Am I an Alcoholic? 5 Ways to Tell if You Are Facing Alcoholism

Alcohol use is part of the culture in the United States. Most American adults drink alcohol from time to time. Many regularly enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner, drinks with coworkers after a long day, or beer at a BBQ. There are many opportunities to drink in many people’s daily lives.

While many people maintain a healthy relationship with alcohol, some find it challenging to limit their drinking. According to the National Institute of Health, about 26% of adults in the United States reported at least one binge drinking episode in the past month, and around 6% admitted to heavy drinking in the previous month.[1]

But when does alcohol use or abuse turn into alcoholism? If you have ever wondered, “Am I an alcoholic?” you must learn the signs of alcoholism and take steps to get the alcohol addiction treatment you need.

How Much Alcohol is Too Much?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has guidelines for moderate drinking. Moderate drinking is not associated with any known, long-term harm to a person’s health or well-being.

Moderate drinking is defined as one or fewer alcoholic drinks per day for women and two or fewer daily drinks for men. An alcoholic beverage is defined as:

• 5 ounces of wine
• 12 ounces of beer
• 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits like vodka, whiskey, or rum
• 8 ounces of malt liquor

The CDC defines heavy drinking as having more than the recommended amount of alcohol over the week. For women, this means having more than seven alcoholic drinks weekly. For men, having 15 or more drinks would be considered heavy drinking.

Drinking more than the CDC recommends is considered to be alcohol abuse. Someone who abuses alcohol for a prolonged period may develop alcoholism. Alcoholism is a severe condition that requires intervention and comprehensive treatment. Without treatment, people with alcoholism face serious, sometimes life-threatening complications in their physical and mental health.

Alcohol Abuse vs. Alcoholism: What is the Difference?

Sometimes, a person may develop an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Instead of drinking moderately as part of a healthy lifestyle, people may use alcohol to manage stress or other uncomfortable emotions. They may engage in frequent binge drinking episodes or regularly drink more than recommended over the course of a week. But are these behaviors signs of alcoholism?

The answer is complex, but in short–probably not. Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), is different than alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction in a few critical ways. Alcoholism is defined as physical dependence on alcohol. Someone with alcoholism cannot function without consuming alcohol because their body has become dependent on the presence of alcohol. If they attempt to stop drinking, their body will be unable to adapt to the absence of alcohol. They will have uncomfortable–and sometimes life-threatening–physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms.

Alcoholism also involves a loss of control over alcohol use. Someone with alcoholism will keep drinking even as the negative consequences to their health, relationships, and safety pile up.

Am I An Alcoholic? Five Signs of Alcoholism

Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder, is a complex and progressive condition that affects both physical health and emotional well-being. It often develops gradually, making it difficult to recognize when drinking has crossed the line from social or recreational use into a serious problem. Understanding the common signs of alcoholism can help you identify whether alcohol may be negatively impacting your life or the life of someone you care about.

1. Going through withdrawal

When a person drinks heavily for a prolonged period, their body adjusts to the presence of alcohol and they become physically dependent on it. When they stop drinking, they are likely to experience uncomfortable symptoms, including:[2]

• Shakiness
• Agitation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Elevated heart rate
• Insomnia
• Headache
• Loss of appetite

Sometimes, people in alcohol withdrawal can have dangerous or life-threatening symptoms, including seizures, dehydration, or severe depression. People with alcoholism should always stop drinking under medical supervision to ensure their health and safety during the detox process.

2. Engaging in risky behaviors

Alcohol reduces inhibitions and can impair a person’s judgment. People might engage in behaviors while drinking that would be unthinkable if they were sober. Risky behaviors, such as driving while intoxicated, having risky sex, engaging in violent behavior, or committing crimes, can be life-threatening or cause long-term harm to a person’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being.

3. Falling behind in your responsibilities

Alcoholism keeps people from living full, active lives or taking care of their responsibilities. A person with alcoholism may often be too drunk or hungover to keep up with school, work, or daily tasks like shopping, cleaning, and cooking. They may neglect their hygiene, lose jobs, or lose custody of children–and continue to drink.

4. Alcohol is the only thing that matters

Like other kinds of addiction, alcoholism makes people lose focus on anything other than their drug of choice. Alcohol becomes the center of a person’s life and takes the place of relationships, work, hobbies, and other things that used to be important to the person. They may begin to isolate or become distant as their alcoholism demands more and more of their time, energy, and resources.

5. Developing tolerance

Someone who regularly abuses alcohol may begin to develop tolerance–which means needing more alcohol to get the same effects. A person with alcoholism may drink large amounts of alcohol without appearing intoxicated. This is one of the clearest signs of physical dependence and indicates the person may need treatment to stop drinking safely.

If you recognize any of these signs of alcoholism in yourself or a loved one, don’t wait another day for the treatment you need. With comprehensive treatment and support, recovery is possible.

Are You an Alcoholic? Get Help for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Now