Am I An Alcoholic? Determining If You Have a Problem

Am I An Alcoholic?

Alcoholism affects each person differently, but understanding the definition of alcoholism can help you recognize whether drinking has become a problem. Alcoholism is generally defined as the inability to control drinking because of both physical and emotional dependence on alcohol.

Alcohol use disorder often involves periods of alcohol intoxication and alcohol withdrawal.

Alcohol Intoxication – Alcohol intoxication occurs when the level of alcohol in the bloodstream rises. As blood alcohol concentration increases, intoxication becomes more severe. This can result in significant behavioral changes, including impaired judgment, inappropriate actions, and unpredictable mood swings. As BAC continues to rise, these effects can worsen and may eventually lead to coma or even death.

Alcohol Withdrawal – Alcohol withdrawal occurs when heavy alcohol use is suddenly stopped or significantly reduced. Symptoms can begin as early as four hours after the last drink. Common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:

• Sweating
• Hallucinations
• Nausea and vomiting
• Anxiety
• Rapid heartbeat

Alcohol use disorder can range from mild to severe. To better understand what may constitute alcoholism, answer the following yes-or-no questions to see where you or a loved one may fall on the spectrum.

Am I An Alcoholic Quiz

There are 11 major symptoms associated with alcohol use disorder which can provide insight into if someone is dealing with this problem and answer the question “Am I An Alcoholic?” These questions are provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Answering “yes” 2-3 times indicates mild AUD

Answering “yes” 4-5 times indicates moderate AUD

Answering “yes” 6+ times indicates severe AUD

11 Questions to Answer “Am I an Alcoholic?”

In the past year, have you:

1. Had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer, than intended?
2. More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t?
3. Spent a lot of time drinking? Or being sick or getting over the aftereffects?
4. Wanted a drink so badly you couldn’t think of anything else?
5. Found drinking interfered with taking care of your family, job, or school?
6. Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?
7. Given up or cut back on activities which were important or interesting to you, or gave you pleasure, in order to drink?
8. More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking which increased your chances of getting hurt (such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area, or having unsafe sex)?
9. Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had a memory blackout?
10. Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before?
11. Found when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, or a seizure? Or sensed things which were not there?

If you answered “yes” to a lot of these – there is a high chance you are dealing with some sort of alcohol problem, but what do you do now?

What to Do If You’re an Alcoholic

If you are asking yourself, “am I an alcoholic?” it is important to know that addiction professionals are available to help. While there is no specific cure for alcoholism, alcohol use disorder is a treatable condition.

When it comes to treating alcoholism, addiction treatment centers provide a range of services designed to support long-term recovery.

During treatment, individuals often participate in several different levels of care that are tailored to their unique needs. Because every person experiences addiction differently, treatment plans should be individualized and adjusted throughout the recovery process.

In many cases, treatment programs incorporate evidence-based approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication-assisted treatment.

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy – Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used and effective approaches for addressing the psychological aspects of addiction. Through CBT, individuals learn to identify the triggers that contribute to alcohol use and develop healthier thought patterns and coping strategies to prevent future relapse.
• Medication-Assisted Treatment – Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can help individuals manage withdrawal symptoms and remain engaged in treatment for longer periods. Although many MAT medications are commonly associated with opioid use disorders, several options are also available for alcohol use disorder, including Vivitrol for alcohol dependence.

These are only a few of the many treatment approaches that individuals may experience during their time in a residential treatment program.