Why Alcohol Feels Harder to Control Over Time and What Actually Helps?

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not replace expert medical or mental health advice. Alcohol use requires a clinical assessment by a licensed clinician. So, always reach out to a board-certified physician or mental health specialist for diagnosis and treatment. For more urgent/emergency needs, call 9-1-1 in the U.S., or your local emergency number.

For many, alcohol becomes a way to celebrate or unwind. Sometimes, occasionally; sometimes, daily. But when drinking becomes more frequent and tied to different reasons, it becomes difficult to control and begins impacting daily life, relationships, and responsibilities.

It does not happen overnight, but it is more common than many realize. If you are finding alcohol consumption harder to control, we will explore the reasons and understand what can benefit you going forward.

What Are the Signs Alcohol Feels Harder to Control?

Here are some signs that drinking alcohol feels harder to control:

– You are drinking more frequently and in greater quantities than planned

– You have tried to cut back, but it has not been successful

– You spend a lot of time acquiring, drinking, and recovering from alcohol use

– You may be prioritizing alcohol use over your loved ones, responsibilities, and other activities

– You hide or lie to your loved ones

– Your loved ones have noticed and expressed concern

– You experience tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.

You do not need to have all of these signs to know that alcohol is beginning to feel harder to control. But understanding these signs is some early warning flags that alcohol has crept into your life more heavily than you have previously considered.

Why Does Alcohol Feel Harder to Control Over Time?

Reasons why alcohol feels harder to control over time are both physical and psychological. 

On a physical level, alcohol is a psychoactive substance that targets your brain chemistry and functioning. It disrupts the equilibrium between the chemical messengers in the brain and increases tolerance – which means you will need higher quantities of alcohol to experience the desired effects over time.

On a psychological level, alcohol becomes a way to celebrate or unwind – as a lifestyle factor or as a way to cope with the challenges of life. It relaxes you temporarily, so a person keeps going back to it more and more as an unhealthy coping mechanism to numb the pain and suffering within.

What Are the Changes You Can Make to Cut Back On Alcohol?

If you are noticing a few or more signs that alcohol is becoming harder to control, then here are a few changes you can make in your life to cut back on alcohol:

• Notice how much you drink and under which circumstances. Do not judge yourself, just observe. Maintain a journal if you want to.
• Once you notice how much you drink and under which circumstances, you can set limits and learn to manage or avoid the circumstances in other ways. For instance, if you drink at social events because your peers are forcing you to, then you can say something like “I have an early morning,” or “I am the designated driver tonight.”
• Explore other ways you can enjoy or relax without alcohol. For instance, focusing on your interests and exploring exercise or mindfulness are some ways you can relax in a healthy way without alcohol.
• Consider Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART Recovery meetings. These are peer communities where you can meet and learn from those who have faced similar struggles with alcohol. It is a safe setting for you to explore if you want to cut down on drinking or journey toward sobriety.
• Speak to a licensed counselor or psychotherapist. When things are getting difficult to manage on your own, speaking to someone can offer clarity on how you can get out of these problematic patterns.

Why Early Structure Can Be Useful?

Typically, alcohol-related problems are connected with crises or breakdowns. But it does not have to be this way. Reaching out early can provide the structure you need to regain stability in your life.

When you are unable to stick to your limits or cut down on alcohol on your own and notice that the same patterns keep repeating over and over again, structured care options might be useful for you.

Seeking structured care does not mean stepping away from your life. Outpatient options like partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs offer both structure and flexibility so that you can focus on your recovery while also staying connected to your daily life, loved ones, and responsibilities. You receive services such as:

– Individual and group therapy

– Psychiatric consultations and medication management (if required)

– Coping and life skills training

– Whole person healing practices like nutrition, sleep, exercise, meditation, mindfulness, etc

– Relapse prevention

– Dual diagnosis treatment for alcohol use and co-occurring mental health challenges

– Aftercare planning.

This is why reaching out early is the key. It prevents your drinking from worsening and also minimizes the need to seek higher levels of care that require hospitalization or something similar.

You Do Not Have to Navigate This On Your Own

If alcohol feels harder to control than it used to, do not neglect this feeling – there is a reason you are feeling this way, and there is a way forward.

You do not have to figure the way forward on your own – speaking to licensed and experienced clinicians at the Skyline Recovery Center, who will sit with you to understand your challenges and goals, can offer clarity on where you stand and what your recovery options can be going forward. 

Speaking to someone who understands does not mean committing to anything you do not want to right away. It is to provide you with the information you need so that you can make decisions regarding your recovery on your own time.