Wine Addiction: 9 Signs You May Have a Problem

When Is Drinking Too Much Wine an Addiction?

For ages, wine has been appreciated throughout the world in a variety of ways. Many people drink this beverage ceremoniously or enjoy a glass or two with dinner every night. Alcohol in general is widely socially accepted, especially when it comes to more “sophisticated” beverages, such as wine.

Unfortunately, this can make recognizing when your wine-drinking behavior has become problematic. So how do you know when you are regularly having one drink too many? Fortunately, there are many ways you can tell if you may be dependent on wine.

Keep reading to find out more about ‘problem’ wine drinking, and where to turn if you decide you would like effective help!

1. You are Drinking More Than You Intend To

For someone who has not formed an addiction to drinking wine, stopping at one glass or refusing this drink entirely would be a simple task. For someone who has developed alcohol dependence, however, this will be much more difficult.

You may find yourself setting the intention of only having one glass of wine on multiple occasions but always end up having a second, third, or even more. While many people may choose to view this drink as “just wine,” excessive drinking can have negative consequences no matter the alcohol type.

If you have discovered that you are no longer fully in control of how much alcohol you are consuming, it may be that you have formed a physical dependence on wine. If this is the case, you will need to seek out professional help to overcome this alcohol abuse.

2. You Are Drinking More Than You Used To

Excessive alcohol consumption on a regular basis is another key indicator that you may be struggling with a wine addiction. This is primarily characterized by binge drinking, which translates to having double the amount of drinks recommended at one time.

For men, this equates to around five or more drinks and three or more alcoholic beverages for women. While many people will participate in excessive alcohol use at some point in their lives, regular heavy drinking behavior can pose a number of health and safety risks, including:

• Liver disease
• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Weakened immune system
• Digestive problems
• Alcohol overdose

 

If you recognize regular heavy drinking behaviors in yourself, you may likely have a wine addiction. While it will be difficult to stop drinking wine on your own, there are various resources and treatment options to help you overcome this substance abuse.

3. Other People Have Noticed Your Drinking Habits

While it can be difficult for you to recognize when you are regularly drinking too much alcohol, the people around you may be more aware of these patterns. If any of your family members or friends have commented on your alcohol use, it may be a good idea to listen to their concerns.

Besides yourself, your loved ones are the people who know you best. When your own judgment is clouded by regularly drinking alcohol, the best resource that will help you recognize your excessive drinking is your family and friends.

4. You Are Constantly Assessing Other People’s Drinking Habits

Alcohol consumption, whether by a mom involving wine, hard liquor, or any other alcoholic beverage, is often a social activity. This, of course, gives you an opportunity to assess your own drinking behaviors when surrounded by others.

If you find that you are constantly assessing and obsessing over other people’s drinking, or comparing the amount they have had to your count, this may indicate a serious problem. Heavy drinking on your own in a group of people can feel embarrassing or wrong.

This may cause you to constantly count the number of drinks others have had, in order to help gauge whether you can have another drink yourself. You may also be critical of or annoyed by someone else’s decision to stop drinking, as you may feel bad getting another drink yourself.

Regardless of other people’s drinking choices, once you have formed an alcohol dependence, turning down that extra glass of wine may feel impossible to you. If this is the case, then you may have a wine addiction.

5. You Are Drinking Throughout the Day

While many people will commonly drink wine in the evening with dinner, or the occasional lunch, someone who has a wine addiction will consume this beverage at all times of the day. You may find yourself drinking wine with breakfast, or using it to get you through the day.

It can be particularly dangerous to drink alcohol regularly throughout the day, as alcohol effects can be significant and severe. Not only does being under the influence limit your cognitive abilities and motor functions, but this can negatively impact the people around you, as well.

6. You Regret Your Behavior After Drinking

Plenty of people have their drunken horror stories, where their behavior may have been far from exemplary after a night of heavy drinking. However, if you are regularly making regrettable decisions while intoxicated, but continuing to do so, you may have a problem.

While it may be considered more sophisticated to drink wine, this is still an alcoholic beverage and will hinder your ability to make proper and sound decisions after a few glasses. This can include acting aggressively, driving while intoxicated, having unprotected sex, and much more.

7. Frequent Blackouts After Drinking

When binge drinking or otherwise drinking too much, too fast, getting blackout drunk is all too common. This can cause you to lose all memory of your behavior and the activities that occurred whilst under the influence.

This can include petty crime and risk-taking behaviors, such as driving, swimming, or otherwise operating dangerous machinery. If you often wake up with gaps in your memory after drinking heavily, it is possible that you have an alcohol use disorder.

