CDC claims that excessive alcohol consumption was responsible for 178,000 deaths from 2020 to 2021. This means, about 488 people died every day due to alcoholism in the said duration! These staggering figures highlight the importance of seeking professional support to beat alcohol addiction and live a sober life.
Stories of how alcohol ruined my life are common; you often hear some from your acquaintances or read them online. It is crucial to realize you have a problem and address it correctly with the help of professionals.
Alcohol Ruined My Life: Signs To Be Aware Of
There will be many other signs showing how alcohol is ruining your life. In this post, we take a deeper look at signs indicating severe alcohol dependence, how this addiction can affect your personal and professional life, and what you can do about it to quit your drinking problem.
Watch the following video to learn about the signs that alcohol is ruining your life:
What is Alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a chronic disease characterized by the inability to control your drinking despite experiencing negative consequences associated with alcohol abuse. You will notice that you keep having a strong urge to consume alcohol, even if it is affecting how you relate with everyone around you.
Considering over 29.5 million people are affected by alcoholism (NIAAA report of 2022), you should always take alcoholism seriously and know the signs of when alcohol is wreaking havoc on your health, family, and career.
The Negative Effects of Alcohol
Alcohol can have many negative effects on a person. The most common ones will be neglecting your responsibilities, having legal problems, medical issues due to alcoholism, and sometimes mental health issues.
Because of these multifaceted negative impacts of alcohol, you need to take control of your life and get professional help to detox and make your life better. Whichever method you decide to choose, comprehensive awareness and intervention strategies should be used to mitigate alcoholism’s adverse effects and lead to a path of recovery.
How Alcoholism Affects the Family
Alcohol abuse can ruin your life in many ways, and this also includes that of your family. It is possible to find that such families are neglected when someone decides to spend more time drinking. A good example is that you do not spend time with family but at the bar. Moreover, drinking can also cause relationship problems between you and your spouse, which can lead to a lack of trust and intimacy issues.
Another way the family is affected is when you spend most of the income on drinking rather than the family’s needs. Also, the family members might also have to deal with covering your bail, medical expenses, and more.
Is Alcohol Ruining Your Life?
Do you often sometimes find yourself asking the question, “Is alcohol ruining my life?” This should be a clear indicator that you have been recently going through things that show how you are ruining your life with alcohol.
To be honest, the signs of alcohol abuse are mostly evident. Binge drinking can lead to a number of health conditions, strained relationships with your spouse and employers, and mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.
If you believe you drink alcohol like there’s no tomorrow, it might be a good time to reflect on your recent life decisions. How are you relating with your family members or friends? Do you find it better to spend your time drinking than family? What are the negative consequences of taking alcohol in your life?
These questions and many others will help you know how problematic drinking is affecting you and why you might need to seek addiction treatment.
Stories From Real People Struggling With Alcohol
People who drink alcohol frequently often develop dependence on the substance, and the sad part is, they face withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit. Here are two relevant stories we found online:
At 34, male, I am starting to lose hope, struggle with alcohol, work, childhood trauma, negative self talk, it is like it is too late for me to be better and happier (Source)
I’m 53 and quit last June after thirty years of consistent drinking with just a few breaks for sickness and surgeries. I knew in my 30s that I was using alcohol to manage crippling anxiety (the irony) and accepted that as fact…like it was my “medicine”, as ridiculous as that sounds…then as I aged I started to feel better in my own skin and got the right meds but my drinking didn’t abate. (Source)
10 Signs Alcohol is Ruining Your Life and You Need Treatment
Sometimes, you might not know what damage alcohol is doing to your life until you start seeing some signs. Below are common signs that should be a wake-up call for you to work on your alcoholism and not end up writing about how alcohol ruined your life:
You are Neglecting Your Responsibilities
If you find yourself sitting on a barstool and neglecting your daily responsibilities, it’s time to consider medication-assisted treatment.
Responsibilities vary from one person to another and can affect various aspects of your life. A good example is if you keep showing up late for work because of late-night drinking, it can lead to losing your job. Similarly, if you are a student and you no longer get to class on time or do assignments altogether because of alcoholism, then it is time to reevaluate your situation.
Strained Relationships With Family, Friends, and Colleagues
Alcoholics would often be heard saying alcohol is ruining my life, but I can’t stop. However, if you do not stop, chances are you will have strained relationships with friends, family, or anyone around you.
The problem is when you prioritize drinking over having quality time with loved ones, and that is how you end up talking about how alcoholism ruined your personal life with strangers at the bar.
Financial Problems
Excessive drinking will likely lead to a strained financial position where you will find it difficult to pay bills and give a comfortable life to your loved ones. It is not just about the cost of alcohol, but also indirect expenses such as legal fees if you are arrested due to drinking, medical bills in case of accidents, and more. Not to forget, getting fired from your job is also one of the worst-case scenarios that can happen and put you in a financial crisis.
Ask anyone who drinks a lot about their savings. Most of them will have none. So, if you do not want to hit rock bottom, plan for a detox, get treatment, and embrace a new, alcohol-free life.
Persistent Health Issues
Is alcohol ruining my life? That is a question someone will have in case they keep going to the hospital because of health issues related to binge drinking.
The most common conditions that can result from alcoholism include hepatitis, liver damage (cirrhosis), fatty liver, and more. If these conditions are not managed in time, it can result in more health issues.
