Are You an Alcoholic?

If everyone else seems to think you might have a drinking problem but you feel as if they are just exaggerating, then maybe it is time to take a good look at your drinking habit. People do not usually question someone about his or her drinking for no reason. You may be unaware that your drinking has crossed the line from social drinking to something more serious, but this is a common occurrence for those with alcohol problems. It is often difficult to see what is glaringly obvious to everyone else around you.

It may be the case that your spouse has been nagging you about your drinking and wants you to quit or cut down. Maybe your parents have told you that you will have to move out unless you stop drinking. Or has your doctor told you that you are headed for an early death unless you get sober?

Stop Making Excuses

Even if your loved ones have been telling you for a while now that you need to cut down on your drinking, you may continue to do so. For you, it is easier to bury your head in the sand and pretend that their concerns are unfounded.

Maybe you have a host of reasons for your drinking – for example, you have a stressful job, or you are lonely because your spouse spends most of his or her time away at work. If things were different, you would not need to drink. You only drink because of the way your life is.

You may have other reasons why now is not a good time to quit; it could be that you do not actually believe your drinking habit is that bad yet. Or maybe, you have something coming up in work that you know is going to stress you out. To you, now is not the right time- maybe you will think about quitting in a few weeks or months. Just not right now.

Addicts tend to be very good at coming up with reasons and excuses for why they should continue with their addictive behaviour. Many are afraid of what sobriety will mean for them, or they have tried to quit before and found it too difficult. However, one thing is sure; if you continue to abuse alcohol, your life will continue to descend into a downward spiral. It is time to stop making excuses and make the changes necessary to save your life.

You Do Not Fit the Profile

Most people who suffer from an alcohol addiction are sure they cannot be classed as an ‘alcoholic’. There are many misconceptions about alcoholism and those affected. Stereotypical alcoholics are homeless, estranged from their families, drink cheap alcohol from bottles in brown paper bags and are unwashed and dirty.

Most alcoholics are completely different, and because they do not fit the profile of what they feel an alcoholic is, they are unwilling to accept the label of ‘alcoholic’. This can be dangerous because it often prevents those who need help from reaching out.

Do You Need Help?

Even if you do not fit the stereotypical profile of an addict, you may still need help for addiction. If you find that you are drinking more than before to achieve the desired effect, you may have become tolerant to alcohol. You may also notice that you suffer certain withdrawal symptoms when you are not drinking such as headaches, sweating, nausea, vomiting or trembling. If this is the case, then you have become physically dependent on alcohol, and you need to get help before the problem gets worse. Take a good look at your drinking habits and be honest with yourself about whether the concerns of your loved ones have any merit. If so, it is time to do something about it.