How do you know if your drug and/or alcohol use is considered excessive? Acknowledging that you may have an issue with addiction and seeking help can be very difficult. Here are 7 signs that indicate that you may have an issue with drugs and/or alcohol.
1. You Can’t Help but Drink and/or Do Drugs
Once a person becomes dependant on substances, using drugs or drinking alcohol becomes a necessity. Whether it’s on a night out or hanging out at home alone. At this point, you must ask yourself why you can’t go without it and try and identify potential triggers that drive you to use.
2. You Drink and/or Use Drugs to Help Manage Your Feelings or to Escape From Your Issues
Everyday problems can sometimes induce stress, anxiety, anger, and even fear. It goes without saying that managing these issues can be difficult and we turn to whatever means we need to, in order to ease the pain. A quick-fix solution, like drinking or doing drugs, is often most appealing because they work fast and make us feel better pretty instantaneously (alleviating suffering).
3. You Experience a Lack of Motivation, Concentration or Memory Loss
Using can make it very difficult to do things like follow a class at school or concentrate on your work tasks. Drugs and alcohol can alter cognitive brain function and this, in turn, can make it difficult to accomplish simple tasks like taking notes or concentrating.
4. You Lie to Your Friends and Family About Your Consumption
Lying about your drug and alcohol consumption is a common trait amongst people suffering from addiction. Whether you are lying to a loved one or to yourself, lying is often a defense mechanism we use to escape our problems or issues of which we are aware. Lying often leads to social exclusion and the abandonment of loved ones who no longer trust you.
5. Your Entourage (family, friends, colleagues) Complain That Your Behavior Under the Influence Hurt Your Relationships
10 people are affected directly or indirectly by one person’s addiction. Those closest to an addict are often helpless in the face of their problem, making it difficult for them to raise awareness around it. Once the people closest to you start talking to you about your drug and alcohol habits, it usually means something isn’t right.
6. Your Drug/Alcohol Use Causes Physical, Emotional, Family, Social, Financial, or Legal Problems
Addiction is never without consequences. You must act the very moment you start to feel that your drug use causes problems. Whether you start experiencing physical pain, feelings of depression, or if you start getting into trouble with your loved ones over money issues, ask for help.
7. You’ve Experienced Suicidal Thoughts That Were Brought on by Drinking And/Or Using Drugs
The connection between excessive drug use and depression has already been highlighted by various scientific studies. Often, being depressed, anxious or even having suicidal thoughts are significant signs of heavy substance addiction.
Sheila Jones
To whom it may concern, I know I have a problem with alcohol. I don’t drink to have fun I drink to get drunk. I fill better when I drink but pushing everyone away. I am 57 years old, started drinking at a very young age. I quit for a year but started back at it again. If you could send me information about your facility and how I go about getting into your program.
Portage
Sheila, thank you for your comment and for reaching out for more information. We offer adult programs in both the region of Montreal and Quebec City. You can make your way to this link for Montreal (English): https://portage.ca/quebec/adults/ to read up on our different programs. The appropriate contact information is also available there, at the bottom of the page.