If you’re living day-to-day life and consuming alcohol to get by, you may be wondering, “is getting help for alcoholism something I need?”. You’re not alone. Many people develop a problem with alcohol as they use it to navigate or numb their feelings or symptoms of other underlying mental health issues. And, slowly develop a dependence on this socially acceptable but addictive substance. However, even though so many people end up developing alcoholism, not many people understand when it’s time to get help. So, what are the signs and symptoms that it may be time to reach out for professional help for overcoming alcoholism?

Some of the signs and symptoms that people can look out for that may signify that it’s time to get help for alcohol addiction include:

If You’ve Tried to Quit Before and it Didn’t Work

Have you ever told yourself that you’re going to start drinking less, only on the weekends, or stop altogether only to have it not work out? Trying to stop drinking on your own only to find out that it’s not something that you can do easily and end up slipping up or going back to drinking can be a sign that getting professional help is a good idea.

Much of Your Time is Spent Getting Alcohol Or Healing From Using Alcohol

Do you find that you spend a lot of time going to the liquor store or the grocery store to get your alcohol at any time of the day? Do you find yourself having to make time out of your day just to schedule getting alcohol? Or, do you find yourself canceling plans with friends and family because you’re nursing a hangover? Is a lot of your time spent in bed trying to feel better after a day or night of using alcohol? If much of your time is spent obtaining or healing from using alcohol and people in your life are starting to notice, this may be a sign that it’s a good idea to get help.

Your Slipping With Your Responsibilities

Have you found that your responsibilities are slipping due to how much or how often you’re drinking? For example, while you’re drinking, you forget that you have to pick up your kids from school, meet your friends for dinner, or get to a shift at work. If you find that you’re not meeting your responsibilities because you’re drinking alcohol, this can be a sign that you may need help through treatment.

You’ve Stopped Doing the Things You Love and Replace Them With Drinking

Have you found that you’re not doing the things you enjoy as often because you’d rather drink? Many people who are struggling with addiction stop spending time with their past hobbies and passions because they spend a lot of their time using. So, if you identify that you’re not doing the things that you used to do before drinking as much, this may be a sign that getting help for alcoholism is a good idea.

Getting Help for Alcoholism at Yellowbrick

Are these signs and symptoms that mean getting help for alcoholism may be a good thing to consider familiar? Getting help for alcoholism can be overwhelming. But, with support, it can be a great opportunity to feel better, get back on your feet, and start your journey to recovery. Yellowbrick offers treatment services for people struggling with substance use disorders that provide support and care on an outpatient basis. Find out more about our Reward Alternative Pathways (Addiction) IOP here.