Are you a grey area drinker?
grey area drinking scale: the spectrum of drinking behaviors that fall between social drinking and severe alcohol dependence. It includes individuals who may not meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder but still experience negative impacts from their drinking habits.
The following indicators may suggest that your drinking patterns fall within the grey-area drinking spectrum:
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Your drinking is problematic but not fully dependent: Your drinking causes negative consequences in your life (e.g., anxiety, regrets, strained relationships, poor sleep, decreased productivity), but you may not experience the severe physical dependence or loss of control associated with Alcohol Use Disorder.
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You use alcohol as a coping mechanism: You rely on alcohol to manage stress, anxiety, boredom, or social situations.
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You break your own rules: You might set limits for their drinking but frequently exceed them.
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You hide consumption: You hide how much you actually drink from others.
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You are "functional" but not thriving: From the outside, you might appear to be managing their lives, but internally, you know alcohol is taking more than it's giving.
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Alcohol is at the center of your social activities or relaxation rituals.
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Preoccupation: Even when you're not drinking, you often find yourself thinking about when and how you'll have your next drink.
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You wake up feeling regretful or guilty about how much you drank the night before, even if there were no obvious negative consequences like a hangover or bad decisions.