Am I an Alcoholic? Do I Have a Drinking Problem?

It’s OK to make choices that are good for your own physical and mental health. The key to dealing with alcohol dependency in the family is staying focused on the situation as it exists today. It doesn’t reach a certain level and remain there for very long; it continues to get worse until the person with an alcohol problem seeks help.

Possible physical side effects include increased blood pressure and liver damage. In the morning, their hands may shake and they may experience frequent heartburn. During this stage, individuals are drinking every day, usually to avoid uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. However, many people still believe they are “functioning” because they are able to get up and go to work. Although they still have a job, their performance is probably not what it used to be. They may also feel like it takes everything they’ve got to feel and act normal.

1. Alcohol use disorder is a pattern of alcohol use that involves problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol or continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems.
2. There may be major barriers to your recovery including the denial that there’s a problem, social stigma, having limited help, and lack of education.
3. Make sure that you are not doing anything that bolsters their denial or prevents them from facing the natural consequences of their actions.
4. And above all else, take steps to keep you and the rest of your household safe and healthy.

What might seem like a reasonable expectation in some circumstances might be totally unreasonable when it comes to someone with an addiction. When your loved one swears to you and to themselves that they will never touch another drop of alcohol, you might believe them. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health.

When Should You Seek Treatment for a Drinking Problem?

Reviva, Vivitrol Campral, are relatively new drugs that help reduce alcohol cravings, and can also help reduce some people’s desire to consume alcohol. Vivitrol and Revia can help people drink less alcohol even if they don’t want to stop drinking entirely. Many times people find these medications help them to quit drinking for good. “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” provides diagnostic criteria for identifying alcohol use disorder. For a person to be diagnosed with the condition, three of the following factors must have been present for at least twelve months.

Many others reportedly reduced their alcohol consumption and had fewer problems related to alcohol. When a person who misuses alcohol hasn’t had a drink, their body craves alcohol. They begin to show withdrawal symptoms such as being irritable and tired, feeling nauseous, depressed, and anxious. A person who misuses alcohol exhibits strained relationships with friends, significant others, and other members of their family. When the most important people in a person’s life have been relegated to the sidelines in favor of alcohol, it is a clear sign of alcoholism. A person who misuses alcohol often experiences problems at home, in school, or at work because their drinking problem has caused them to neglect their responsibilities and obligations.

Online Therapy Can Help

Because denial is common, you may feel like you don’t have a problem with drinking. You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use. Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine your drinking habits or to seek help. Consider talking with someone who has had a problem with drinking but has stopped.

You might be prescribed medication to help with your condition in severe cases. While we are unable to respond to your feedback directly, we’ll use this information to improve our online help. Altogether, a first-time DUI offense could potentially cost an individual anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 when all is said and done.

If you or a loved one are seeking help for addiction, our network of addiction facilities are ready to welcome you.

It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. The first stage of alcoholism is a general experimentation with the substance. Individuals in this stage may not be familiar with different barbiturates types of alcohol, so they are more likely to test their limits. This stage of alcoholism is often defined by the goal of “drinking to get drunk.” People who use alcohol often use it to self-medicate and escape negative thoughts and feelings.

Phone, Video, or Live-Chat Support

There may be major barriers to your recovery including the denial that there’s a problem, social stigma, having limited help, and lack of education. Alcohol use disorder affects millions of adults and youth in the United States each year. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in 2019, atomoxetine strattera nami 14.5 million people ages 12 and older and an estimated 414,000 adolescents ages 12 to 17 were living with the condition. There are various types of alcoholics, and not everyone with an alcohol problem fits a stereotype. In other words, their behavior, rather than your reaction to their behavior, becomes the focus.

There is no obligation to enter treatment and you can opt out at any time. Another consequence of alcohol use is possible legal issues, such as being caught driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). This may also cause people to stay home and drink alone, increasing their isolation. It can have serious effects on the heart, kidneys, lungs, and pancreas and can cause high blood pressure. Understanding certain terminologies related to alcohol use will help facilitate a better understanding of the disorder. Keep in mind that the results may not be as accurate because they’re based on your perception of them and not their direct personal experience.

Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. Natural consequences may mean that you refuse to spend any time with the person dependent on alcohol. Someone with AUD alcohol use abuse and depression typically doesn’t want anyone to know the level of their alcohol consumption because if someone found out the full extent of the problem, they might try to help. Protect your children, and don’t hesitate to keep them away from someone who drinks and does not respect your boundaries.

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. Alcoholism is a treatable disease, with many treatment programs and approaches available to support alcoholics who have decided to get help. Getting help before your problem drinking progresses to severe alcohol use disorder can save your life.

It is only when they experience their own pain that they will feel a need to change. For example, if your loved one passes out in the yard and you carefully help them into the house and into bed, only you feel the pain. The focus then becomes what you did (moved them) rather than what they did (drinking so much that they passed out outside). Enabling occurs when someone else covers up or makes excuses for the person who has a SUD. As a result, the person with a SUD doesn’t deal with the consequences of their actions.