Why Do I Drink More Than I Intend To?

Many people occasionally wake up feeling lousy and realize that they had a few too many the night before. It’s not necessarily a problem to be concerned about if it’s not a regular occurrence. However, if you find that most of the time when you drink, you end up drinking more than intended, it might be time to do some self-exploration to find out why.

Reasons You Might Drink More Than Intended

Several reasons can be behind your over-indulgence. These may include:

• Impaired judgment: Once you’ve had a few drinks, your judgment is impaired, so you may choose to keep drinking even though you shouldn’t.
• Tolerance: Over time, if you drink regularly, you can develop tolerance, meaning that you need more alcohol to get the same effect.
• Withdrawal: With tolerance can come withdrawal when you stop drinking. As the alcohol starts to wear off, you may start to feel anxiety, which you may try to medicate by drinking more.
• Coping: You may be using alcohol to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression. Drinking can temporarily ease those symptoms, but when the alcohol wears off, they come back and are worse than before, which can lead to more drinking.
• Peer pressure: If you drink with friends, you may feel pressure to “keep up” and not be a “lightweight”.
• Brain changes: Regular, heavy drinking can alter neurotransmitters in your brain, making it difficult to feel pleasure without alcohol. This is a sign of alcohol dependence.

Do You Have an Alcohol Use Disorder?

An alcohol use disorder (AUD), commonly called alcohol addiction, is defined by 11 criteria specified in the Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. You can evaluate yourself based on these criteria to determine if you have a problem with alcohol that needs to be addressed.

The criteria are:

1. Drinking more than intended or for longer than intended
2. Wanting to reduce or stop alcohol use but not being able to
3. Spending excessive amounts of time drinking or recovering from drinking
4. Feeling cravings for alcohol
5. Failing to live up to responsibilities due to alcohol use
6. Having relationship problems because of alcohol use
7. Giving up activities that you enjoy in order to drink instead
8. Engaging in risky behaviors like driving while drinking or under the influence
9. Continuing to drink in spite of negative consequences like health issues
10. Needing more alcohol to get the same effects
11. Having withdrawal symptoms when you are not drinking

Having two to three of these symptoms indicates a mild AUD, four to five is considered moderate, while six or more is severe. Even a mild AUD should be treated, but your level will determine the intensity of the treatment that you need.

Treatment Options for Alcohol Use Disorder

If you determine that you have an AUD, several treatment options are available.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment for AUD can be a short-term detox program that lasts seven to ten days, or it can be a full program that lasts 30 to 90 days. The purpose of a detox program is to manage your withdrawal symptoms in a medically supervised setting to keep you safe and as comfortable as possible. It should not be a standalone treatment, and should be followed by some other form of inpatient or outpatient treatment.

A 30 to 90 day inpatient treatment program includes a period of detox, but also includes intensive therapy, both individually and in groups. You may also be treated for any co-occurring disorders that you may have, such as anxiety and depression. Medication may be part of the treatment.

Inpatient treatment is intensive, with most of your time generally spent in group therapy. Group therapy is critical to the treatment process, giving you the opportunity to share emotions, experiences, and challenges with peers. You’ll likely form mutually supportive relationships with some of these peers which may last beyond treatment.

Inpatient rehab is not for everyone. It’s generally for more severe AUDs, although it can be helpful for any level of addiction. For severe AUDs, it’s also generally followed by outpatient treatment of some kind.

Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs)

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) allows you to live at home while attending treatment for four to six hours per day, usually five days a week. The program may last anywhere from four weeks to ten weeks. The treatment consists of therapy similar to that of inpatient treatment, both in groups and individually. A PHP can still include medication for withdrawal and for co-occurring disorders.

More often than not, a PHP program is a transitional step that occurs after inpatient treatment, although it can be an alternative to inpatient treatment.

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)

An intensive outpatient program (IOP) consists of two to three hours of therapy several days a week for eight to twelve weeks. Often, sessions are held in the evenings so that you can still go to work or attend school. Treatment, again, involves individual and group cognitive behavioral therapy.

IOPs can be standalone treatments, or they can be attended after inpatient treatment, PHPs, or both.

Telehealth Treatment

Some treatment facilities now offer telehealth treatment options, both in a PHP or IOP format. This allows you to stay at home while still receiving effective therapy online through a video call. This option works well for people who do not have a treatment facility nearby. It is not a standalone treatment option for those who need medically supervised detox, but can follow an inpatient detox program.

Support Groups

Some people with AUDs don’t go to treatment at all but instead attend support group meetings through a program like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). While this may be effective for some people, again, it’s not a standalone for those who need medically supervised detox or who have a severe addiction. It can, however, complement other forms of treatment for everyone.

Comprehensive Treatment

The most effective treatment for AUDs, particularly if they are severe, is a comprehensive treatment program that consists of an inpatient program, a PHP, and an IOP. Research shows that success rates increase the longer the treatment program. Even after IOP, support should continue through support groups, individual therapy, or both. Recovery from alcohol addiction, or any addiction, is a lifelong process that requires dedication and a strong support network

In Closing

Several reasons can be behind drinking more than intended, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have an AUD. If, however, after some self-exploration, you determine that you may have an AUD, many treatment options are available. Bridges of Hope is here to help with several treatment programs. We are committed to providing comprehensive, compassionate, and individualized care to get you on the road to recovery. Reach out today to learn more.