15 Signs You're Actually Dating An Alcoholic - Tips & Advice

It is possible to date an alcoholic without realizing it. There are certain signs to watch out for to know for sure that you are dating one. Find out here.

By Dagmar Thomson
15 Signs You're Actually Dating An Alcoholic - Tips & Advice

15 Signs you’re Actually Dating an Alcoholic: Tips and Advice

Many people like to kick back and have several drinks after a long day at work. You might know a friend or be dating someone who is in the first stages of alcoholism. You get a feeling that your friend or partner might be having a problem with alcohol. However, you cannot point out anything because the person is not major showing signs of alcoholism. Experts believe that alcoholism is a disease that is progressive. When an alcoholic continues to drink, the signs and symptoms become more obvious that he or she has a drinking problem. It is easy for you to recognize an alcoholic as a homeless person in the trench or a person begging for loose change to buy a bottle. However, he or she did not initially show all the obvious signs of an alcoholic. The person became an alcoholic long before he or she lost everything and ended up on the streets. The person’s alcoholism may have developed for some time. He or she did not just wake up one day and become an alcoholic. This means that it is not so obvious to recognize an alcoholic. It is not obvious in the early stages that someone is an alcoholic, but there are telltale signs if you know what you are looking for. Here are some of the signs that will let you know you are dating an alcoholic.

1. Your Partner’s Life Revolves Around Alcohol

When your partner only attends events where alcohol is available it means that you are dating an alcoholic. Your partner will hang out with friends who drink and avoid those who do not. He or she would rather go to a game where alcohol is allowed, like a college game, than go to a game where there is no alcohol, like a Little League game. Your partner can agree to go for an occasional movie but he or she cannot wait to leave and go have a drink. This is one of the signs that you are dating an alcoholic.

2. He or She Drinks to Release Stress

The definition of DONE! #random #drunk #done #bk

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When you find that your partner drinks when he or she is happy or mad, it is one of the signs that you are dating an alcoholic. Your partner finds a reason to drink even when celebrating the smallest stuff or when he or she is stressed. He or she is using alcohol to cope with the ups and downs of life. Alcohol is a crutch for your partner and he or she uses it to deal with his or her emotions. Alcohol means more to him or her than other things.

3. He or She Never Gets Drunk

You are dating an alcoholic when you find that he or she can take several drinks without showing any signs of getting drunk. It means that he or she has become accustomed to alcohol and it will take more than two drinks for him or her to feel the effects of the alcohol. If you drink together with your partner, you will feel the effects of the alcohol long before he or she thinks about taking it slow. This should tell you that your partner is an alcoholic.

4. One’s Character Changes after Drinking

Even though your partner might not be drunk after several drinks, his or her moods might start to change after drinking. He or she will change from being a sweet and kind person and become mean. The person can even become abusive physically or verbally. This is one of the signs that you are dating an alcoholic. If he or she was a quiet person, he or she will change and become violent and loud. When an alcoholic person is sober, he or she rarely shows any emotions but that changes the minute he or she starts drinking.

5. One Gets Easily Irritated

If you find that your partner is okay when he or she has a drink but gets easily irritated when he or she has not drunk for some time, this is a sign that you are dating an alcoholic. Your partner will become angry at the slightest aggravation or none at all. Whenever he or she is sober, you find it hard to have a good conversation because he or she is easily irritable.

6. Your Partner Drinks at Any Time

You are dating an alcoholic when he or she drinks at any time without planning to. Your partner can tell you that he or she is not going to drink but the minute he or she is with friends who are drinking, their mind changes. He or she can tell you that it is going to be only one drink but ends up drinking more. Your partner will find any excuse to go and drink like starting an argument that leads them to the bar. This should tell you that the person you are dating is an alcoholic.

7. Your Partner Does Not Stick To One Brand

Most social drinkers have a particular brand that they prefer and they will always stick to it. If they find that their brand is unavailable, they do not drink or go elsewhere to look for it. This is not the case when it comes to alcoholics. An alcoholic does not have a specific brand. He or she will drink whatever is available. When an alcoholic has a lot of money, he or she will drink the expensive brands. However, when he or she is low on cash, the cheapest brand will be his or her pick. An alcoholic will never stop drinking regardless of the brand available. Therefore, if your partner behaves in this manner, you should know that you are dating an alcoholic.

