Have you ever joked that you were addicted to wine and everyone around you just laughs? As it turns out, there are subtle signs you may have a drinking problem that may even be as far as an addiction. Before you dismiss the idea that you could be addicted, read on to learn whether your love and enjoyment of wine is simply a culinary addition or it’s a true addiction.
You’re Drinking Wine in the Morning
Morning drinking, whether it’s wine or hard liquor like vodka is a sign of addiction and dependency. If the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning is getting a glass of wine to start your day, then it might be time to address the elephant in the room and admit you are addicted. There is help for you, and in some cases, you can seek out treatment programs that allow you to still live your everyday life. Women’s intensive outpatient programs are designed just for this purpose. Many people become addicted and it’s nothing to be ashamed of, but getting help is important for your health and long-term well-being.
Wine is Your Preferred Method of Relaxation
There is a huge difference between the occasional glass of wine to relax and a nightly glass or bottle of wine to unwind. “Occasional” might be 2-3 times a month, whereas every single day is an indicator that there is a problem. There are plenty of other ways to relax, and it’s important to find ways that help you unwind without causing addiction. If you’re using wine to help you sleep, this is another concerning behavior. It’s best to get to the bottom of your sleep struggles to create healthy sleep habits instead.
You Think Wine Free Months are Ridiculous
Do you find yourself mocking others who give up wine for a month? Or do you find yourself balking at the idea that you should abstain from alcohol for a month? This might mean that you have a strong emotional connection to wine, and that you’d be losing a part of yourself if you gave it up. You may even find that other beverages don’t satisfy the same way, or at all. Maybe this is your sign that a wine free month would be beneficial.
You Want to Give up Wine for the New Year
Your new year’s resolution is to limit the amount you drink, then you might have a problem. And at least at this point you recognize it. It’s important to evaluate the emotions that lead you to wanting alcohol and to look for other ways to cope other than drinking. Start with a small step and set yourself up for success. Perhaps you start by limiting your alcohol consumption to only drinking one alcoholic beverage on Fridays with dinner. You can have success in giving up your wine.
Wine Takes Priority
Your wine is starting to take priority over other things in your life, like friends, family or work. When you are isolating yourself and spending more time with wine than people, then something is up. You can evaluate what’s going on in your life now or what happened in the past that is causing you to choose wine over relationships. If you have trauma to work through or you don’t know how to destress without drinking, it’s okay to get counseling to help you work through those issues and learn how to have a healthy relationship with alcohol.
You Feel Anxious When You Don’t Drink
You feel anxious if you don’t make room in your day to drink at least one glass of wine. This is a good sign that you have an addiction. This, headaches, chills, or other physical symptoms are all indicators of a drinking problem. There are detox programs that can help you safely remove wine from your life. You can also seek out addiction treatment if needed.
More Stress in Your Life Equals More Wine
Stress can play a huge role in your relationship with wine, especially if you’re not prepared to deal with the consequences that come along with drinking too much. The more stressed out and anxious you feel about life, the more likely it is that alcohol will become an escape for you. At some point, you will need to address the fact that you are using alcohol in unhealthy ways and that it is harmful to you.
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