8. Missing Out On Important Responsibilities Due to Alcohol Consumption

Most people who are long-time drinkers know that after having one glass of wine too many, they will more than likely wake up with a hangover. This can make you feel sick, drowsy, and unwilling to even get out of bed.

If you are frequently calling out of work due to these aftereffects of alcohol or missing out on important activities with family and friends, it may be time to take a harder look at your drinking habits.

Wine addiction, or any other alcohol use disorder, can have severe impacts on your personal relationships and obligations. Unfortunately, these are just a few of the negative social impacts alcohol abuse can cause.

9. Being Unable to Feel Happy or Normal Without Drinking Alcohol

One of the biggest signs that you may have a wine addiction is if you are unable to experience joy or feel normal without the use of this or other alcoholic beverages. Going to an event where you will not be able to drink may feel tedious or even impossible.

If you want to determine whether or not you have a wine addiction, trying to stop your alcohol use may help you figure this out. In many cases of addiction, trying to stop drinking wine will cause you to experience alcohol withdrawal.

This will cause you to develop a number of unpleasant symptoms as your body attempts to adjust to no longer functioning with alcohol in its system. However, withdrawal from alcohol can be extremely dangerous.

In order to safely and successfully overcome your wine addiction, it is strongly recommended that you seek treatment through addiction specialists and rehab programs rather than attempting to do so alone.

What is Alcohol Rehab?

Someone with a wine addiction or any other alcohol use disorder has developed a physical and/or psychological dependence on this substance due to their abuse of this substance.

Even if you are addicted to just wine, you will need help when quitting wine. Fortunately, there are several treatment options available to those struggling with alcohol abuse and alcoholism today.

What Does the Rehab Process for Alcohol Addiction Look Like?

Alcohol treatment is often quite extensive and intensive, as alcohol can be an extremely dangerous substance to withdraw from, particularly if you have formed a severe dependence on this substance.

Some of the most common methods used to treat wine and alcohol addiction are medical detox programs, counseling services, behavioral therapies, medication-assisted treatment, and sober support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

With that being said, there is no one-method-fits-all treatment for alcohol addiction. What works for one person may not work for another, so it is important to find a facility that offers a range of treatment options that will meet your individual needs in the most effective way possible.

If you are unsure what levels of care will be best for you, seeking professional treatment advice from your medical provider or an addiction specialist, such as the Find Addiction Rehabs representatives, can help you narrow down your options.

Is Medical Detox Necessary for Alcohol Treatment?

Quitting wine can be a long and unpleasant experience, especially if you have become severely addicted to this drink. As discussed, choosing to suddenly stop drinking may cause you to develop severe withdrawal symptoms; some of which can be fatal without proper management. Because of this, you will be strongly encouraged to gradually taper off of wine, rather than quit “cold turkey.” Medical detox programs can provide the supervision and structure you need to safely withdraw from alcohol.

You will be carefully weaned off of wine with extensive clinical monitoring and support. This may also include the administration of certain medications to help manage and prevent withdrawal symptoms, as well as reduce alcohol cravings.

These programs can not only give you your best chance at a safe and successful recovery from wine addiction, but can also significantly reduce your risk of relapse, and better prepare you for ongoing care.

Inpatient Alcohol Rehab Programs

Inpatient or residential treatment programs require you to live at a rehab center throughout the duration of your recovery process, allowing you to have constant access to recovery tools and support.

Living full-time at inpatient treatment centers can help you overcome your addiction in an environment that helps remove you from outside distractions and temptations, significantly minimizing your risk of relapse.

Inpatient alcohol rehabilitation will usually incorporate several different approaches to addiction recovery, which can further promote your healing, as well as help you to better maintain abstinence from substance use upon leaving your treatment program.

This may include mental health treatment options, such as individual counseling services, as well as group therapy or family therapy sessions. This helps address both your addiction itself, as well as any underlying mental illness that may be contributing to your habits of use.

Outpatient Alcohol Rehab Programs

Outpatient treatment providers offer a more flexible and independent approach to those overcoming an addiction to alcohol. With this level of care, you will likely participate in relapse prevention and peer support groups, such as through AA meetings.

Recovering at an outpatient treatment facility may be a better option for you if you are recovering from wine addiction with unavoidable time or financial constraints. This level of alcohol rehab also commonly offers dual diagnosis treatment options.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Find the Right Rehab for Wine Addiction Now

If you are struggling with wine addiction, know that you are not alone, and help IS available. The Find Addiction Rehabs hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect you with an addiction treatment provider and alcohol rehab program that can meet all of your care needs.

We are here to help you whenever you decide you are ready to start overcoming your addiction. So don’t wait; call today, and let us help you get started on your recovery journey, where you can achieve a happier, healthier, and sober you!

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