Am I an Alcoholic? Recognizing the 9 Warning Signs

For someone with alcohol use disorder, a relationship has developed between them and alcohol that makes not drinking a constant battle. They are emotionally, psychologically, and perhaps even physically dependent on it. Chances are, you’ve heard the terms “alcoholism” and “alcohol use disorder” used interchangeably. Actually, though, these terms refer to two different conditions that are related to the consumption of alcohol.

However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous because of a risk of seizures and death. If you have been drinking often, you should talk to your healthcare provider about how to safely detox from alcohol. While helpful in determining whether your current drinking habits may put you at risk of an AUD, self-assessment with these tests should not be considered as a final diagnosis.

Severe Alcohol Use Disorders

Even just a few drinks more may mean that you are having trouble controlling your drinking. The questions that follow can help you measure your own relationship with alcohol. If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, then your drinking may be a problem. There are different degrees of severity of an alcohol use disorder. In some cases, it may be very obvious that you have a problem with drinking. Our admissions navigators are available 24/7 to answer your questions about alcohol rehab and share with you AAC’s approach to treatment.

There is a lot of information available for families affected by alcoholism and attending an Al-Anon meeting can be a supportive step in taking care of yourself. Rushing in to rescue someone may help you feel needed, but it does not mean that you’re helping. In Al-Anon, this is called “putting pillows under” your loved one so that they never feel the pain of their mistakes. When they’re honest, self-assessments are some of the best tools we have to determine whether there might be a problem. A quiz result may act as the mirror we so badly needed to reflect the situation’s truth. But if you think you or a loved one may have a drinking problem, there are a few considerations to keep in mind and questions to ask that may help the truth ring clear.

Think you might have an issue with Addiction?

A 2020 national survey found that over 135 million Americans had consumed alcohol in the past month. A large number of those alcohol drinkers had engaged in unhealthy drinking patterns, like binge drinking. If an online assessment suggests you might have an alcohol problem, consider calling us to explore your options. Alcohol.org is a subsidiary of American Addiction Centers (AAC), a nationwide provider of addiction treatment facilities.

The label discounts the fact that you’ve experienced childhood trauma, or you’re depressed due to an unexpected redundancy, or anxiety in social situations. They believe that you’re an alcoholic, and those problems arise BECAUSE of your condition. But in reality, those struggles are often the real problems that have to be treated; and “alcoholism” is just the symptom. Alcohol withdrawal leads to physical and emotional symptoms that show up a few hours after your last drink.

What’s the Difference Between the AUDIT and the MAST Tests?

Some versions are in the form of a PDF, which can be printed and self-scored. There are also versions that can be filled out on the web page and which are automatically scored. Concerned individuals can print out the test or share a link with someone they suspect of having a drinking problem or another friend who is struggling with a loved one in their life. The results can be shared with an addiction professional or used in an intervention.

Answering “yes” to at least two of the questions above may signal that you have a problem with alcohol and possibly an alcohol use disorder. Needing more alcohol to feel the same effects, or feeling less of an effect from the same amount of alcohol, is called tolerance. Tolerance is part of the brain and body’s adaptation to a substance. Environmental cues, like walking past a bar or seeing a bottle of liquor, can trigger cravings and the desire to repeat the pleasurable behavior. That is why a person may keep having cravings even after they have been sober for a while.

Alcohol Use Disorder may be considered mild, moderate, or severe. But it’s also important to note that AUD is different from alcohol abuse—and both can be problems. Do you suspect that you are experiencing am i an alcoholic withdrawal from alcohol? If you’re not sure, consider taking an alcohol withdrawal symptoms quiz to learn more. A person with a drinking problem may or may not have an alcohol use disorder.

Other ways to get help include talking with a mental health professional or seeking help from a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar type of self-help group. If you’re concerned about your answers, the first step is to talk with a healthcare provider about your drinking. You can talk to a physician, psychiatrist, or mental health provider.