When having a stressful day, it’s normal to want to find something to relax and unwind with. Simply grabbing a glass of wine or beer seems harmless at first—until it leads to another glass and soon after, another. Something that seems like no big deal ends up being a bigger issue than anticipated.
What is Gray Area Drinking?
If you are concerned about your drinking or have even a slight suspicion that it might be getting out of hand, you might be in what’s called the gray area. Gray area drinking falls in between social drinking and harmful drinking. It’s drinking that doesn’t fully meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD) but still leads to negative consequences in health, relationships, or daily functioning [1,2].
We are the leading experts in alcohol addiction treatment in the Los Angeles, California area. Call us today to get started.
Signs and Symptoms of Gray Area Drinking
Slipping into gray area drinking can be hard to recognize, especially if it escalates gradually. Some behavioral, emotional, and social indicators may give you more insight into if you’re struggling with gray area drinking.
Some important signs to watch for are:
Behavioral Indicators
Some behavioral indicators of gray area drinking are the urge to drink in order to cope with stress and having difficulty stopping after “just one” drink. Additionally, if you are finding yourself having frequent binge drinking episodes, this can be a behavioral indicator, along with frequently drinking alone.
Emotional Patterns
When experiencing gray area drinking, there can be some emotional patterns that arise. Feelings of guilt, anxiety, or defensiveness can surface when having conversations about your alcohol use, either with yourself or others. Mental preoccupation, being absorbed with thoughts of drinking or buying alcohol, is a big indicator that there may be an issue.
The mental preoccupation can cause mental exhaustion from the constant thoughts and plans about having your next drink.
Social Impact
With gray area drinking, significant social implications can arise. This can show up in relationships by causing conflicts with loved ones with your drinking behavior creating stressors in your relationships, which are either ignored or poorly dealt with. Work performance issues can arise due to decreased productivity and lack of focus in the workplace. Even social isolation can occur if situations where alcohol isn’t involved – are avoided. Lastly, there can be financial consequences from regular spending on alcohol or associated costs that contribute to financial strain.
Health Impacts and Risks
The risks of gray area drinking may not be immediately apparent, but they can build up over time, impacting both physical and mental health [3].
Physical Health Consequences
There are health consequences to drinking alcohol and even participating in gray area drinking can have adverse effects. A common health consequence of consuming alcohol, even moderate levels of it, is harming your liver.
Sleep disruptions are also common since alcohol impairs sleep which can result in fatigue and cognitive difficulties. There can also be cardiovascular effects like heart disease, increased risk of high blood pressure, and stroke. Weight management can also be an issue since alcohol is calorie-dense and impacts metabolism, which can lead to weight gain.
Mental Health Implications
Many mental health implications exist since alcohol can worsen mental health issues like anxiety and depression, creating a harmful cycle of drinking to ease mental health issues, and heightened mental health symptoms leading to drinking alcohol. Excessive drinking can also harm your cognitive function. Effects of this are; impaired memory, concentration, and decision-making. Additionally, stress management becomes difficult since relying on alcohol to manage stress prevents the development of healthier coping mechanisms.
Related: What Alcohol Does to Your Brain
Long-Term Health Risks
When drinking for a long period of time, you risk developing an alcohol use disorder. This is due to a building dependency on alcohol, which can create long-term consequences. Ongoing drinking also increases the risk of severe liver or heart disease, both of which can develop into life-long chronic health conditions.
If you struggle with mental health conditions, long-term drinking can worsen them, which leads to further alcohol dependence. When this happens, it shows gradual mental health deterioration that leads to even bigger mental health symptoms to grapple with.
How People Get Stuck in Gray Area Drinking
Several factors contribute to how individuals get trapped in gray area drinking, including social, personal, and psychological influences.
Social and Cultural Factors
When reading about gray area drinking, many might think it’s easy to cease the issue and stop drinking entirely, but significant social and cultural factors influence this dependency.
In many cultures throughout the world, heavy drinking is normalized, which makes gray-area drinking seemingly less noticeable as an issue to others. There can also be a strong desire to fit in, which can lead you to drink more than you should, succumbing to social pressure. In many work environments, it’s encouraged to drink with your coworkers as a part of socializing and professional life. This makes work culture influence hard to resist.
Related: Why Do People Drink Alcohol?
Personal Challenges
Everyone goes through personal challenges, but for people with moderate drinking issues, using alcohol to ease stress can lead to problematic drinking down the line. You may turn to alcohol to numb any emotional pain or unresolved trauma from past experiences. If you possess mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem it can make alcohol seem like an easy way to cope with those difficult emotions.
