According to the CDC, about 66% of adults reported overconsuming alcohol in 2018. Although overconsuming alcohol does not automatically mean you are an alcoholic, excessive drinking can significantly impair your health and quality of life and potentially lead you to becoming an alcoholic.
While not everyone who drinks is at risk for becoming an alcoholic, there’s no denying that people who drink frequently and excessively are at a heightened risk for developing an alcohol addiction, such as in the case of grey area drinking. In this post, you’ll learn more about grey area drinking and the different signs of grey area drinking to be aware of.
If you are struggling with a drinking problem, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Hammocks On The Edisto is a women’s treatment center in South Carolina committed to providing one-of-a-kind treatment to help you overcome addiction and lead a healthier, happier life. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you on your recovery journey.
What is Grey Area Drinking?
Not everyone who drinks alcohol is at risk of becoming an alcoholic. However, there are varying levels of drinking, from social drinking to drinking every day, that can heighten one’s risk of developing a drinking problem.
Grey area drinking is an example of someone who doesn’t necessarily drink occasionally but also doesn’t have an alcohol addiction. In other words, grey area drinking is in between social drinking and toxic/destructive drinking. Oftentimes, grey area drinkers will drink daily, no matter if they are home alone or in a social environment. Although grey area drinkers aren’t addicted to alcohol, grey area drinkers typically experience anxiety, such as questioning whether their drinking habits are out of control and destructive.
Grey Area Drinkers Vs Alcoholics
It’s important to make the distinction that grey area drinkers are not alcoholics who have an alcohol addiction. However, grey area drinkers are at a heightened risk for developing an alcohol addiction in the future relative to people who only drink on occasion.
Having an alcohol addiction, or being an alcoholic, is when you are dependent on alcohol, such as being unable to go a day without drinking. Meanwhile, though they drink nearly every day like alcoholics, grey area drinkers lack the physical dependency to consume alcohol seen in those with alcohol addiction.
Common Signs of Grey Area Drinking
Sometimes, it can be difficult to pinpoint whether your drinking habits are normal or starting to go down a destructive, unhealthy path. Grey-area drinking can be difficult to define and spot because, again, grey-area drinkers don’t have an alcohol addiction. Yet, this doesn’t mean grey area drinkers cannot develop an alcohol addiction in the future.
Below are some common signs of grey area drinking to look out for:
- You can stop drinking for some time but find it hard to stop
- You question whether you have a drinking problem
- You worry about or regret some of your drinking habits and history
- Your drinking doesn’t necessarily look problematic to others
- You use alcohol as a tool to either calm yourself during social events or numb negative feelings of an untreated mental health condition
- You experience adverse effects like sleepless nights or regrets from the night before
Although grey area drinking does not mean you have an alcohol addiction, if you are experiencing some of the above signs, it’s important you seek help to better manage your drinking habits before they lead to addiction.
Help Is Available
No matter if you are struggling with grey area drinking, a drinking problem, or some other type of addiction, it’s important to understand that you never have to suffer in silence. There are addiction treatment centers that offer a range of services to help you overcome addiction and live a long-term life of sobriety.
At Hammocks On The Edisto, our women’s addiction treatment programs provide comprehensive care and support for women to safely and effectively overcome their addiction and live a happier, healthier life of sobriety. We understand that men and women are different and have different needs when it comes to addiction treatment. That’s why our treatment center offers individualized care specialized in helping women overcome addiction and improve their overall quality of life for the better.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you on your road to recovery.
