- Find meetings near you
- Discover online or in person meetings
- Get 24 hour information on addiction
800-934-9518
Sponsored
Society definitely has an opinion about drinking alone. It’s almost a form of shorthand or code used in pop culture to indicate that someone is struggling with alcoholism, or they’re at least to be pitied. Although drinking when you’re by yourself can be a sign of a problem, that isn’t necessarily always the case.
Here are some things you need to know about solo drinking.
If you have questions about whether your drinking is out of control, call our helpline at
800-948-8417
Sponsored
today.
Drinking Under Stress
Do you tend to drink more when you’ve had a particularly stressful day at work? A beer or glass of wine might seem like a way to take the edge off after a tough day on the job, but drinking to relieve stress is a subjective matter. It’s not always easy to know when you’ve crossed that line into doing it too often.
If you become accustomed to drinking away your troubles, you can develop a tolerance over time. Before long, you might have to have several drinks every day just to cope with your stressful life. If you often need alcohol to deal with the challenges of your life, seeking help from a qualified counselor is a better option.
Hiding When You Drink Alone
Do you feel like you need to hide the fact that you’re drinking by yourself?
If you’re hiding your drinking from everyone you know, then there could be an unaddressed emotional component to the habit. Drinking alone might not be the problem in itself, but the veil of secrecy might mean there’s an unresolved trust issue between you and your loved ones.
Again, a counselor can help you work through these issues to understand what’s happening and how it might be contributing to your alcohol use. Many therapists specialize in family therapy, where you and your inner circle can attend together.
The Fine Line Between Depression and Alcoholism
Depression and alcoholism tend to go hand in hand. Some studies show that up to 64% of alcohol-dependent people also struggle with this mental health condition.
If you’re drinking to help manage the overwhelming feelings of grief, sadness, or emptiness you feel, help is available. When you get appropriate treatment for depression, many of your other problems will be more manageable.
How Do You Know When Drinking Alone Is Unhealthy?
Some of the following behaviors, along with drinking alone, are warning signs that your alcohol use may have progressed to an unhealthy level:
- Thinking about drinking during the day or looking forward to it
- Drinking enough that you do things you ordinarily would not, such as contacting former boyfriends or girlfriends
- Drinking until you pass out
- Failing to remember things the next day
- Heavy drinking most nights of the week (eight or more drinks per week for women, 15 or more drinks per week for men)
Social Drinking Can Also Be a Problem
Even though drinking alone has a bad reputation, social drinking can also be problematic. Some people drink more heavily in social situations to mask anxiety or to try to match peer behavior. The healthy goal for drinking should be to drink in moderation or not at all.
How much you drink is more important than whether you drink alone or with someone else. The motives that determine when you drink are also a significant factor that lets you know when you need to seek treatment.
When you or someone you love has a problem with appropriate alcohol consumption, call the helpline at
800-948-8417
Sponsored
today.