Barriers to Seeking Help
Reaching out for help is one of the bravest things you can do, but some people struggling with alcohol use are unable to accomplish this step. Multiple factors can prevent you from reaching out, including stigma. There’s a preconception about how you will be viewed if you admit to yourself, or others, that you are struggling with gray-area drinking.
You may even be in denial about your drinking habits. Denial tends to be birthed from shame when you no longer want to acknowledge why the shame is surfacing. Another common barrier is downplaying drinking habits and ending up convincing yourself you don’t need help after all. There is also a level of uncertainty about alcohol addiction treatment due to the lack of education on what treatment options exist. These factors combined create delays in seeking professional help.
We understand that these barriers are very real and extremely difficult to navigate. That’s exactly why understanding your treatment options and their benefits can guide you to a better life.
Clear Behavioral Health’s Treatment Approach to Alcohol Abuse
At Clear Behavioral Health, we begin with a comprehensive assessment of your mental health, physical health, and drinking history. Our compassionate team will design an addiction treatment plan based on the information received. Prioritizing therapy techniques backed by science, coupled with your personal assessment creates the foundation for your alcohol addiction treatment plan.
Once this is completed, your treatment can go a few ways:
Alcohol Detox Services
We offer medically supervised alcohol detoxification to safely and comfortably manage alcohol withdrawal. The detox process normally takes anywhere from a few days, to up to a week. We aim to offer comfort during detox by using medication to manage your withdrawal symptoms and 24/7 professional care for any medical emergencies. Once the alcohol detox is complete, you will transition to a residential treatment center. It’s good to note that not every person has to go through detox, but if you do, you’ll have incredible support throughout it.
Related: The Importance of Withdrawal Management in the Recovery Process
Residential Rehab Treatment Center for Alcohol
Our residential treatment centers are in a home-like setting, that offers one-on-one therapy to get to the root of why you participate in gray area drinking and case management sessions to learn coping skills and develop a relapse prevention plan. Group therapy is also included so you have a space to connect with others who are also struggling with varying substance use disorders. We also provide holistic modalities like yoga, meditation, and more to help reconnect your body and mind during this transformative process.
Related: The Glow Up Journey: Using Residential Rehab and Alcohol Detox Facilities for Lasting Change
Outpatient Treatment Options
Outpatient treatment programs offer the same great methods such as one-on-one therapy, group therapy, and holistic modalities. The difference is not having to live in a residential treatment center, offering flexible scheduling. You’ll be able to learn life and coping skills and have continued support during your recovery.
Initially, when entering these treatment programs, you may face challenges like cravings, and physical or emotional discomfort. Over time you’ll likely notice improvements in your mental clarity, emotional stability, and overall health. Having a strong support system and coping strategies in place can make a big difference. This is why residential, or outpatient treatment programs are so critical to your alcohol recovery journey.
Related: 5 Benefits of Outpatient Rehab
Taking Action
Once you begin to recognize gray area drinking and its symptoms, it’s important to take steps to address it. Some individuals may benefit from therapy, support groups, or outpatient programs, while others may need medications to help reduce cravings. It’s important to find the approach that works best for you.
Gray area drinking is a complex and often overlooked issue that can have serious consequences. Identifying the signs and understanding the risks are the first steps toward making positive changes. You don’t have to silently watch gray area drinking worsen your life, there are professionals ready to help and listen.
Learn more about our alcohol treatment programs in the Los Angeles, California area. Reach out to our experts today.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you recognize yourself struggling with gray area drinking or progressing toward alcoholism and know you have to take that next step to begin your recovery, you don’t have to do it alone.
Contact Clear Behavioral Health today to learn more about our addiction treatment programs including alcohol detox, drug and alcohol rehab, and substance abuse outpatient programs located throughout the Los Angeles, California area as well as Gardena, CA, and Redondo Beach, CA.
We will be with you every step of the way, and every positive decision you make toward your future brings you closer to a healthier, more balanced life.
References:
- Alcohol use Disorder: A comparison between DSM–IV and DSM–5 | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (n.d.). https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-use-disorder-comparison-between-dsm
- Understanding Alcohol Drinking Patterns | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (n.d.). https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-drinking-patterns
- Alcohol, D. a. a. B. (2018, September 27). Global status report on alcohol and health 2018. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565639
