It’s not always easy to see when your drinking has crossed the line from moderate or social use to problem drinking. If you drink alcohol to cope with problems or to avoid feeling bad, you may have a problem with alcohol. Alcohol abuse can sneak up on you. It’s important to know the warning signs. Signs of at-risk drinking include:
- Feeling guilty or ashamed about your drinking.
- Lying to others or hiding your drinking habits.
- Having friends or family members who are worried about your drinking.
- Needing to drink to relax or feel better.
- “Blacking out” or forgetting what you did while you were drinking.
- Regularly drinking more than you intended.
- Drinking more or longer than you intended.
If you have warning signs, take steps to cut back. Understanding the problem is the first step to overcoming it. Go to MDwise.org/wellnesstools and click “problem drinking” at the top to learn more.