NewDay Counseling
If you have a problem with alcohol or some other drug, call a NewDay counselor at 912.201.3605 * 401 Mall Blvd, Ste 101 D, Savannah, Ga * Free Phone Consultations
Am I An Alcoholic?
This is a question many moderate to heavy drinkers ask themselves at some point. They might not express the concern to others but they’ll ask themselves. There are tests which are pretty accurate to gather signs and symptoms, to help answer the question – Am I an alcoholic? The SASSI Institute is one of the major providers of screening, research and testing.
If someone has pain in their stomach for a significant period of time, they’ll likely go to a doctor for testing to find out what’s wrong. When someone has frequent headaches, they’ll likely go to a doctor for testing. When someone begins to have poor eyesight, they’ll likely go to a doctor for testing. When someone has problems related to alcohol, they’ll likely say nothing to a doctor, and they’ll likely deny it’s a problem — they’ll blame the consequences of drinking on something else.
We who work in the field of alcoholism treatment are trying to persuade people to think of alcoholism as any other medical condition. Below are some of the questions from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence you can ask yourself, then see a professional if you think that alcohol or other drugs (you can easily substitute drug using for drinking in most questions) might be a problem:
Do you try to avoid family or close friends while you are drinking?
Do you drink heavily when you are disappointed, under pressure or have had a quarrel with someone?
Can you handle more alcohol now than when you first started to drink?
Have you ever been unable to remember part of the previous evening, even though your friends say you didn’t pass out?
When drinking with other people, do you try to have a few extra drinks when others won’t know about it?
Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable if alcohol is not available?
Are you more in a hurry to get your first drink of the day than you used to be?
Do you sometimes feel a little guilty about your drinking?
Has a family member or close friend expressed concern or complained about your drinking?
Have you been having more memory blackouts recently?
Do you often want to continue drinking after your friends say they’ve had enough?
Do you usually have a reason for the occasions when you drink heavily?
When you’re sober, do you sometimes regret things you did or said while drinking?
Have you tried switching brands or drinks, or following different plans to control your drinking?
Have you sometimes failed to keep promises you made to yourself about controlling or cutting down on your drinking?
Have you ever had a DWI driving while intoxicated or DUI driving under the influence of alcohol violation, or any other legal problem related to your drinking?
Are you having more financial, work, school, and/or family problems as a result of your drinking?
Has your physician ever advised you to cut down on your drinking?
Do you eat very little or irregularly during the periods when you are drinking?
Do you sometimes have the shakes in the morning and find that it helps to have a little drink, tranquilizer or medication of some kind?
Have you recently noticed that you can’t drink as much as you used to?
Do you sometimes stay drunk for several days at a time?
After periods of drinking do you sometimes see or hear things that aren’t there?
Have you ever gone to anyone for help about your drinking?
Do you ever feel depressed or anxious before, during or after periods of heavy drinking?
Have any of your blood relatives ever had a problem with alcohol?
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