Am I An Alcoholic Checklist

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No one likes to admit they’re alcoholic. Most individuals are not aware they have this problem until their lives started to fall apart.

Many people are getting more anxious and worried about whether their drinking habits have become a major concern.

A lot of people with problems drinking or struggling with alcoholism are easy to find. Loved ones have more ammunition to push or confront them to get the needed help.

However, for most people who struggle, their warning signs are not obvious, so treatment for alcohol problems is only further prevented.

How Can I Tell If I’m An Alcoholic?

For those suffering from this or who have friends, family members, loved ones, or co-workers with a drinking problem, here are some of the certain signs to look out for.

Always find a way to get alcohol 

People who are struggling from being alcoholic have enough to buy alcohol. They might even put off buying something they want or put off other financial duties if it means they cannot purchase alcohol as well.

If they are totally out of money, they will go to a friend’s or family member’s house and drink their booze.

Drinking had caused many problems in their life

They might have lost their current job over missing work because of their drinking habits. They may have had a problem with the law while drinking.

According to research written by Steele C., some individuals whose drinking had to cause them issues or have ashamed themselves while intoxicated will give up and never drink again.

However, an alcoholic continues to drink despite the sustained problems.

They do not stick to a single brand

Many social drinkers have a type of alcohol brand they like, and they often stick to drinking their favourite beverage. For others, if their drink is not available, they will decline to drink at all.

On the other hand, alcoholics will drink no matter what they could get their hands on. When they have enough cash, they may drink finer brands. However, they will drink the cheapest ones if they’re low on money.

The brands and types of alcohol may change, but the drinking won’t stop.

They drink even if they did not plan to drink

Other people might tell they won’t drink today. However, as soon as they are around other people who are drinking, they immediately change their minds. Often, they may tell you they’re only going to drink one or two.

Unfortunately, they will end up having a lot more! They might start not drinking and then make a fuss, like an argument that offers them an excuse to begin drinking.

They get annoyed when not drinking

They are completely fine when they have a glass in hand. However, they can become easily annoyed, especially if they’re in a situation where they can’t drink for any specific period.

They may also become frustrated or irritable at the slightest provocation, or even no provocation at all. That indicates when they are sober; they become hard to communicate with and extremely unpredictable.

Their personality transforms when they’re drinking

Alcoholics may not look intoxicated after a few drinks. However, their personality or mood may transform. They may go from being sweet, kind people to being verbally abusive and mean after a few drinks.

Sometimes, they could transform from being quiet and shy to being violent and loud. They could become excessively emotional people while drinking. Meanwhile, when sober, they infrequently show any emotions.

They do not appear to be intoxicated

This is one of the early symptoms of alcoholism—the inability to “hold their liquor.” That individual can have numerous drinks and not show any indications of being drunk.

According to NIH Curriculum Supplement Series, they have developed an alcohol tolerance. That indicates it takes more alcohol to make them feel the way three or four drinks used to make them feel.

If other people are trying to drink together with them, their peers will feel the influence long before they even consider slowing down.

They drink to get rid of stress

Alcoholics often drink when they are joyful and when they are anxious. They drink if they are rejoicing (and will rejoice anything) and when they are stressed out.

These people utilize alcohol to cope with their life circumstances, whether life brings good or bad news. For them, alcohol is a crutch. They depend on alcohol to manage their emotions as well.

In short, alcohol for them suggests more than it does to other individuals.

4 Main Warning Signs Behind Alcoholism

Their social life rotates around alcohol

Simply attending places where alcohol is permitted or accessible could be an early sign of alcoholism. The same thing applies if they hang out with their friends who drink and shun those who do not.

That person will not go to a Little League game but will certainly drive to a college game where there will be hounding.

They may take their partner to an occasional movie, but they cannot wait to get out of there and go to a club or bar where drinks are available.

They have a history of alcoholism 

According to research, people who have a history of alcoholism in their family have a greater risk of becoming alcoholics than the general population.

People who have any blood relatives with drinking problems and are starting to give signs of developing alcohol use disorders are warning signs they’ll become alcoholic.

Does this sound all familiar? That person may be budding alcohol.

For more ways to find out if someone is alcoholic or not, feel free to check out the checklist below and answer the questions.

How to Know If You Are an Alcoholic Test

How can someone know if they are an alcoholic or not? Below we created a test for alcoholism with a set of questions that relate to life experiences typical among individuals who have been diagnosed with alcohol addiction.

Carefully read every question and tell how often you’ve experienced similar or the same challenges within the previous twelve months.

Question #1. Have you had times when you drank more alcohol or drank for a longer period than you planned? 

a. Yes

b. No

c. I am not sure

Question #2. Have you tried or wanted to cut down on drinking but failed to do so? 

a. Yes

b. No

c. I am not sure

Question #3. How often do you drink every week?

a. Three times per week

b. Once or twice every week

c. Not even once a week

Question #4. How much alcohol do you drink in a single sitting? 

a. Three or more

b. One or two

c. One drink or less

Question #5. Drinking has influenced

a. School, work, or life in a very noticeable way

b. School or work but only occasionally

c. Nothing

Question #6. Do you drink as a response to stress or when stressed? 

a. Of course, I need to.

b. Sometimes, as it helps me relax a bit

c. No, it does not fix anything for me

Question #7. Do you drink more than the suggested limit? Remember, for men, four drinks per occasion or no more than fourteen drinks every week. For women, three drinks per occasion or seven drinks per week)

a. More often than not

b. Sometimes

c. No

Question #8. What does your overall social life look like? 

a. I will not go unless drinking is a choice

b. A healthy combination of both non-drinking and drinking activities

c. Mainly non-drinking activities

Question #9. Have you come across withdrawal symptoms when not under the influence of alcohol like a racing heart, sweating, shaking, restlessness, trouble sleeping, or nausea? 

a. Somewhat

b. No

c. Yes

Question #10. Do you cancel or miss obligations or commitments because of alcohol-related reasons? 

a. Yes

b. Not often

c. No

Answers:

Mostly As – Start evaluating how much alcohol means to you. Talk with somebody you trust regarding your actions and seek the guidance of a specialist. The actions of somebody who picks mostly A are those of somebody with an alcohol use disorder.

Mostly Bs – They are on the thin line separating them from enjoying alcohol to abusing it. Some of the behaviours they are engaging in are massive alcohol-abusing behaviours or drinking.

Mostly Cs – That’s awesome. It appears they have their drinking under control or abstinent. People who pick mostly Cs don’t need to think about dealing with alcoholism.

Conclusion 

Indeed, there are different levels of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. No matter what the level might be, treatment is essential to anyone who experiences a problem with drinking.

Loved ones, family members, and friends must look for and determine any of these warnings signs of alcoholism and step up to support relatives seeking assistance.

For a better recovery from alcoholism, Abbeycare can be your professional partner! Visit Abbeycare Scotland or Abbeycare Gloucester to learn more how we can help you.

There you have it! We hope you find today’s post informative and useful at the same time. How will you use the information above to help someone who is an alcoholic or move forward in your alcoholism?

Feel free to share your thoughts with us by leaving your comments below!

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About the author

Laura Morris

Laura Morris is an experienced clinical practitioner and CQC Registered Manager with over twenty years experience, over ten of which have been as an Independent Nurse Prescriber.

She has held a number of senior leadership roles in the substance use and mental health sector in the NHS, the prison service and in leading social enterprises in the field.

Last Updated: October 31, 2023