If you’ve asked yourself the question, “Am I an Alcoholic?”, you might have a cause for concern. Below we’ll go over signs that may indicate that you are, in fact, struggling with alcoholism and what you can do about it at an alcohol addiction treatment center in Mclean VA.
Am I an Alcoholic or Do I Just Like Drinking?
Alcohol abuse is defined as having 4 or 5 drinks in one sitting. Knowing this, it is certainly a very thin line one can cross between being an alcoholic versus choosing to drink socially. In many cases, consistently binge drinking is an early indicator that one is on the path of becoming an alcoholic.
Signs of Alcoholism
For example, here are some common signs of alcoholism:
- Consistently craving alcohol
- Feeling a loss of control for that craving and secretly drinking by yourself
- Hiding alcohol stashes in different parts of your work, home or in your car
- Feeling irritable when you don’t have alcohol at your usual set time
- Experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- If alcohol has consistently gotten you into financial, legal, or personal problems
However, where is the line between binge drinking and being an alcoholic?
In short, the consensus seems to be when it starts to interfere with other parts of your life. If your craving for alcohol starts to interfere with things like your relationships, your hobbies, your pursuits and things you would’ve ordinarily done in the past.
Try Stopping Alcohol for a Period of Time
If it starts to become the only thing you do, the first step would be to try and not drink alcohol using your own free will. It’s important to test yourself and see how long you can go without alcohol.
Also, if you don’t experience any cravings, then you may be fine. With this sabbatical from drinking, you’re testing your own sense of control. If you find that you start to experience minimal withdrawal symptoms, or your mind is only occupied by how you aren’t drinking, or you start to crave alcohol, it may be time to seek some help and ask yourself, “am I an alcoholic?”.
So am I an Alcoholic?
If you’ve tried to quit or take a break in the past and have failed on multiple occasions, seeking help will most likely be the next best step.
In conclusion, don’t let your addiction control you. At Sagebrush treatment centers, you will receive as much support as you need, with an addiction therapy service tailored to your lifestyle. You’ll learn how you can take back control and conquer your alcohol addiction.
Depending on the severity of your situation, we have residential and intensive outpatient programs designed to handle your case from start to finish in a warm and welcoming environment. If you’re interested in learning more or asking, “Am I an alcoholic?” then give us a call today at 866.488.1156.