But with bars and restaurants restricted or closed for the past year due to COVID, some people have transferred that after-work libation to home. Sometimes, the desire to drink outweighs social factors. But if one beer eventually becomes an entire six-pack or more, suddenly the evening can dissolve into a blur. Some people have been holding virtual cocktail parties 2 on Skype, Zoom, or other media.
But as pleasant as those may be, there is no denying the loss in actual human communication. And further, after the party is over, feeling that loss may be acute, causing more drinking. Reasons for solitary drinking are numerous: worry, depression, anger, trauma, or boredom.
Some people use alcohol to alleviate pain, but sharing the source of that pain with others—meaning, talking about it—produces equal anxiety. They feel better drinking at home, where they can collapse later, with no one else to put the brakes on their behavior. We would politely point them to the Internet, home of millions of healthier distractions. In a Vice article 3 , the writer ponders what the actual damage would be—the damage from overdrinking—and asks a couple of doctors for their honest comments.
Addiction specialist Dr. This is what happens to people. They start drinking to get over a Sunday hangover, then this turns into Monday, and then slowly it starts to affect their personal relationships, and then they have other reasons to drink. And especially now, many people are seeing an uncertain financial future and trying to save money.
For someone drinking alone in public—granted, right now this is less of an issue—safety concerns should be front and center. Those who drink excessively, without a trusted friend nearby, risk being vulnerable to strangers. At best, this might mean losing a wallet or purse. How will I get home? But others may or may not be concerned. Here are some signs that could indicate a problem:.
Given an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol intake, many alcoholics find themselves drinking alone.
If you or someone you know is consuming alcoholic beverages while alone, there may be an issue. Many people enjoy an alcoholic beverage to themselves every now and then, with or without company. About four in 10 people report that they did occasionally drink alone. Drinking alone isn't always a sign of alcoholism. However, if you find yourself drinking alone regularly or drinking more than intended , it could be a sign of a more serious problem.
There are many risks associated with drinking alone, especially if you drink heavily. These risks include:. Alcohol abuse can negatively impact your mental health. In many cases, those addicted to alcohol are also diagnosed with a mental health disorder dual diagnosis. Depression , generalized anxiety disorder GAD , and bipolar disorder are the most common mental health issues associated with alcohol addiction.
The liver can only process one serving of alcohol per hour. If a person consumes two servings within an hour, there will be an additional unit in their system. This takes extra time for the body to process.
Someone who is experiencing an alcohol overdose and is passed out may choke on their own vomit. This can be especially dangerous when drinking alone because no one is around to help them. Alcohol poisoning can lead to death from asphyxiation, which is a lack of oxygen. Even if someone survives asphyxiation, they may suffer from long-lasting brain damage.
The more alcohol you drink, the more difficult it is to make rational decisions. People who drink alone may decide to drink and drive because no one is there to tell them otherwise. The person might not be aware of how drunk they actually are.
This can lead to drunk driving, which can result in a DUI, jail time, a car accident, or death. If you or someone you know is drinking alone because of a drinking problem, help is available. Various addiction treatment options are available, including support groups, therapies, medical treatments, and more. Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous AA are available. Alcoholics Anonymous also uses a Step approach to overcoming an addiction to alcohol, including admitting to addiction, making conscious choices to change, and using prayer and meditation to overcome the addiction.
I kept myself fooled for a long time. What happens to a person with an addiction when their friends and family start to express concerns about drinking?
Well, for me, it was cause enough to begin to isolate myself. I had already been doing a pretty good job of isolating myself away when drinking at home, but I started to burrow away even more.
It was really easy to do because it was winter, so I simply avoided making any social plans. A lot of my friends were busy with their own stuff, so I justified it by saying that I was busy, too.
But busy with what? Really, I was mostly busy drinking and continuing to drink because I was scared of what it would mean if I admitted that all of this drinking was causing me harm. The cycle just continued until it kept spinning out of control. Along with isolating myself from my friends and denying that I was struggling with my drinking, I also never told anyone about the things that were hurting and stressing me.
This actually began long before my drinking became problematic. Instead of relying on my loved ones for support like I used to, I started to rely on alcohol.
This caused me to isolate and made me want to drink in order to quell my anxiety. And another. And another, until I was blacked out again.
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