Alcohol Abuse: When Should I Be Worried, and Who Can Help?
When we experience a traumatic bereavement such as suicide loss, turning to alcohol to numb our feelings can be an understandable response. While we would never suggest turning to alcohol as a way to cope, we want to validate that it is a deeply human reaction. Grief often sends our nervous system into a state of hyperarousal or disconnection, making it difficult to gain any sense of balance or clarity. As a depressant, alcohol can temporarily dull overwhelming emotions, memories and images, and therefore offer a temporary coping mechanism which allows us to regain a sense of perceived control.
When should I be worried?
We are all exposed to alcohol on a daily basis through the media, social gatherings and even at work events, which can often make it harder to work out when we have fallen out of a "normal" level of consumption. Alcohol dependency can manifest through both physical and psychological signs, which usually develop gradually. Withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, shaking, nausea or anxiety when not drinking are more obvious signals of addiction, while experiencing cravings, prioritizing alcohol over other responsibilities and feeling like you need a drink to get through the day can be more subtle signs. If you are concerned about how much you have been drinking lately, it's important to seek support – this could mean talking to a trusted friend or family member, or a professional such as a therapist or your local GP.
How to monitor your Drinking
Mindfulness is a helpful way to understand whether your alcohol consumption is becoming an unhelpful coping mechanism. One way of being mindful of consumption is by tracking your intake, being mindful of why you are drinking, and thinking about the emotion or situation that is driving you to drink. Write these feelings down when they occur, and think about what was happening just before this to understand what your triggers might be.
There are many services out there that can support you with alcohol addiction, from the NHS to local charities. To find the most localised support, search "alcohol addiction" on Hub of Hope, an online network of nationwide resources listed by postcode. For more generalised support, please see below.
We Are With You: offers advice on managing alcohol use, as well as a live chat. The charity has a self-help toolkit for people who want to try and manage their alcohol intake and improve their relationship with alcohol.
Drinkline: a free and confidential helpline for anyone concerned about their alcohol use. 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm).
Al-Anon: one of the most long-standing peer support services for addiction, Al-Anon offers support via a helpline on 0800 9177 650. The organisation also offers a live chat on its website, and support can be accessed via email too (help@aamail.org). Local support groups are available for anyone who would prefer to meet in person.
SMART Recovery: online and face-to-face meetings for anyone engaging in any additive behaviour which they themselves see as harmful or unsustainable.
Addiction Family Support: supports people who have been affected by others' dependence on drugs, alcohol, or gambling.
If you'd like a space to talk about how your grief has impacted your alcohol consumption, please reach out to our support team on 0800 054 8400 or email support@suicideandco.org to be connected to one of our emotional supporters.