Questions to Ask Yourself if You Think You Have a Problem with Alcohol

Are your drinking habits making you concerned that you have a problem with alcohol? According to the National Library of Medicine, many people in need of treatment for alcohol addiction have no idea they are in trouble. This may be because drinking alcohol is socially accepted and perceived as normal in everyday life, whether it’s to wind down after a long day at work, or whether it’s to celebrate an occasion. If you are concerned that you may be drinking alcohol more than is socially accepted and fear it may be negatively affecting your life, ask yourself these questions to see whether you indeed need to seek treatment for alcohol abuse or addiction.

Have you Ever Regretted Something you Did While you were Drinking?

If you wake up after a night of drinking feeling guilty and ashamed about your behavior, you are exhibiting classic signs of alcohol addiction. While under the influence of alcohol, you did things that you wouldn’t normally do while sober, and you weren’t in control. The guilt and shame that you feel when you remember what you did could drive you to drink more, creating a never-ending cycle.

Is your Drinking Causing Problems at Home?

Is your significant other or children scared of you when you drink? Have they expressed concern over how much and how often you drink? If so, then you may have a problem. These are the people that love you most, and if they are worried about you, then you should take it seriously. Although it may be hard to sit there and listen to them complain about your drinking, you should be open and understanding of their concerns.

Do you have a Reputation as a Drinker?

Problem with Alcohol

Drinking as a way of escaping negative feelings is a sign of addiction.

If you are known among friends, family, and co-workers as a drunk or partier, it may be time to admit that your alcohol use has gotten out of control. Although your friends may be labeling you as the “partier” in a non-confronting way, it can easily get to the point where you’re no longer the “fun” partier, but the “over-partier” that people don’t want to spend time with.

Do you Drink for a Reason such as Sadness, Guilt, or Anxiety?

If you drink to escape negative feelings, you are only feeding them. Alcohol is a depressant and will only strengthen feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety, leading you to drink even more. Drinking regularly to escape is a sign you are addicted.

Has Your Drinking Affected Your Job?

If you have to regularly take days off work because you are too drunk or hungover to do your job, then it is obvious that alcohol has become more important to you than your livelihood. This is a good indicator that you have a problem with alcohol and need to seek treatment. At the extreme, you should also ask yourself if you have lost a job because of your drinking before. Whether you’ve missed too many days at work, have been drunk at work, or are simply performing poorly because of your drinking habits, losing your job is a serious sign that you may be an alcoholic.

Is Drinking causing Financial Problems for you?

Do you spend more money than you can really afford to in order to support your drinking habits? This is a classic sign of addiction and indicates that you have a problem with alcohol. Your drinking may also cause financial issues for you if you’ve lost your job or have had your hours cut down because of alcohol. If your drinking is causing financial problems for you then it’s clear you’re prioritizing your drinking over more important things like paying your bills, eating healthily, and working. This is a steep downhill slope when it comes to alcohol abuse.

Do you Stop Caring About Others When you Drink?

If, when you drink, you lose all feeling for other people, their feelings, and well-being, you have a problem. This is a sign that alcohol is taking over your life and nothing else matters but the drink in your hand. When you stop caring about others (and yourself, for that matter) and alcohol becomes the most important thing to you, you need to consider finding treatment.

Have you Ever Blacked Out because of Alcohol?

If you drink to the point of blacking out, it is clear that you do not know, or care about your limits. It may also be a sign that you should seek help for alcohol addiction. If you’ve blacked out once or twice before and regretted drinking so much, that’s a good sign that you’ll be more careful next time and set yourself some limits. If, however, you blackout regularly from drinking alcohol and continue to do so, without any regrets, that’s a sure sign that you need to get some help.

Do You Keep Drinking the Morning After Drinking?

If you feel like you can’t start your day without a drink, it is pretty apparent that you have a problem with alcohol. Even if you are just looking for the “hair of the dog” to get through a hangover. Drinking constantly, especially when you’re hungover from the previous night/day of drinking is a sign that you feel you need alcohol and can’t get through a day without it. If you’re unsure how much you drink, try to remember to write down how much you drink each day.

Do You Crave Alcohol?

If you spend large portions of your day thinking about when you can have your next drink, it is a good indication that you have a problem with alcohol. Alcohol shouldn’t be the main thing that you look forward to every day. Yes, sometimes life gets very stressful and we can’t wait for that drink at the end of the day, but this shouldn’t be the only thing that you crave and the only thing that gets you through tough situations.

Have You Tried to Stop Drinking But Only Lasted a Day or Two?

If you’ve tried to quit alcohol before, you’ve probably already considered that you may have a drinking problem or perhaps you were just trying to have a healthier lifestyle. If you’ve tried to quit drinking alcohol before and failed pretty quickly, you should consider getting treatment. Even if you were just trying to quit drinking for a week or a month, if it was extremely difficult for you to do so, you could have a problem.

If it’s the company you keep that makes it hard to quit drinking, try drinking non-alcoholic drinks so people aren’t questioning why you’re not drinking. If you’re just finding it hard to stop drinking even when you’re by yourself, then that’s a problem you need to fix.

Have you Considered Treatment for Alcoholism?

If you have considered getting treatment for alcoholism, you’ve already identified the problem and have already taken the first steps to becoming sober. You should feel proud of yourself for this. If you suspect you have a problem and want help to get your life back on track, call 800-948-8417 Info iconCalls are forwarded to paid advertisers and speak to a treatment advisor today. We can help you identify your treatment needs and help you find a program that works for you.

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