Recovering alcoholic reveals the seven signs that casual drinking has turned into addiction

Warning: This article contains discussion of alcoholism which some readers may find distressing.

The holiday season is a time when many of us do just about everything to great excess, whether that's eating mince pies until we're fit to burst, or drinking regularly to get in the spirit of the season.

But if Christmas and New Year have left you wondering whether your taste for the hard stuff might be becoming problematic, January is a great month to reconsider how much alcohol you are consuming and make a resolution to change.

That being said, having a booze-heavy December does not make you into an alcoholic, but learning to spot some of the obvious red flags that your drinking is becoming an issue can let you know when to cut back and change your mindset.

A mental health advocate and recovering alcoholic, Alastair Stewart, has shared some signs that your drinking could be slipping into addiction, including what it means if you are thinking about your next tipple before you've even finished your first.

In a post on Instagram, Stewart explained: "Alcoholism often starts quietly, disguised as 'just social drinking'. But the small differences add up — and that’s when lives begin to unravel."

He broke down the seven signs of addiction from his perspective as a recovering alcoholic with his 200,000 followers, showing the difference in mindset between social drinkers and alcoholics.

Control vs compulsion

Deciding to have an alcoholic drink is fine, but if you feel a strong compulsion to get drunk that does not go away, it can be a sign that you're becoming addicted to drinking.

Stewart described the difference: "A social drinker can take it or leave it. An alcoholic feels a pull they can’t switch off."

Occasional vs obsessive

Enjoying a boozy night out is perfectly normal, but if you are already plotting which beers, spirits, or wines you're going to drink to get as drunk as possible, you might need to change your mindset.

Stewart said: "A social drinker might enjoy a night out. An alcoholic is already planning the next drink before the first one’s finished."

Fun vs escape

If your first thought when you're having a tough day or something bad happens is to get so drunk that you no longer feel anything, you could be using alcohol as a crutch to escape your problems - rather than dealing with them.

Stewart explained: "A social drinker drinks to celebrate. An alcoholic drinks to escape pain, numb feelings, or silence their mind."

Stops vs excuses

When all you really want is to have another drink, you will use any excuse to make it happen, or always be the person begging for people to stay out longer and drink more.

The mental health campaigner said: "A social drinker knows when enough is enough. An alcoholic always finds a reason why 'tonight doesn’t count'."

Impact vs destruction

Downfalls rarely happen all at once, but if you are drinking regularly you could slowly start to see it affect almost every aspect of your life. If you have developed an addiction to alcohol, it might not even be obvious until it's too late.

Stewart detailed the difference, noting: "A social drinker rarely sees life consequences. An alcoholic slowly loses relationships, health, money, and trust."

Choice vs dependence

Getting through the day is a struggle for most people at some point, but if you are dependent on booze to just make it to bedtime, you probably aren't a social drinker.

He explained: "A social drinker chooses when to drink. An alcoholic feels like they need it to function."

Hidden vs honest

If you are taking steps to cover up your drinking, on some level, you probably know that it's something that others would view as problematic. 'Normal' drinkers would not feel the need to hide what they're doing.

Stewart said: "A social drinker has no need to hide. An alcoholic often lies, hides bottles, and pretends 'everything is fine'."

If you've been affected by addiction and want to speak to someone in confidence, you can call American Addiction Centers on (888) 324-0595, available 24/7, or contact them through their website.