Millions of teens and adults across the United States struggle with alcohol addiction. Alcohol use disorder can significantly reduce your health and quality of life for the worse. Although alcohol is a legal drug, that doesn’t reduce the reality that alcohol is an addicting substance that, when abused, can cause a drinking problem and dependency.
Not everyone who abuses alcohol is necessarily an alcoholic. So, if you have been worrying about “am I an alcoholic,” it’s essential to understand the nuances between alcoholism and binge drinking.
At Rise in Malibu, we are a luxury drug rehab committed to helping patients treat their diseases and improve their minds, bodies, and spirits for the better. We offer a range of drug and alcohol treatment options so clients can receive tailored treatment to help them overcome addiction and maintain long-term sobriety. If you are struggling with a drinking problem, you don’t have to fight it all on your own. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you on your road to recovery.
Signs of Binge Drinking
If you’ve been worried about your drinking habits and have been drinking excessively, chances are you’ve likely wondered, “Am I an alcoholic.” While abusing alcohol and excessively drinking is never good, this doesn’t automatically mean you are an alcoholic. You may be a binge drinker.
Binge drinking is when someone drinks alcohol above the legal limit of alcohol to drink. While this can vary by the individual, this typically means drinking more than 5 drinks for men or 4 drinks for women in under 2 hours.
Therefore, although binge drinking doesn’t mean you drink every day, it does mean that you frequently drink excessively, such as several drinks in a day in a short amount of time.
Here are some common signs of binge drinking to be aware of:
- You drink a lot on the weekends
- You’re exhausted after a night out
- You try and set limits when you drink, but break those limits
- You frequently blackout
- You feel guilty or embarrassed after a night out drinking
- You worry about how much you drink
Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol use disorder, or alcohol addiction, is when you have a problem controlling how much alcohol you drink and continue to drink alcohol despite its negative effects on your health and well-being. With alcohol addiction, you will experience intense cravings to abuse alcohol. And, if you don’t satisfy these cravings, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms like shaking, sweating, and rapid heartbeat as a result of your body being dependent on alcohol and its effects.
Below are some common signs of alcohol use disorder to be aware of:
- Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink
- Wanting to quit drinking but being unable to do so
- Having strong cravings to drink alcohol
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed to drink
- Spending significant amounts of time drinking or recovering from drinking
What’s the Difference Between Binge Drinking Vs Alcohol Addiction?
If you’ve been wondering, “Am I an alcoholic” chances are, at the very least, you have a drinking problem. However, are you a binge drinker or an alcoholic with an addiction?
If you typically drink excessively on weekends but don’t drink too much (or at all) during the week, chances are you are a binge drinker. Meanwhile, if you have intense cravings to drink and abuse alcohol all the time and drink excessively regardless of the time of the week it is, you likely are an alcoholic. This is especially true if you experience any sort of withdrawal symptoms after not drinking alcohol for a period of time.
Regardless of if you are a binge drinker or alcoholic, both cases are extremely unhealthy and can negatively impact all aspects of your personal and professional life. If you suspect you are struggling with an alcohol use disorder, it’s essential to seek professional alcohol addiction treatment to help you live a healthier, happier life.
Top-Rated Alcohol Rehab in Malibu
If you are struggling with alcohol addiction or any substance use disorder, you do not have to fight this disease all on your own. At Rise in Malibu, we are a drug and alcohol rehab that provides a range of comprehensive addiction treatment services so patients can receive the best possible care to overcome their addiction for good.
Addiction recovery is not a one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why we offer a variety of traditional and alternative therapies so patients can receive individualized treatment plans to safely and effectively treat their disease and live a long-term sobriety.
Struggling with addiction? Contact us today to start your recovery journey.
