Ever since social distancing became the norm, many of us have much more time on our hands at home. From catching up on Netflix shows to picking up new hobbies, we’re all finding ways to cope with the stress that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has wrought upon our daily lives.
But what if your loved one is having a hard time adjusting to these changes and has turned to alcohol to manage the stress? While you might have thought nothing of it at first, your loved one may be drinking too much and require addiction treatment.
How Much Alcohol is Too Much?
Excessive drinking occurs when an individual partakes in binge drinking or heavy drinking frequently. Binge drinking is defined as at least five drinks or more in one sitting. On the other hand, heavy drinking is most often measured on a weekly basis. For men, in particular, heavy drinking is defined as having fifteen drinks or more in one week.
5 Signs Your Loved One is Drinking Too Much
1. They Can’t Seem to Limit Their Drinking
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in stress and anxiety with less places to go. Not surprisingly, this has led to a rise in alcohol consumption. But the important question is whether your loved one can stop or cut down on their drinking if you ask them to.
The first step is talking to your loved one. Kindly ask them to limit their drinking for the next week. You can even tell them that you’ll join them and cut down yourself, as well. How they respond and what their drinking behavior is like following this conversation can tell you a lot. If your loved one struggles to stop drinking, it’s a sign they might have a problem.
2. Their Drinking Interferes with Life at Home and Work
Due to social distancing, many of us are working from home and spending more time around the house. Take a minute to think about if your loved one’s drinking has impacted their job or home life. For example, since they don’t have to commute in the morning, maybe your loved one drank too much the night before. Feeling hungover, they were late to log into work the next morning. If your loved one is drinking too much, they may miss family dinners, be less active or seem depressed more often.
3. Your Loved One Has Gaps in Memory
It’s common for people struggling with alcohol abuse to experience short-term memory loss. While the pandemic is making us feel like the days all run together, alcohol-related memory loss is different. Has your loved one recently had trouble remembering basic aspects of their days, like what they had to eat or what happened the night before? If you suspect that your loved one is experiencing alcohol-related memory loss, this is a sign they are drinking too much.
4. Are They Experiencing Alcohol Withdrawal?
If your loved one is struggling with alcohol abuse, they are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms. But what does alcohol withdrawal look like? Some of the most common symptoms include:
• Increased anxiety
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Excessive sweating
• Nausea
• Hallucinations
Be on the lookout for these symptoms when your loved one isn’t drinking. Having these symptoms regularly means your loved one is most likely experiencing alcohol withdrawal.
5. Hiding Alcohol
Does your loved one try to hide their drinking? For example, maybe they’re putting alcohol in their water bottle that they drink from during the day. It’s common for people struggling with an alcohol addiction to make an effort to secretly drink throughout the day. In fact, it’s common for people with an alcohol addiction to have a hidden stash of alcohol. If your loved one has tried to hide alcohol from you or if you’ve found empty bottles in their room, it’s time to reach out to an addiction treatment center for help.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Silver Maple Recovery
At Silver Maple Recovery, we know how hard it can be to watch a loved one struggle with an alcohol addiction. But our alcohol treatment center in Lorain, OH is here to support your family. We use an evidence-based approach that includes professional detox services to help your loved one get through withdrawal comfortably and uncover the cause of their alcohol abuse.
If your loved one wants to reclaim their life from alcohol, we can help them get there. Contact us today to speak with a professional caregiver who’s ready to answer your questions and discuss the next steps for your loved one.
