How to know when drinking stops being ‘Normal’ and starts needing support.
“Am I Drinking Too Much?”
If you’re asking the question, the answer might matter more than you think.
Maybe your drinking doesn’t look like a problem. You still go to work. You take care of your kids. You haven’t “hit rock bottom.” But something feels… off. Maybe it’s the way you drink alone, or how anxious you feel when you try to stop. Or maybe someone’s mentioned it, and now you’re wondering.
This page is here to help you make sense of that quiet voice in your head – the one asking if it’s time to get help.
What Are the Signs I Might Need Help?
You don’t need to be falling apart to be struggling. Here are some signs that your relationship with alcohol might be unhealthy:
Emotional Signs
- You feel anxious, low, or irritable when you’re not drinking
- You rely on alcohol to “take the edge off” or to feel like yourself
- You drink after arguments, stress, or emotional triggers
Behavioural Signs
- You find it hard to stop once you start
- You hide how much you drink or feel ashamed of it
- You drink alone more often than socially
- You’ve tried to cut down, but it didn’t stick
Physical Signs
- You’re feeling tired, shaky, or unwell after drinking
- You’re waking up in the night or sweating
- You’ve started drinking earlier in the day
- Your tolerance has increased
You don’t have to tick every box. Even one or two of these might mean it’s time to pause and look deeper. If you still need convincing, head over to our signs of alcohol addiction page.
When Does Drinking Cross the Line?
There isn’t one. Alcohol addiction doesn’t always arrive with a crash. Sometimes it creeps in slowly disguised as stress, burnout, loneliness, or even celebration.
What matters isn’t how your drinking compares to someone else’s.
What matters is how it’s affecting you:
- Your health
- Your relationships
- Your work or finances
- Your ability to feel okay without it
If alcohol is starting to feel like something you need rather than something you enjoy, that’s a signal worth listening to.
Why It’s So Hard to Admit You Need Help
Because we live in a culture where drinking is everywhere.
It’s how we socialise. Unwind. Celebrate. Cope.
It can feel like admitting “I need help” means admitting failure, weakness, or being that kind of person.
You’re not. You’re human. And if you’re even thinking about asking for help, you’re already showing strength.
H2: What Happens If I Don’t Get Help?
Everyone’s story is different, but here’s what we see over and over again:
- Drinking escalates. Tolerance goes up. Mental health goes down.
- Relationships suffer. Communication breaks down. Trust is lost.
- Your body begins to show it. Sleep, liver, blood pressure, anxiety, depression.
- Your life shrinks. The things that used to matter start to fade.
But here’s the other side of that:
When you get help early, the turnaround is faster. The damage is less. The healing begins sooner.
You Don’t Have to Be “Bad Enough” to Get Help
At Abbington House, we work with people from all walks of life, many of whom never saw themselves as “addicts.”
They’re:
- Professionals holding down high-pressure jobs
- Parents overwhelmed by stress and coping quietly
- People with anxiety, ADHD, or unresolved trauma
- Men and women whose drinking never looked like the stereotype
You don’t have to fall apart before you reach out. You just have to be ready to feel better.
When to Reach Out for Support
Here’s the truth:
If you’ve been googling “am I drinking too much?”
If you’ve tried to cut down but couldn’t
If someone you trust has expressed concern
If alcohol feels more like a crutch than a choice
If you’re scared but curious about what life without it might feel like…
Then it might be time to talk to someone. Even just to explore it.
How We Can Help at Abbington House
We’re a trauma-informed, private alcohol rehab centre in Hertfordshire. Our team offers:
- Free, no-pressure phone assessments
- Personalised detox and rehab plans
- Support for dual diagnosis (ADHD, anxiety, depression)
- A warm, nurturing environment, not a hospital
- Aftercare planning for long-term healing
Whether you live in Stevenage, St Albans, Hatfield, or anywhere near Hertfordshire, we’re here to support you or a loved one.
Not Ready for Rehab? That’s Okay Too.
We can still help.
Sometimes, the first step is just a conversation. One that doesn’t pressure you to decide today, but gives you clarity and space to explore.
You’re Asking for a Reason
You wouldn’t be on this page if something in you didn’t already know.
So here’s the next gentle step:
📞 Call us for a confidential chat
📚 Or keep reading, thinking, and feeling it through
You’re not alone and you’re not too late, but you don’t need to hit rock bottom to deserve help.
