Do I Have A Drinking Problem? How Therapy Can Treat Your Alcohol Use

We typically think of alcohol use in extremes—arrests for DUI or public intoxication, liver failure, blackouts. But can we have a problem if we haven’t suffered severe consequences yet? The truth is that many people who consume too much alcohol don’t experience major issues from their drinking. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have a drinking problem. Here are a few ways to determine if your drinking is problematic.

Do I Have a Drinking Problem?

Depending on who you ask, you’ll get a variety of answers to this question. Some medical journals specify exact amounts of alcohol that are deemed “healthy” for the average adult to consume on a daily or weekly basis—something along the lines of one glass of wine, three times a week. Instead of focusing on these arbitrary guidelines, I suggest you go with your gut. What I’ve found is that if you have any inkling that you're drinking too much, you probably are. You can trust your intuition that something isn’t quite right.

Subtle Consequences

Many moderate drinkers don’t experience severe consequences. So, what do they experience instead? They feel sluggish the day after drinking, notice their physical fitness deteriorating, feel an increase in anxiety or depression, and sleep poorly, just to name a few. Overall, they realize that drinking is interfering with their quality of life. The downsides of alcohol begin to outweigh the benefits.

But… Can I Stop?

It’s one thing to decide that you don’t want to stop or moderate your alcohol consumption. But it’s quite another to discover that, when you do want to lessen your drinking, you find that you actually can’t. This is often what motivates people to seek therapy. When we discover that we have less power over a substance than we thought, we often feel an unavoidable sense of anxiety. No one likes to feel out of control or powerless. But realizing that you have less control over alcohol than you thought can actually be one of the most critical pieces of wisdom you can gather.

Consider a Cleanse

So, if I think I have a problem, what do I do? A great way to get started is to commit to a short-term period of sobriety. Plan to take at least 90 days off from drinking (and all mind-altering substances). I believe that you need a break from alcohol to gain the clarity you're seeking. The truth is, many people have not gone a significant period without alcohol since they were teenagers. A 90-day break can provide much-needed reprieve. Many people are shocked to see how differently they feel physically and emotionally after just a few weeks. There's typically a mental clarity and emotional balance that emerges. You don’t have to commit to sobriety forever. For now, just focus on the short term. Once the break is over, you can decide what to do next. Some may decide to extend the break to 6 months or longer, some may commit to long-term abstinence altogether, while others may return to moderate drinking.

Why Do I Drink?

In order to stop drinking, you need to understand why you started in the first place. Ask yourself: What do I get out of drinking? What do I like about it? What would I have to give up if I stop drinking? The truth is, alcohol has many benefits. It lowers our anxiety and boosts our confidence. There’s a reason almost every social event involves alcohol. Take the time to really examine what alcohol does for you before deciding to take it away.

Using Therapy for Alcohol Use

When seeking therapy for an alcohol or substance use issue, it’s essential to work with a therapist who specializes in these areas. Not all clinicians have clinical training in alcohol or substance use. We all tend to rationalize and minimize our problems—especially when it comes to anything addictive. Start with a clinical evaluation from an expert. A therapist can be an objective party, helping you discern how significant your problem is and getting you started down a healthier path.

You can learn more about my therapy practice for alcohol use here.