Warning: This article contains discussion of alcoholism which some readers may find distressing.
A content creator who has overcome his alcohol addiction has explained what drinkers may not know about their habit.
Corey Warren is known for his sobriety content, having been an alcoholic in the past.
Garnering hundreds of thousands across his social media channels, he makes content about his previous struggles and how he managed to turn 'pain into purpose'.
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Corey has since started a non-profit organisation which helps those struggling with substance abuse, while also running several businesses, being a proud husband and father to two.
He has previously explained how to tell if you've got a drinking problem, with the issue being more nuanced than most think.
On a recent episode of his 'Sober Boyz Podcast', he explained: "Everybody thinks that the cost to alcohol is your health, hangovers, and money. But the real cost is much more dangerous, and it's more normal than that," before delving into some of the ways the habit can be a hindrance.
Health
He opened up on the 'hidden cost' of drinking regularly, going beyond long-term health issues, though he did explain that these effects can't be overlooked.
Explaining that this isn't just for those who get 'blackout drunk', one of Corey's co-hosts explained: "No matter what you drink, how much you drink, or how long your drink, there are negative health consequences to that.
"Any any form of alcohol is going to affect your sleep."
They went on: "It's going to affect your health negatively. It will mess with your hormone levels, your ability to lose fat, gain muscle, and it doesn't immediately show," adding that it can 'eat away at you slowly'.
Lowering your life standards
Speaking on the podcast, Corey said: "What it's doing in your life though that I don't think anybody really talks about, is it is lowering the bar. It is lowering your standard for life."
The US content creator spoke about wanting the best for his children and wanting to invest in their hopes and dreams, as he asked: "At what point did we stop thriving?"
Believing that alcohol may have played a part, he went on: "Waking up with a hangover is not normal, that is not good. You are not thriving.
"You are not healthy, you are not productive. You probably missed that day at the gym because you were hungover, you probably veged out and ate McDonald's, which you probably shouldn't have ate," he said as an example.
He concluded: "So you spent money and you ate like crap. So there's a double whammy to your life right there."
Leaves you at '60 percent capacity'
Linking to the last point, Corey began: "It's not just at the money or the big health problems like liver disease and cancer and all the other stuff...
"I'm talking about the fact that right now you are living at about 60% capacity."
His co-host explained that there's a difference between functioning and thriving, going on: "When you are drinking regularly, you are functioning. You're not living up to your potential. You are not at your peak health.
"You are not physically fit. You are not doing these things that you need to be doing on a daily basis that you could be caring for."
They believe that even 'two, three or four drinks' at the weekend can 'add up'.
Behavioural cost
Corey said this is a big one, admitting: "Alcohol makes you call that girl that you know damn well you shouldn't be calling.
"You're calling your ex. You're texting that person. I mean, how many bad decisions do we make?"
Speaking about how much time and money you waste, as one of the co-hosts joked about spendin $62 at Taco Bell without eating anything.
Corey admitted that he 'says things I don't mean' when he's drinking, including to people he loves, such as his wife.
"I hurt people that I don't want to hurt, but I do it because I'm drunk. I text people that I shouldn't because I'm drunk," the content creator added.
What are the signs of alcohol dependency?
According to Drink Aware, alcohol dependence doesn't always mean that someone is drinking extreme levels of alcohol, and anyone who regularly drinks could be considered dependent.
HSE lists a few symptoms as being:
- Drinking has become an important, or the most important, thing in life
- Finding it hard to control how much, or when, you drink
- Finding it hard to stop drinking when you want to
- Craving alcohol or having withdrawal symptoms, and drinking to avoid these symptoms
While not an official diagnosis, a high-functioning alcoholic is a colloquial term for someone who is dependent on alcohol, but is still relatively functional in their daily life.
Once someone with alcohol use disorder accepts their condition, they can consider treatments and if that is therapy or residential inpatient care.
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Topics: Mental Health, Alcohol, Health, Food And Drink
Joshua Nair