Am I An Alcoholic Quiz: How Recognizing The Problem Helps
Are you an alcoholic?
No matter how many people you ask, the only person who can answer that with absolute honesty is yourself. Maybe your partner is telling you that you are one or your mom is constantly bugging you to get some help. No matter how much nagging you get, this will not change anything if you don't want to recognize that you indeed have an alcohol problem.
Admitting that there’s something wrong is never easy, especially if this involves yourself. Often times, admitting that you are an alcoholic can bring feelings of shame, awkwardness, self-doubt, and depression. Instead of seeking help, this admission can even push some people to drink more and bury themselves deeper.
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It is human nature to always want to be in control. This is one of the reasons why many people who suffer from alcohol use disorder have a difficult time acknowledging that there is a problem. Being an alcoholic means that there is a part of you that you cannot control. However, that does not mean that you cannot do anything about the problem.
Escaping the Denial Stage
“I can handle this”
“It’s not that bad”
“It’s just craft beer”
These are just some of the things often heard from people who are in denial that they have a problem controlling their alcohol. Most of the time, people who say these things know in their hearts that they are facing issues but they still struggle to admit it. They resort to excuses to cover up the issue, such as telling people that drinking craft beer does not make them an alcoholic but a connoisseur instead. Or maybe saying that they’re too smart or successful to become an alcoholic. Are these excuses familiar to you? Have you made these excuses before? Maybe you are also in denial. So, how can you escape this denial stage?
The first step is to acknowledge that you are struggling. Open your mind to the possibility that there is indeed a problem. Just because you acknowledge this possibility does not necessarily equate that you have an alcohol problem.
Maybe you’re right...maybe you are still in control. Maybe you are just an occasional drinker and not an alcoholic as other people think. Maybe you can handle your alcohol intake responsibly without letting it affect your job and your personal relationships. But, you would not know this for certain without accepting to self-evaluate your current situation.
How This Quiz Will Help You
Maybe you’re wondering whether taking this quiz is actually useful. How can a bunch of questions help your situation?
This quiz is a self-evaluation tool by AA or Alcoholics Anonymous. It is composed of twelve questions that you can answer with a simple YES or NO. After every question, there is a brief explanation/example by AA that further clarifies what the question means.
Take your time in answering the questions and answer them as honestly as you can. You don't have to share these answers with anyone if you are not comfortable to do that. What this does is help you know yourself better and recognize whether you are having an alcohol problem.
Hopefully, it could also motivate you to seek help.
Am I an Alcoholic Quiz: Answer with a YES or NO
- Have you ever decided to stop drinking for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days?
Most of us in A.A. made all kinds of promises to ourselves and to our families. We could not keep them. Then we came to A.A. A.A. said: "Just try not to drink today." (If you do not drink today, you cannot get drunk today.)
- Do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking-- stop telling you what to do?
In A.A. we do not tell anyone to do anything. We just talk about our own drinking, the trouble we got into, and how we stopped. We will be glad to help you, if you want us to.
- Have you ever switched from one kind of drink to another in the hope that this would keep you from getting drunk?
We tried all kinds of ways. We made our drinks weak. Or just drank beer. Or we did not drink cocktails. Or only drank on weekends. You name it, we tried it. But if we drank anything with alcohol in it, we usually got drunk eventually.
- Have you had to have an eye-opener upon awakening during the past year?
Do you need a drink to get started, or to stop shaking? This is a pretty sure sign that you are not drinking "socially."
- Do you envy people who can drink without getting into trouble?
At one time or another, most of us have wondered why we were not like most people, who really can take it or leave it.
- Have you had problems connected with drinking during the past year?
Be honest! Doctors say that if you have a problem with alcohol and keep on drinking, it will get worse -- never better. Eventually, you will die, or end up in an institution for the rest of your life. The only hope is to stop drinking.
- Has your drinking caused trouble at home?
Before we came into A.A., most of us said that it was the people or problems at home that made us drink. We could not see that our drinking just made everything worse. It never solved problems anywhere or anytime.
- Do you ever try to get "extra" drinks at a party because you do not get enough?
Most of us used to have a "few" before we started out if we thought it was going to be that kind of party. And if drinks were not served fast enough, we would go someplace else to get more.
- Do you tell yourself you can stop drinking any time you want to, even though you keep getting drunk when you don't mean to?
Many of us kidded ourselves into thinking that we drank because we wanted to. After we came into A.A., we found out that once we started to drink, we couldn't stop.
- Have you missed days of work or school because of drinking?
Many of us admit now that we "called in sick" lots of times when the truth was that we were hung-over or drunk.
- Do you have "blackouts"?
A "blackout" is when we have been drinking hours or days which we cannot remember. When we came to A.A., we found out that this is a pretty sure sign of alcoholic drinking.
- Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not drink?
Many of us started to drink because drinking made life seem better, at least for a while. By the time we got into A.A., we felt trapped. We were drinking to live and living to drink. We were sick and tired of being sick and tired.
How did you do?
If you answered YES to four or more questions, then chances are, you have trouble with alcohol. Keep in mind that there is no shame in admitting that you have a problem. You have a chance to make yourself better and improve your situation.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol abuse, help is available.
Contact Anaheim Lighthouse today.
