Every person struggling with an alcohol abuse problem drinks too much. However, not everyone who drinks too much is an alcoholic. Within the study of diseases, both conditions fall under the umbrella term of alcohol use disorder. Would you know how to tell if you’re a drunk?
Occasional Bingeing or Full-time Addiction?
Binge drinking refers to a problematic and unhealthy behavior. You might down four or five drinks within a two-hour window at a party. If this describes nights that you have every once in awhile, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re alcohol-dependent.
In contrast, a person struggling with an addiction to alcohol is unable to control consumption on a daily basis. Inability to access enough alcohol may lead to withdrawal symptoms. The person’s daily focus is the ability to buy alcohol, consume it, function as best as as possible and then deal with its after-effects.
How to Tell if You’re a Drunk in Three Steps
If your bingeing behavior is worrying you, there are three steps that you can take to decide whether you have an addiction problem or not:
- Confidential online self-test. The National Council On Alcoholism and Drug Dependence published a self-test that takes you through a series of online questions. Completely anonymous and private, it gives you the opportunity to examine your alcohol consumption.
- Conversation with a trusted doctor. Talk to your doctor about your concerns. She or he may ask you if you engage in dangerous behaviors such as drunk driving or unprotected sex after consuming alcohol. Your doctor may also ask whether you get hangovers, drink to get drunk or experience blackouts.
- Lab tests. At this point, you’re probably pretty certain whether you have an alcohol addiction or not. If you want physical confirmation that alcohol use is adversely affecting your health, ask for a blood panel. Your doctor can order this test for you. Among other factors, it checks your magnesium level. Low magnesium levels may point to alcoholism
Of course, if you’re honest with yourself, you already know the answer. Blackouts or missing memories accompany problematic alcohol use. Being obsessed with drinking and getting confrontational when someone brings it up are also warning signs. Perhaps the biggest giveaway are the withdrawal symptoms you suffer when you can’t get a drink right when you need it.
Finding the Right Treatment for Alcoholism
Now you know how to tell if you’re a drunk—but do you know how to get help? The caring professionals at Pinnacle Peak Recovery have the answers. Before you begin treatment for alcoholism in rehab, you’ll undergo detoxification at a partner facility that safely and comfortably takes you through the physical withdrawal process.
Next, you’ll go through a customized rehab program that betters your chances of successful recovery. Program options include dual diagnosis treatments, inpatient or outpatient sessions and family counseling, as needed. When you’re ready to go back home, aftercare procedures and peer counseling help you continue the progress you’ve made.
Stop asking yourself if you have a problem. Call 866-377-4761 to find the solution.