Alcohol dependence doesn’t always begin with excess - it often starts as a coping mechanism. When actor Janhvi Kapoor shared that she “felt the need to just get drunk,” it struck a chord far beyond celebrity culture. Speaking on the podcastFiguring Outwith Raj Shamani, the 29-year-old described how alcohol became a frequent coping mechanism after a traumatic experience - highlighting a truth many people overlook: alcohol dependence often begins quietly, not dramatically.
I would not say I was addicted or abusing alcohol, but I was drinking frequently. And this was after a very traumatic experience in my life. I felt the need to just like, ‘I need to get drunk,” she said.
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Janhvi clarified that she wouldn’t label her behaviour as addiction - but admitted to drinking frequently to cope. This distinction is important. Many people assume alcohol dependence only exists at extreme levels, but experts say the early stages are often subtle.
Emotional drinking – which means using alcohol to deal with stress, trauma, or discomfort- is one of the strongest predictors of long-term dependency. It shifts alcohol from a social choice to a psychological need.
One of the most powerful insights she shared was how realisation doesn’t always come as a dramatic breaking point. Sometimes, there are small but unsettling signals, which include waking up feeling physically and mentally drained, not liking how your body feels after drinking, associating alcohol with negative memories, and recognising patterns that resemble someone else’s addiction.
Janhvi described experiencing a familiar smell that reminded her of someone in her life who struggled with addiction - a deeply personal trigger that made her reflect on her own habits. These “quiet alarms” are often the body and mind asking for change.
Many subtle signs in your behavious indicate that alcohol may be doing more harm than good
Alcohol impacts the brain’s reward system by releasing dopamine, creating temporary feelings of relief or pleasure. However, repeated use can:
Experts say you do not need to hit “rock bottom” to reconsider your habits. Some signs indicate that alcohol may be doing more harm than good. A few of these signs you need to watch out for include:
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