A conversation can change everything. Even just letting someone know that regular heavy drinking causes long-term changes to neural pathways in the brain, leading to heavier reliance on substances and potentially addition, could make someone think twice and transform their life.
Sign #2: The shakes
At age eighteen an obvious indication that my drinking was a problem was the shakes. The morning after, my hands shook, sometimes my legs felt liquified, my head spun, and my heart raced. As an introverted teen in a hospitality job, these new physical symptoms did me no favours. My anxiety increased and as a result my desire to quash my nervousness with alcohol escalated. I would white-knuckle hungover through my shift and go straight to the pub after work.
Sign #3: Poor performance at work
Because I was caught in a vicious cycle of heavy drinking at night and anxiety ridden days, the late nights got later and the drinking heavier, and I was the only member of staff who had to be permanently rostered on late shifts because I couldn’t be relied upon to show up in the mornings to start work on time.
If you are experiencing similar side effects from drinking, you should consider significantly reducing your alcohol consumption. When drinking interferes with your job, your family life, your friendships and/or gives you withdrawal symptoms the next day, you have to admit that it is costing you more than money. Be kind to yourself and seek out a support group or person.
If you spot the signs above in someone else, don’t assume they know what’s going on. They may not be as self-aware as you think, they could think their behaviour is ‘normal’, they probably don’t have a clue where this type of drinking could lead – I didn’t! They might be frightened and be grateful to a kind friend for looking out for them. Please chat with them and let them know you are concerned about them. You could literally change their life.
