I Hate Myself for Drinking Too Much

Alcohol is tightly woven into our entire culture and can be pretty hard to avoid. You may regularly attend events where heavy drinking is the norm, and end up overdoing it. What follows are feelings of shame and remorse for not having more control over your drinking. If you hear yourself often thinking, “I hate myself for drinking too much,” then maybe it’s time to listen.

Do I Have a Drinking Problem?

Sometimes it’s obvious when someone has a problem with alcohol. They get intoxicated and end up acting in a manner that is unbecoming and downright embarrassing. Others seem to have a much stronger tolerance to the effects of alcohol. They can drink large amounts of alcohol and hardly seem affected at all.

Believe it or not, it’s the latter group that is at higher risk of becoming alcoholics. They wind up drinking more than others because it takes more to get the desired effects. The sheer level of consumption can open the door to dependence or addiction.

What Are the Signs of Alcoholism?

If you are curious about whether you have a drinking problem, consider how many of these questions your answer “yes” to:

• Do you drink more or for a longer period than you intended?
• Have you tried to cut down on alcohol, or stop drinking, but couldn’t?
• Do you spend a lot of time drinking, or getting over its after effects?
• Do you ever want to drink so badly that you cannot think of anything else?
• Does your drinking prevent you from taking care of your daily responsibilities at home or at work?
• Do you continue to drink even though it is causing distress in your relationships?
• Have you chosen drinking over spending time on activities you used to enjoy?
• Has your drinking caused you to endanger your health or wellbeing through impulsive or reckless actions?
• Do you have memory blackouts?
• Do you continue to drink even though it makes you depressed or anxious?
• Do you have to drink more alcohol to get the effects you desire?
• Do you experience withdrawal symptoms when the effects of the alcohol wear off?

Your alcohol problem is assessed based on the number of questions you replied to with yes.

Why Do I Hate Myself for Drinking Too Much?

If you are hard on yourself after a night of drinking, stop to ask yourself why. What are the emotions that cause you to hate yourself after a night of partying? What was the cost of drinking so much?

Some of the negative emotions might include:

• Shame. When intoxicated we aren’t always on our best behavior. Maybe you insulted someone or mistreated someone while under the influence.
• Guilt. You may have broken a promise to someone you care about. They may have asked you not to get drunk, and now that you did you feel guilty.
• Embarrassment. When drinking heavily it is common to act in ways that are not very dignified. You may have been at a work function and made a fool of yourself, and now feel embarrassed.
• Fear. You may have gotten a DUI arrest or done something foolish to put your job or your marriage in jeopardy. You feel fear because of the consequences of heavy drinking.

How Drinking Affects People in Your Life

One of the main reasons for hating yourself after drinking too much is letting someone down. Maybe you are a parent who forgot to pick up your child from school or daycare because you passed out. Maybe your heavy drinking has led to money problems or job loss.

An alcohol problem can be very damaging to relationships. As the habit becomes entrenched, all that matters is drinking. This means your relationships take a back seat to alcohol.

Why Do I Resist When I Know I Need to Quit Drinking?

One of the hardest things to do is to admit you have a drinking problem and need to quit. Even if you know in your brain that your drinking is out of control, it can be very hard to get past denial. Men in particular have a difficult time admitting they may have a drinking problem, so they become adept at denial.

Sometimes, even when the drinking is starting to cause major problems in life, you still cling to alcohol. This can happen when you use alcohol as a means of coping with stress, anxiety, boredom, or depression. When you depend on alcohol to suppress these emotional states, it is called self-medicating.

How to Quit Drinking

If you are sick of hating yourself for drinking too much, why not seek support to help you stop? Once the drinking has become habitual, it is very hard to quit on your own. Here are the steps to take to turn your life around:

1. Join a detox program. In most cases, you will need to begin your journey to sobriety via detox and withdrawal. A medical detox team will assist you during this process and help to minimize the withdrawal symptoms.
2. Enroll in rehab. Without treatment, you would just fall right back into the drinking habit. Rehab should immediately follow the detox. Rehab includes individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, education, holistic methods, and a 12-step program.
3. Engage in aftercare. After completing rehab you will learn to sustain sobriety through outpatient therapy and joining a local A.A. or SMART Recovery. Some people benefit from staying in sober living for a while after treatment for the added support.

If you are ready to stop drinking and feeling so bad about yourself, go ahead and reach out for help. You will not regret it.

Executive 7 Day Detox Can Help You Quit Drinking

Executive 7 Day Detox can help you take the first steps toward your goal of quitting drinking. If you hear yourself saying, “I hate myself for drinking too much,” it is time to take charge of your life. Call us today at (877) 959-7807.