A comedian once used a rather laughable anecdote in his act. It was a key line that emphasized the obviousness of certain amusing personality characteristics. If you exhibited a particular trait, he said here’s your sign. When it comes to serious questions about alcoholism nothing should be taken as funny.
However, there are answers to certain questions that are clearly a sign that you may have an alcohol problem. These answers don’t mean you’re a bad person, just a person with a bad problem, a problem that needs help. Here are seven typical questions asked on an alcohol evaluation that might be your sign to seek help.
Have you ever made a commitment to yourself to stop for a certain amount of time but failed?
This is often one of the first questions asked during an alcohol evaluation. It is a common thread between many alcoholics. With all good intentions, they have earnestly made a commitment not to drink for a week, a month, whatever period of time. The underlying principle is that they broke their own commitment to themselves and drank.
Do you feel everyone else has the problem and wish they would simply leave you alone?
The second question is one that begins to point to the fact that a vast majority of alcoholics live in denial. Friends and family express concern about your drinking, but you resentfully wish they would just leave you alone.
Are you untruthful, when you’re asked about how much or how often you drink?
This is a clear indication that you may have a problem. If you didn’t think you either drank too much when you drank or drank too often, then why would you feel compelled to lie? This doesn’t mean you’re a liar or bad person; it just means you could be in denial about your drinking. Lying is a key sign of an alcohol problem.
Have you ever tried to hide how much or how often you drink?
This falls in a similar category as outright lying about your drinking habits. Hiding your drinks, or trying to conceal how much or how frequently you drink, is a telltale sign something is wrong. Normal drinkers do not need to conceal how much or how often they drink, but alcoholics do.
Do you feel you need a drink before you attend a social function?
Recovery professionals appreciate that alcoholism is but a symptom of larger emotional problems. Fear and anxiety in certain social situations trouble thousands of people.
However, people without an alcohol problem don’t crave a drink, so they can feel at ease in these normal life situations. If you crave a drink before you can, it’s a sign you may have an alcohol problem.
Have you ever set limitations on how much you’ll drink, but failed miserably?
This is another common thread among individuals who truthfully acknowledge a problem with alcohol. They have gone to a party or other social environment determined to drink only a set number of drinks. However, in the end, they discovered that they failed miserably, drinking far more than their predetermined mark.
Do you drink so much you forget what you did while you were drinking?
These are referred to as blackouts. Even if events are only murky, there is some indication that you drank enough to reach an unhealthy level of intoxication. Total blackouts are a truly dangerous line to cross.
These are situations where you simply can remember nothing after you had too many drinks. If you experience frequent blackouts when drinking, it is a huge sign that you may have a problem.
These are just seven common questions you may encounter during an alcohol evaluation. There are no right or wrong answers; only your complete honesty is necessary. Depending on your answers to these questions, you may have a problem with alcohol.
There is no need to become suddenly anxious or depressed. You are not a bad person, just one of the millions who experience the same problem. The key is to answer every question with the utmost honesty. There is a help.
If you see signs that you may be an alcoholic, do the next right thing and ask for that help. Your sign may be that you’re simply a problem drinker. However, if you’re an alcoholic, your life may depend on the next step you choose. Choose wisely, make a call today at 302-842-2390.
