Is it Safe to Drink Alcohol Every Single Day?

If you are someone who enjoys coming alcohol often, you may have asked yourself how safe it is to drink alcohol every single day. Developing an unhealthy habit of binge drinking every single day can significantly increase your chances of developing alcoholism. Alcohol use disorder, also known as alcoholism, is when an individual loses control of their drinking habits and becomes both emotionally and physically dependent on the substance to function every day.

It is important to pay attention to the amount of alcohol you consume and limit your intake before it can get to this level. While the effects of drinking alcohol every day will depend on the amount and type of alcohol being consumed, doing so will overall have a negative impact on your health.

In this article, we will explore why people choose to start drinking alcohol, when casual drinking becomes a problem, and what can happen to your body if you consume alcoholic drinks every single day. We will also go over all the treatment options available for alcoholism.

If you or a loved one is struggling with an alcohol use disorder, contact the Recovery Team today.

Why People Drink Alcohol

There are so many different reasons why a person may begin drinking alcohol. Since the substance can affect levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, people are drawn to the euphoric feel-good effects that come from drinking alcohol.

It can help ease symptoms of anxiety and depression, allowing the person to escape their negative emotions and enjoy the moment they are in. Unfortunately, this results in people misusing alcohol and becoming entirely dependent on it. Below are some of the most common reasons why people drink alcohol:

  • To escape stress or other negative emotions
  • Peer pressure
  • Ease social anxiety and increase confidence in social situations
  • It is easily accessible
  • For fun
  • Self-medicating mental health disorders
  • Alcohol use from an early age
  • Having a family member who drinks

When Drinking Becomes a Problem

It is OK to consume alcohol every so often, as long you know your limits. Casual or moderate drinking can quickly lead to a drinking problem if the person does not know how or when to stop. If you get to the point where you are relying on an alcoholic drink to get you through every single day, you may have a problem.

It is essential to quit alcohol use together or take an extended break when you find yourself in this situation. If you wait too long to do so and your body develops a stronger dependency on alcohol, it will be harder to quit without the assistance of medical professionals.

Alcoholism can result in uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms whenever going long periods of time without drinking. At this stage, alcoholism treatment is crucial for the person’s health and wellbeing.

What Can Happen to Your Body If You Drink Alcohol Every Day

The severity of health problems from drinking alcohol every day will depend mostly on how much and what type of alcohol the person is drinking every day. For reference, someone who has one glass of wine every night is not at the same level of dependency as someone taking several shots of hard liquor throughout the day.

Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to dangerous, sometimes irreversible health risks if the person does not get alcohol addiction treatment for their condition. Drinking large amounts of alcohol every single day for an extended period of time can result in severe health problems like liver damage and liver disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, digestive problems, and strokes.

Treatment Options for Alcoholism

Luckily, there are plenty of treatment options available to overcome alcoholism. At rehab facilities, a professional will meet with you to assess your condition and create a personalized treatment plan that works for your specific needs. Treatment will begin with a detoxification program where all toxins and chemicals are removed from the body from their alcohol use. Below are a few other things that you can expect during alcoholism treatment.

Behavioral Therapy

After detox, patients typically attend behavioral therapy sessions that have the goal of changing the way the person perceives their addiction and motivating them to stay on the path toward recovery even on the hardest days.

One of the most common types of therapy for alcoholism is called cognitive behavioral therapy. These one-on-one sessions involve speaking with a mental health professional and identifying harmful thoughts and behaviors that cause the person to drink.

The goal is to replace these thoughts and behaviors with more productive ones. This therapy plays a huge part in keeping the patient sober for the long term.

Medication

During therapy, a professional in a rehab facility will often prescribe medication to the patient in order to reduce cravings or alleviate withdrawal symptoms from detox. The most common medications prescribed for alcoholism are Naltrexone, Acamprosate, and Antabuse.

Support Groups

It is often recommended that patients attend self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous so that they can receive continued support for their addiction. These self-help groups provide a safe space for individuals struggling with a similar situation to share their stories and get the continued support and motivation needed for long term recovery.