Wondering, ‘am I An Alcoholic?’ Here’s How You Can Answer That Question

However, this is not always the case, as some studies have found that only 10% of excessive drinkers met the criteria for having an alcohol use disorder. Drinking cultureis highly prevalent in the U.S. and alcohol can be difficult to avoid in many social scenarios. However, as more people start to question their relationship with alcohol before they hit “rock bottom,” there is a growingsober-curiousmovement Am I an Alcoholic that is starting to normalize non-drinking culture. And letting that label solely determine whether or not we examine our relationship with alcohol keeps us stuck. Believe it or not, if you provided the same answers you gave on this quiz during a professional alcohol assessment, the evaluator would likely determine that you may have a mild alcohol use disorder.

• Although there are many warning signs for alcoholism, some can be hard to identify.
• From their perspective, they use alcohol simply to relax or to get themselves through a trying day.
• Carol’s past experience in the medical field has led to a deep knowledge of the struggles those with a substance use disorder face.
• We also know that your first response might be to just stop drinking.
• The presence of two to three symptoms indicates a mild severity, four to five symptoms indicate moderate severity, and six or more symptoms indicate a severe alcohol use disorder.

Engagement in risky behaviors- unprotected sex, gambling, drunk driving, etc. As a result, you might be in denial about whether you’re struggling with an addiction. Points to an alcohol problem that might be more serious than simple abuse. One shot of liquor (1.5 oz or approx 40 ml of 40% alcohol). Instead, after you answer one of these questions and read our descriptions for them, we strongly suggest reconsidering your answers.

It is actually quite common for people to become alcoholics and not be aware of it. This might seem strange, but alcoholism has a way of skillfully working its way into your life. For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 15 drinks or more per week. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 8 drinks or more per week.

Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder , to give it its medical diagnosis, is a chronic, relapsing brain disorder. It’s a real disease, as much as diabetes, chronic artery disease or cancer. Unless the disease of alcoholism is treated effectively, it can prove fatal.

They are an important part of the holistic approach at ATR to make everyone feel loved and comfortable as they walk through their recovery journey. Getting clean and sober opened the door to a life full of opportunity and hope. I am currently pursuing licensure in the State of California to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Being the first point of contact for women seeking aftercare for their recovery in alcohol and drug addiction; I am driven & passionate about helping them with their next steps. I have always been passionate about helping others & this position allows me to see those dreams come to life.

Audit Alcohol Assessment Quiz

Talk to our recovery specialists today and start treatment immediately. Alcohol can also impact other people besides the drinker through drunk driving and drinking while pregnant which can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome and damage the baby’s developing brain. There are several questions you might be asking yourself if this resonates with you. According to the NIAAA, answering “yes” to two or more of these questions indicates a diagnosis of an AUD, but even then, that’s not enough to answer the question of, “Am I an alcoholic? ” The scale of AUD is categorized as being mild , moderate or severe . This can get confusing because while there are countlessAm I an alcoholic?

Blood tests can be performed to show alcohol consumption as well as damage to certain organs that might be indicative of alcohol overuse. In some people, excessive drinking and binge drinking can lead to dependency. Take this alcohol use disorder test to determine if you meet the diagnostic criteria for mild, moderate, or severe AUD.

What’s The Difference Between Addictive And Social Drinking?

Being an alcoholic or having an alcohol use disorder involves a problematic level of drinking that begins to affect a person’s social, emotional and physical health. Though there is no singular cause behind alcohol addiction, many different factors can contribute to its development. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Speak to a representative today to learn about the alcohol addiction treatment options at The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health. Understanding what makes someone addicted to alcohol can be the first step in helping a person seek treatment. Depending on how bad their alcohol abuse has been or if medically-assisted alcohol detox will be needed for withdrawal symptoms, entering into a treatment center may be a necessary option. Professional medical staff can assist in the difficult process of withdrawal, making the transition into sobriety less daunting.

She works in treatment to help others be curious about themselves and their possibilities. She is passionate about creating a safe space where individuals can explore their growth experientially, and collaboratively. Heather Black-Coyne holds a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and works as the Clinical Director for Anchored Tides Recovery. Heather participated on the CDPWS Board as Secretary, helped launch the annual NAADAC Conference in Seattle, and has participated in developing Continuing Education Courses for Clearly Clinical. Drinking alcohol can cause harmful bacteria to grow in your gut. That bacteria can move through your intestinal wall and to your liver, causing damage and possibly liver disease or liver failure. For example, if you are a functional alcoholic, while you might not drink every day, it could be to excess when you do drink.

Although the NIH estimates that 20% of people with AUD fall into the high functioning category. If you’re a high-functioning alcoholic, you are not a stereotypical “drunk”. Your immune system can also suffer from too much alcohol consumption, as your body is weaker and can’t fight off infections as well. Pneumonia and tuberculosis are more likely when you drink heavily. Heavy drinking can have a negative impact on several internal organs, but it can also literally alter your brain. Maybe you skip the wine here and there because you remember how great you felt for that month in March when you gave it up for lent.

