Warning: This article contains discussion of alcoholism which some readers may find distressing.
A woman has revealed a warning sign she noticed over the festive season which made her realise that her relationship with alcohol was dysfunctional.
Drink is often a big part of Christmas celebrations, whether it's a glass of fizz or a glug of Baileys in your coffee that gets earlier and earlier each day.
When it's such a normalised part of celebrations, it can be hard to know what's normal and what's not.
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One social media content creator shared the moment she realised she had an issue.
The signs of functional alcoholism can be difficult to notice, especially if everyone else is hitting the booze too and downing shots or drinking Christmas pints.
TikToker Isabelle Hawkins shared a throwback photo and said: "This is the moment I probably should've realised that drink was going to become a problem for me later in life."
It was the Baileys coffee that became a big problem for Isabelle.
She realised she could pour a lot into a mug without anybody noticing or frowning upon it.
"I would fill my mug up half with Baileys and then with just like a little bit of hot water on top of it, I was just having a massive mug of Baileys," she said.
The TikToker revealed there was an emotional connection to alcohol, revealing: "I loved the feeling of having alcohol in my system so much because when I drank I felt better.
"Just from a very young age was very excited by the idea of being able to be drunk at all times of the day."
Sadly for Isabelle, things 'got really out of control' as she started drinking earlier and earlier in the day to deal with hangovers and anxiety.
"I just found myself looking for all the opportunities that there might be to drink as early as possible in the day," she admitted.
Other warning signs which could suggest you're developing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol that are more visible over the festive season include regular drinking binges and opting for social situations which tend to involve alcohol.
"Alcohol is often a bigger struggle in winter, partly because it’s so accessible and seen as a 'warming' comfort on cold days," Jamie Giles, Director of Outpatient Services at Castle Health, told LADbible.
"There’s also the social side of alcohol, with winter gatherings, parties, and pub outings making it easy to drink heavily."
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: Alcohol, Christmas, Health, Mental Health, Food And Drink
Jen Thomas