How to Overcome Compulsive Drinking
Compulsive drinking and binge drinking are both serious issues. Compulsive drinking can take over your life, your career, your family and your health, but you can overcome the overwhelming desire to drink by following simple steps to wellness.
What Is Compulsive Drinking?
Compulsive drinking is often associated with binge drinking. When a person drinks compulsively, he or she feels a strong mental and emotional need to drink. A compulsive desire to drink can be caused by and lead to high levels of anxiety. A compulsive desire to drink often causes the person to drink in excess and leads to binge drinking (drinking more than two alcoholic beverages in one setting). Common statements from people struggling with compulsive drinking include the following:
- I drink because I feel anxious or out of place
- I feel more comfortable after a few drinks
- I didn’t realize how many drinks I already had
- My spouse/friends/family complain about my drinking behavior
- Sometimes I sneak drinks to take the edge off
What Does Compulsive Drinking Do to Your Body and Mind?
Compulsive drinking may help you feel less anxious for a short amount of time, but you may experience serious negative side effects to this type of drinking including the following:
- Blackouts
- Passing out
- Dehydration
- Stomach problems, vomiting or nausea
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Dangerous or life-threatening behavior
- Loss of consciousness
Over time your body will require more and more alcohol to achieve the same desired effects. You will begin to develop a tolerance to alcohol that will lead to more drinking. You will eventually become physically dependent on alcohol and experience severe health problems like the following:
- Liver damage
- Stroke
- Pancreatitis
- Kidney stones
- Dementia
Compulsive drinking is a sign of alcoholism and requires treatment in order to be helped effectively.
Where to Get Compulsive Drinking Help
It is important to seek support for both the underlying causes of compulsive drinking as well as the physical effects of drinking itself. There are treatment options that will meet all situations. Please call our toll-free helpline and speak with an experienced recovery professional today. We can help you find the support you need. All calls are free to you and are completely confidential. We are here to help 24 hours a day, please call now and learn about your options.
