Am I An Alcoholic?

Do feel the need to have an alcoholic drink in order to relax when you are angry, upset, or sad?

Do you sometimes drink to when you feel the need to encourage yourself?

After one to two drinks in a pleasant atmosphere, do you feel a strong desire for the next one?

Do you feel like you need a drink at certain times of the day?

Do you often drink before or after a meal, or before bedtime?

Would it be unusual for you to leave your drink half drunk because you no longer want to drink it?

Have you ever hidden the fact that you were drinking from friends or family members?

Have you ever lied to anyone about how much you drank?

Have you ever quarreled with a family member about your drinking habits or the money you spend on drinking?

Have you ever decided to stop drinking for a while but had trouble doing so?

Have you ever woken up in the morning and found that you do not remember something you did or said the previous night while you were drinking?

Do you feel like you need more drinks now than what you once used to in orderto feel the effects of alcohol?

Do you crave alcohol?

Do you spend a lot of time drinking, trying to get alcohol and recuperating from its effects?

Do your drinking habits interfere with your responsibilities at work, at school or your private life?

Do you continue to drink even if when you notice that it interferes with your daily activities and causes you all kind of problems?

Have you stopped doing things you enjoyed before (e.g. hobbies that you had) because you spend a lot of time drinking?

Have you ever experienced “withdrawal symptoms” (the symptoms such as nausea, sweating, trouble sleeping, a racing heart, sweating, restlessness, or shaking appearing when you are not under influence of alcohol)?

Have you ever been in a situation where there was a chance of you being physically injured by excessive drinking?

Does drinking alcohol make you feel depressed, anxious or paranoid and negatively affect your physical health?

Have you been fined or suspended for driving while under the influence of alcohol?

Based on your answers, we can it seems that you consume alcohol moderately. For healthy adults, moderate alcohol use means up to two drinks a day for men and up to one drink a day for women. If you are light-moderate consumer of the alcohol, especially red wine, there can be a few health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease and increasing the level of antioxidants in your body. Nevertheless, keep in mind that consuming high amounts of alcohol does not provide health benefits, regardless of the type of beverage.

Based on your answers, it is safe to say that you need to restrict your alcohol consumption. Anyone can become an alcoholic. Prolonged use of alcohol affects the brain, changes it and creates addiction. Anyone who drinks more than 3 drinks a day is on the verge of alcoholism. People who drink to calm down, forget about problems and manage their emotions have higher risk of alcohol addiction. If you have any concerns you should seek help from your doctor or your mental health professional.

Based on your answers, you experiencing alcohol use disorder. It is highly recommended that you seek help by talking to your doctor, mental health professional or someone close to you. Facing this condition alone rarely works, so the best chance for changing the pattern of addiction is actively seeking out help.