When I Knew I Had a Problem with Alcohol: The Subtle Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

When Did I Know I Had a Problem with Alcohol?

I get asked a lot of questions about my recovery and my fit lifestyle, but the one that comes up the most is:

“When did you first know you had a problem with alcohol?”

For me, the answer is personal.
It wasn’t just one rock-bottom moment — it was a pattern. A gradual shift where alcohol stopped being a choice and started feeling like a need.

And here’s the truth:

That’s often the common thread with substance abuse and addiction — the moment it stops being optional and starts feeling essential.

Here Are Some Signs to Watch For:

✅ Counting down the hours to “wine o’clock” during the day
✅ Spending your weekends with a glass in hand — start to finish
✅ Feeling like you can’t attend social events without a drink
✅ Using alcohol regularly to relax or de-stress
✅ Experiencing blackouts or memory lapses after drinking
✅ Turning to alcohol when you’re overwhelmed or upset
✅ Drinking alone, sometimes in secrecy
✅ Mood swings or anxiety when you’re not drinking
✅ Choosing to drink over meeting your responsibilities
✅ Celebrating everything as a reason to pop a bottle — even the smallest things

As a society, we’ve normalized alcohol so much that it’s hard to spot the red flags.
It’s at every event. Every gathering. Every celebration.
Which makes it even harder to acknowledge when you might have a problem — and even harder to choose a different path when drinking is the expectation.

One campaign that really stuck with me asked a simple, powerful question:

“What is your relationship with alcohol?”

That question changed everything for me.

If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, or other mental health challenges, you might be more at risk of turning to alcohol to cope.

And in today’s post-COVID world, with all its pressure, loss, uncertainty, and noise — it’s no wonder so many are struggling to cope in silence.

You’re not alone.

And you don’t have to wait until everything falls apart to make a change.

Ready to Reclaim Your Power and Redefine Your Relationship with Alcohol?

My 6-Month Mentorship Program is designed to help women just like you — women who are curious about what life could look like without relying on alcohol to get through the day.

✅ Personalised, private mentorship
✅ Tools to manage emotions without turning to a drink
✅ Real support for building confidence, energy, and self-trust
✅ No judgment. Just progress.

You don’t have to label yourself. You don’t have to be “rock bottom.”
You just have to be ready to explore a different path — one where you are in control.

👉 Click here to learn more about the Mentorship Program and take your first step today