Top 10 Signs that You Have an Alcohol Addiction

Let's say the average person drinks maybe one or two beers. You might consume six beers a day, or potentially six bottles of vodka, or three bottles of wine. This level of drinking is excessive and unnecessary, most would argue. It's unhealthy and can lead to numerous health problems down the line if not addressed.

Hangovers are typically a result of drinking more than you should. Some symptoms include major headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, and struggling to make coherent choices, among a plethora of other issues. Hangovers typically last anywhere from a day to three or four days, depending on how much you've drunk and how you attempt to counter the effects.

As we all know, alcohol itself is a depressant, so drinking it in excess will worsen a lot of negative feelings. It's counterproductive to drink to deal with those issues, but it's similar to a drug addict's thought process or someone who engages in stress eating. It's redundant, yes, but some people can't break out of that mindset.

Drinking can also result in slurred speech, where your words sound like gibberish. No one can understand what you're saying, let alone the intent of your words. This often results in confusion. When this happens frequently, it's a clear sign that you should probably drink less, not more.

Things that normally wouldn't annoy you probably do if you drink in excess. Alcohol tends to lessen impulse control, so if something annoys you, you might become more irritable, frustrated, and abrasive as a result of drinking. I've met a couple of people who have become this way after drinking excessively - not all of them, but a few.

When someone becomes dependent on something, whether it be alcohol or drugs, being deprived of that substance can lead to withdrawal. They might feel like the world around them is collapsing if they don't get another hit or buzz. This is a frequent pattern of behavior that becomes increasingly noticeable over time.

Alcohol can weaken your body in several ways. Sometimes, when someone becomes highly intoxicated, it affects their legs, making walking much more difficult than normal. I've only been this kind of drunk one time as far as I can recall, but I digress. It's a sign nonetheless.

Much like a drug addict who constantly seeks their next fix, alcoholics tend to crave the buzz they get from drinking. They usually want more instead of less because they've become accustomed to it and feel like they need more, even when they don't in reality.

As mentioned before, alcohol lessens impulse control, so as a result, you might become more impulsive and irrational. You may end up doing things that you normally wouldn't do in a sober state of mind. The severity of these actions varies depending on the individual, their thought process, how much they've consumed, and their surroundings.

You feel more comfortable, especially in social settings, when you are drinking.

Whether it's an excessive amount of wine, a six-pack of beer, vodka, whiskey, or rum, buying more alcohol than you actually need is usually a sign of an underlying addiction. If not kept under control, this can lead to significant problems.