You don’t look like an alcoholic. You haven’t gotten a DUI or stolen money just to buy alcohol. But still, you are worried. You can’t help asking yourself, “Am I an alcoholic?” Alcoholism comes in many forms, and some of them aren’t what you might consider typical. Fresh Start Recovery Center can provide you with answers but more importantly therapeutic services to help in recovery.
So Am I an Alcoholic or Not?
Seeing that not all people fit the stereotype of what an alcoholic looks like, you have been asking yourself, “am I an alcoholic?” Maybe. Maybe not. Let’s start by learning the difference between casual drinking, alcoholism, and alcohol abuse disorder to understand what can be addressed at an alcohol addiction treatment program.
- Casual Drinking: It’s okay to have a few drinks with family or friends sometimes. Unless you have personal or religious restrictions, it is not a problem to have a glass of wine from time to time.
- Alcoholism: Alcoholism and alcohol abuse may often be used interchangeably. But they are a little different from each other. A person dependent or addicted to alcohol due to physical or psychological compulsion has alcoholism.
- Alcohol Abuse: When a person develops a pattern of behavior showing they do not care even with the negative consequences of drinking, it’s alcohol abuse. Behavior may include heavy drinking, which is drinking more than a couple of drinks per day. Or, binge drinking, which is when you drink a lot at one time.
Signs of Alcoholism
It’s also vital to take note of the signs and symptoms of alcoholism, which include:
- Drinking more or longer than you intended
- Experience urges or cravings to drink
- Can’t stop drinking even after several attempts
- School, home, or work problems caused by drinking
- Not engaging in other hobbies due to drinking
- Involved in high-risk or dangerous activities
- Experience withdrawal symptoms
How to Find Out if You Are Alcoholic
If the question, “Am I an alcoholic?” still bothers you, several assessment tests can help. Through these tests, you will know if you are at risk or already struggling with alcohol abuse. The CAGE test is an assessment that can help you determine whether you are considered an alcoholic. It’s a simple assessment utilizing a 4-question test. All you need to do is answer the following questions honestly:
- C – Do you feel you should cut down on drinking too much?
- A – Do you often feel annoyed when people criticize your drinking?
- G – Do you ever feel bad or guilty when drinking?
- E – As an eye-opener, be honest if you ever drink first thing in the morning.
If you said ‘Yes’ to at least one of the questions above, you have a low risk of developing a drinking problem. Also, if you answered positively to two or three questions, you are likely already struggling with alcoholism. Furthermore, If your answer is Yes to all of them, it is best to consult a professional right away.
Taking a self-assessment test is helpful. However, don’t take this as the final diagnosis. It is only a way for you to get a better understanding of your drinking situation. To be sure, it is always best to consult a professional.
Treatments for Alcoholism
You can recover from alcoholism, no matter how serious it is. Early treatment is ideal so that you can avoid the adverse impact of alcohol abuse. But getting help is never too late. Many options are available to treat alcoholism, including intensive outpatient and outpatient programs.
The treatments provided in our outpatient setting are often a combination of methods including:
- Medications
- Holistic therapy
- Support groups
- Personalized treatment
Finding Support at Fresh Start Recovery Center
All the information here can help in understanding your drinking habits better. However, to know the answer to the question, “am I an alcoholic?” it’s best to consult with a professional. They will handle the necessary steps to determine if you need treatment right away. Contact us today at 833.625.0398 to get started on the path to recovery.