Cultural And Social Influences

If drinking makes you feel bad, or it’s headed in a direction you don’t like, or it’s simply not serving you, you have the right to do something about it. You may wish to seek a professional evaluation from your healtcare provider, or a trained alcohol and drug counselor, to find out if you may be at risk for developing further alcohol-related problems. In the meantime, you might want to cut back on how much, or how often you drink. Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research.

• Alcohol is a drug that has its claws deep in Australian life.
• Alcohol-related issues may manifest themselves in varying degrees of severity.
• A combination of medications, behavioral therapy and support can help you or a loved one recover.
• If your alcohol intake is serious, you may need to get treatment in an inpatient facility.
• It’s the question we’ve been socialized to ask, the question I asked myself for a long time, and the question that shows up in my inbox all the time, but it’s the wrong damn question.
• Also, the severity of alcohol abuse may play a role in the warning signs a person exhibits.

Since you are drinking in a socially acceptable manner, no one realizes the toll that alcohol is taking on your body and mind. Millions of Americans who have AUD are what’s considered high-functioning alcoholics. It’s challenging to find the signs of AUD in these people, as they are able to live their lives and manage their careers without any apparent difficulty. Many people come from families with generational alcoholism. While they typically hold down decent jobs, they also experience crushing depression in many instances.

Alcohol Use Disorder Faqs

Additionally, this medication should be used in conjunction with treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define moderate drinking as one drink or less for women and 2 drinks or fewer for men. Alcoholism is a chronic and frequently progressive illness that affects the brain.

The good news is that recognition of a problem is the first step to recovery. Questioning whether or not you are an alcoholic means taking a deeper look at how alcohol consumption plays a role in your life. We dive into alcohol addiction and how to determine if you are an alcoholic.

Part 3: Why Do People Drink? And How Do They Stop?

While the above tends to reflect a severe AUD, there are different types of alcoholics. Northpoint Seattle’s outpatient treatment program is located in beautiful Seattle, Washington, and we work to help the surrounding communities. Appropriate for less severe or short-term addictions, in which the patient must maintain full-time work or family responsibilities. However, the very manipulative and relapsing nature of alcoholism means that this is rarely the answer you’ll allow yourself.

The fellowship has its own blueprint for recovery – the “12 Steps” program. The 12 Steps were created by the founders of AA to establish guidelines for the best way to overcome an alcohol addiction. Although the 12 Steps are based on spiritual principles, many nonreligious people have found the program immensely helpful too.

This test is not a diagnostic tool, nor is it intended to replace a proper diagnosis. Substance use disorders and addictions should only be diagnosed by a licensed behavioral health professional or doctor. Regardless of your results from our assessment, you should speak to a doctor about your substance use. It is easy to hide the disease because you aren’t drunk and disorderly, but you can’t get through the day without an alcoholic drink.

Determining whether or not you are an alcoholic is a serious feat, and if you believe you have a drinking problem, then it’s important to know the risks of ignoring the problem. 12 percent of the US population meets the criteria for alcohol use disorder, and the problem is only getting worse https://ecosoberhouse.com/ with rising rates of mental illnesses and social isolation. While it may seem difficult or impossible, quitting drinking is achievable. Along with regaining control of your life, there are financial benefits to abstinence that can help you save more money daily, weekly, monthly or yearly.

But up until then, and maybe for many, many years or decades, this guy probably drank just like my friend. My friend has admittedly said he has ‘no off switch’ after a few beers. Sometimes he’ll go out to dinner and only have a beer, but more often, he drinks a lot more. He’s suffered a lot of obvious and not so obvious consequences because of his drinking and, suffice to say, his life isn’t looking so great right now. He’s still over there comparing himself to the guy that’s so much worse.

Do I Continue To Drink Despite Health Problems?

If believing you’re an alcoholic feels true, if it elevates your life by furthering you on the path to betterment and healing, believe it. I have another friend named Aidan, who we interviewed recently on HOME. You can hear her whole story by listening to the episode, but Aidan’s drinking looked a lot like yours. As she says, she doesn’t have a “salacious drinking story.” But drinking nagged at her for years. She quit for periods of time and went back for periods of time. Not because she labeled herself an alcoholic, but because she realized her life is simply far better without it.

On the other hand, people who begin drinking later in life and do not have a strong family history of alcoholism may be able to drink in moderation and never develop an addiction. Carol’s past experience in the medical field has led to a deep knowledge of the struggles those with a substance use disorder face. She is passionate about helping people who are struggling with alcohol abuse and addiction and hopes her writing for Alcohol Rehab Guide can help.