Some people also end up with mental health problems because of heavy drinking. Such can include depression and anxiety.
Alcohol-Related Legal Problems
The alcohol-related legal troubles can range from minor infractions to sometimes serious criminal charges, which greatly impact your life.
Driving under the influence or DUI charge often results in hefty fines, license suspension, or jail time, depending on the location. In the DUI situation, you risk your life and those around you. It is common for people to claim how alcohol ruined my life in their stories if they were caught with a DUI charge.
Behavioral Changes and Social Isolation
Alcohol ruining my life realizations often happen when you now notice you no longer hang out with your friends or do things that once made you happy. You may act differently and have made taking alcohol a priority compared to spending more time with friends and family.
Sometimes, a person can lose interest in non-drinking activities. They would feel more lively while just drinking in isolation rather than even playing games with their kids. It is time to rediscover your interests to avoid going further into an alcoholism mess.
Increased Dependency on Alcohol
If alcohol makes you feel more lively, it is possible to have an alcohol dependency. Some people would end up wanting to take more alcohol before they can feel the buzz, or they must take alcohol to remain functional.
Dependency on alcohol means you need to keep taking alcohol for the body and mind to function normally. That is why some people might start to shake, experience nausea, or become irritable when they do not take alcohol.
Emotional Instability
Excessive alcohol consumption can definitely lead to emotional instability and can contribute to mental health disorders. Some people end up having mood swings, increased irritability, depression, and anxiety. Such emotional turmoil will affect various areas of your life, from your job performance to your personal relationships with people around you.
Decreased Performance and Productivity
Alcoholics tend to have decreased performance in different aspects of their lives, especially cognitive functions. You find such people having problems keeping up with their daily activities, such as work, school, and personal projects.
Hangovers and poor sleep because of alcohol consumption lead to chronic fatigue. It becomes difficult for someone to stay alert and have a productive day.
Being in Denial About Your Alcoholism
The moment you accept that you have a problem, that is when you get help. Denial is quite common among those who are yet to realize alcohol is ruining their lives. This refusal to acknowledge the problem makes you downplay how much you drink, and you may end up drinking even more.
Some people also make up excuses to justify their drinking problem. An example is when someone claims that he deserves a beer after a stressful day and takes several bottles of beer in one sitting.
How to Stop Being an Alcoholic and Quit Addiction
To transform from a drinker to a non-drinker, start by acknowledging the problem.
Self-awareness is vital to quitting alcohol addiction. Recognize how your drinking habits are affecting your life and seek the right steps to quit it altogether.
Keep a journal of how alcohol affects you so that you can start the recovery process. Seek professional help such as therapists, counselors, or support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous to get the right help. Involve your family and friends in the recovery process. You will be surprised by how ready they are to get you to sobriety.
Professional Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
By the time you seek treatment for alcoholism, you have seen how bad things are in your life because of alcohol. Treatment can take different forms, but all will help you deal with alcohol dependency. Here are some of the options for your treatment for alcoholism:
- Detoxification which is medically supervised withdrawal from using alcohol
- Behavioral therapy that identifies and changes your negative thoughts associated with alcohol consumption
- Several medications are also available for the treatment of alcoholism
- Join a support group to get peer support in your journey to quit alcohol
- Hang out with your non-drinking friends or find a new hobby to beat your desire to drink
- Inpatient rehabilitation centers provide you with an environment to focus solely on recovering from alcoholism.
- Outpatient programs are also useful to treat alcohol abuse without interrupting your routine.
Alcohol Use Disorder will always have a negative impact on your life. Because of this, there are a few steps you can take to get help with your situation.
Start by acknowledging you have an alcoholism problem, consult a healthcare provider, and research the treatment facilities nearby. We at Still Water Wellness Group are committed to helping people overcome their alcohol addiction and reintegrate into society. Explore our personalized substance abuse treatment programs and take your first step towards a rewarding life.
Further, reach out to support groups and attend therapy sessions to commit to the process of dealing with excessive alcohol consumption.
Quitting Alcohol – Inspiration Success Stories
Seeing people who have had the same problem of alcoholism talk about how they overcome the issue helps build confidence that you can do it. Below are a few testimonials from our previous clients:
I was simply tired of ruining my life with alcohol and decided to take charge of my life. After struggling with my addiction to alcohol use for eight years, I am now clean, thanks to their program. This is one place where I felt that the staff invested their time and resources in me, and now I am better. – Chris
My friends told me, “alcohol is running your life,” but I would not listen. It took me being involved in a DUI that almost left me dead to realize the seriousness of the problem. I ended up serving some time in jail, and now this program has helped me take control of my life. – Kevin
It was hurtful not to talk to my family because I simply could not stop drinking or stay sober enough to have a conversation with them. After going through the program, I am now sober for 3 years, and I take every opportunity to spend time with my family. – Marlene
Decided to Get Treatment to Beat Your Alcohol Addiction? Learn About Still Water Wellness Group Rehab Program
Alcohol can cause problems that can hurt your present situation and lead to long-term devastating effects.
However, there’s hope!
You can seek professional treatment to detox and find different types of treatment to step out of the danger zone. At Still Water Wellness Group, we offer various programs to help you break free from your substance abuse and mental health problems. We bring you the perfect balance between freedom and structure so that you can achieve recovery goals better. Visit us today to get you on the right track to recover from alcoholism.