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When New Year's Eve arrives, many people think back to the previous 12 months, as well as also think forward to the coming year. Doing so can be useful in a number of ways, but if you're someone who occasionally has an inkling that he or she has problems with alcohol, it's worthwhile to use this time to reflect on your drinking. Where your drinking is concerned, a lot can change in a year, and taking some time to honestly evaluate your relationship with alcohol can indicate whether it might be time to ask for help. If this is the case, speak to some trusted family members about getting into an alcohol treatment center. Here are some ways to reflect on your use of alcohol over the previous year.

Frequency Of Drinking

Think back over the previous 12 months and try to assess how frequently you drank versus the previous calendar year. One sign of an alcohol problem is that it progresses, so it should concern you if you see such a trend. For example, if you drank every day over the past year, but drank only four or five times a week the previous year, you might justifiably wonder if your relationship with alcohol is taking a turn for the worse.

Number Of Blackout Incidents

One issue that many alcohol abusers encounter is blacking out from drinking. While some people associate such behavior with younger drinkers at parties, the reality is that a person of any age can struggle in this area. Try to assess the number of blackout or near-blackout moments that you experienced this year versus last year. Even a few blackouts over the most recent 12 months is cause for concern. Looking into an alcohol treatment center would be a wise decision, especially if you can't recall such a moment occurring during the previous year. 

Presence Of Alcohol-Related Conflicts

One of the negative aspects of drinking is that it often brings about conflicts in a variety of different ways. Fights with loved ones, problems at work, and even run-ins with the law are all possible when you have a drinking problem. The presence of these conflicts from year to year can often indicate whether your alcohol use is getting more serious. For example, perhaps you and your spouse argued about your drinking weekly this year, but the topic rarely came up the previous year. If it's clear to you that your problem is worsening, alcohol treatment might be the right choice for you.

For more information, contact a company like Rivendell Recovery Center today.