8. Your Partner Has Problems Due To Drinking

People who have problems due to drinking or those that have humiliated themselves when drunk will always swear that they will stop drinking. However, he or she will continue to get drunk despite having many problems. If your partner has lost a job because of going to work drunk several times, it means you are dating an alcoholic.

9. Your Partner Is Always Able To Get Alcohol

If your partner never has enough money to go out but can easily get alcohol, it is a sign that he or she is an alcoholic. An alcoholic will even avoid buying something he or she needs if it will prevent him or her from getting alcohol. When your partner avoids financial obligations and even goes to a friend’s place to get alcohol, it shows that you are dating an alcoholic.

10. Your Partner’s Family Has a History of Alcoholism

People whose families have a history of alcoholism are at a high risk of becoming alcoholics compared to the general population. If you are dating someone you suspect is an alcoholic, you should find out about his or her family. If you find out that someone in your partner’s family was an alcoholic and your partner is showing signs of alcohol problems, then know that he or she might end up being an alcoholic.

11. Your Partner Ruins Events

Alcoholics normally drink to get rid of their nerves. Events like family reunions, weddings, and even holidays make most of us nervous and you can find even yourself having a drink to calm your nerves. However, when you find your partner drinking to the extent of embarrassing you and spoiling the event, know that you are dating an alcoholic. An alcoholic will never ignore an open bar and this will lead to embarrassing scenes.

12. Your Partner Does Not Take Care of Himself or Herself

When your partner neglects how he or she looks and is only concerned about drinking, then you are dating an alcoholic. An alcoholic does not care about personal hygiene or that his or her apartment looks like hurricane Katrina passed through it. He or she will be more concerned with where to get the next drink.

13. Your Partner Pukes When Drunk

This is normal for most people but when a person gets to a certain age, it should not happen often. If your partner constantly pukes every time he or she drinks, it means that he or she is an alcoholic. An alcoholic tends to puke a lot because their body is trying to tell them that it has had enough.

14. Your Partner Drinks Alone

When your partner always loves to drink alone and does not want to have any company, it means he or she is an alcoholic. An alcoholic tends to feel like other people are preventing him or her from enjoying a drink.

15. Your Partner Drinks to Relieve Boredom

#vino #niceevening #friends #aldo #food #drunk #fun #stripes #hugo

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If your partner drinks to get rid of boredom, it means that he or she is using alcohol to pass time. An alcoholic will use excuses like boredom or loneliness to drink instead of doing other things to pass the time.

Tips and Advice for Dating or Helping an Alcoholic

Everyone makes mistakes one time in their life and what you learn from them will determine if you get up or drown. Alcoholics or recovering alcoholics are among those who are learning from their mistakes. Therefore, if you are dating one of these people you are likely to have difficulties in your relationship. You need advice and tips on how to handle an alcoholic or a recovering alcoholic. Here are a few tips and some advice to help your relationship.

1) Gather Information

If you are dating an alcoholic or a recovering alcoholic, you need information on the problem. You need to gather tips and be advised about the problem, which will help you to handle an alcoholic or a recovering one. You can even ask a mental health professional for advice, tips, and suggestions on how to help your partner stay on the right path.

2) Support Groups

If your friend or partner wants to avoid alcohol, you can suggest that they join a support group. A support group like Alcoholics Anonymous will advise your friend or partner on how to move past alcoholism. You will also be helped to handle your friend or partner by being given suggestions of what to do and be advised on the dos and don’ts when it comes to alcoholism.

3) Be mindful

When you want to hang out with your friend or partner who is an alcoholic, you need to be mindful of the places you meet. Do not ask to meet in a place with alcohol. Make sure that you are the one to make the suggestions or make sure that the suggestions your partner or friend makes is not near a bar. You should also not drink in front of an alcoholic; it will only trigger their thirst. Advise your friends and those close to your partner or friend to be mindful of them. Dating an alcoholic will change your opinion on relationships. If you want to stay in the relationship, you need to find ways to cope with the situation. If you cannot stand it, then just walk away and look for a healthier relationship that you are ready for.

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