go to the store mainly for alcohol and are afraid that you will not have enough of it for quarantine. Although you know that now it is worth getting out of the house only in exceptional cases. If alcohol seems to you to be an essential product, it is alarming.

5. You have abandoned your responsibilities

Combining work, childcare and socializing with friends is tough and without the added stress of a pandemic. It is clear that sometimes you can miss something or let someone down. But if you notice that alcohol is interfering with your daily activities, then it's time to quit.

6. You make rash decisions when you drink

Who hasn't blurted out a secret at least once or spent money on nonsense after a couple of glasses of intoxicating drink? It is common for everyone to make mistakes, and you should not judge yourself too harshly. But if in a state of intoxication you regularly do something that you later regret, or something that you would never have done sober, then the problem has become serious.

7. You are not feeling well

A hangover is a reminder that alcohol abuse is not very pleasant to the body. If you constantly wake up with a headache, sensitivity to light, dehydration and other hangover symptoms, you need to slow down. If you generally feel unwell, sleep worse, and have lost the motivation to take care of yourself, you should also be on your guard.

8. You are experiencing withdrawal symptoms

With the frequent use of alcohol, the body gets used to it, therefore, after refusing alcohol, a lot of unpleasant symptoms appear: from shaking hands, profuse sweating and anxiety to tachycardia, hallucinations and seizures. They usually begin within 6 hours of the last dose taken. If your hangover is replaced by these symptoms, it is definitely time for you to reconsider your attitude towards drinking.

9. You want to stop, but you can't

If you yourself understand that everything is bad, ask for help. Do not rely on willpower: it is not enough. You need psychological support and professional advice. Here is where they are ready to help you.

• Hotline of the National Anti-Drug Union: 8-800-700-50-50.
• Hotline of the project of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation "Healthy Russia": 8-800-200-200-0-200.
• Federal hotline for the support of persons with alcohol or drug addiction: 8-8800-551-07-01.

Also see where Alcoholics Anonymous meets in your city. At first, you may be ashamed to go to such a meeting, but there you can find support from people who are going through the same thing as you.

And do not forget: if in the current tense situation you have problems with alcohol, this does not mean that you are a weak person or something is wrong with you. You just chose not the best adaptation mechanism and can replace it with another one.

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