Alcohol addiction can show up in your life in many ways. Even if you only drink socially, addiction is still a possibility.
At Klarity Ketamine Clinic, our addiction specialists offer compassionate, individualized care for addictions to alcohol, drugs, and other substances. They provide ketamine and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) infusion therapy to help you overcome addiction and achieve long-lasting sobriety.
Social drinking describes a pattern of drinking in which you typically consume alcohol during social occasions, such as sporting events, parties, and even work functions.
A couple of drinks with friends one or two days a week is a common way for people to relax after work. However, if you're drinking heavily during those nights out or wake up with a hangover more times than not, you may be heading down the path to alcohol addiction.
Many people who primarily drink alcohol socially don’t consider themselves addicted because they aren’t drinking alone. They may also be in denial about their situation because they aren’t hiding their drinking from others.
Additionally, alcohol is legal and culturally accepted, despite the risk for misuse and abuse.
Social drinkers are at increased risk for alcohol addiction, and there are warning signs to watch out for in yourself or others. Signs that might indicate your drinking is a problem include:
Many social drinkers aim to have just a few drinks to relax and catch a buzz. But despite their intentions, they generally end up drinking much more.
The desire to consume more and more alcohol occurs because each drink activates your brain’s reward center. Those living with addiction may find it’s nearly impossible to quit drinking, even if they desire to quit.
The more you drink, the higher your tolerance to alcohol becomes. If you notice it takes more drinks to achieve a level of relaxation, you may be dependent on alcohol.
Some people may also change the type of alcohol they drink to achieve a buzz. For instance, a social beer drinker might switch to shots of hard liquor.
Social drinkers with an alcohol addiction may not hide their drinking from others. However, they may become secretive about how much they are actually drinking.
You may tell your friends you’ve only had one or two drinks instead of six. You might also tell your friends you’re headed home for the night only to go to another bar for more alcohol.
If you find yourself questioning how much alcohol you use or feel ashamed of your secretive behaviors, it’s time to consider your options for help. Living in denial will only make your situation more complicated and increase your risk for harming yourself or others.
When you can’t quit drinking on your own, our team at Klarity Ketamine Clinic offers the treatment and supportive resources you need to overcome alcohol addiction.
Using a combination of ketamine and NAD+, we address the changes in your brain that excessive alcohol use causes, so you can achieve sobriety without overwhelming withdrawal symptoms.
Call the Klarity Ketamine Clinic office near you to schedule an alcohol addiction consultation, or book an appointment online today.
