Most of us like to have a drink now and then. We have a glass of wine with dinner—or maybe a bottle. But where does normal social drinking cross the line into alcoholism? How can you tell if you have a drinking problem?
Because so many people drink socially, it can be harder with alcohol than with other drugs to tell whether you’re addicted. You can tell your coworkers you had a few drinks last night—but you wouldn’t tell them you did a few lines of coke last night. Alcohol is much more socially acceptable, and even binge drinking is socially acceptable in certain contexts (for example, college).
But for a certain percentage of drinkers, binge drinking isn’t an occasional questionable idea—it’s a way of life. Alcoholism is a condition in which a person’s body becomes physically dependent on alcohol and can’t function without it. The person becomes a slave to alcohol, and cannot simply stop drinking—for an addict, quitting requires serious professional help.
Do you qualify as an alcoholic?
It can be hard to admit that your alcohol use has turned into alcohol abuse—especially if other people in your life don’t think it’s a problem, or if heavy drinking has always been normal in your family. But if you’re asking yourself, “Am I an alcoholic? Do I need alcohol rehab? Where can I get alcohol rehab? Where do I detox?,” then it’s time to ask yourself some tough questions. Consider these questions to find out if you have a drinking problem.
- Do I wish I could drink less?
- Do I do things I regret when I drink?
- Are people afraid of me when I’m drunk?
- Have I gotten in legal or financial trouble from my drinking habit? Do I have a DUI on my record?
- Do I put myself or others in dangerous situations when I drink?
- Do I have a hard time getting through the day without drinking?
- Do I hide alcohol just in case I need it?
- Have I ever been fired for being drunk on the job?
- Have other people told me I’m an alcoholic?
- Have I tried to quit drinking and relapsed?
- Do you need alcohol as a “social lubricant” to face social situations?
- Do you worry you might have a drinking problem?
- Have you ever missed work or been late due to drinking or a hangover?
- Has your drinking ever interfered with a romantic relationship?
- Do you have a reputation as someone who drinks a lot?
- Have you ever hit someone or been angry or violent because you were drinking?
- Have you ever felt remorse after drinking too much?
- Has anyone ever told you that you have a drinking problem?
If you answered two or more questions “yes,” then it’s time to think about getting help. Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous are an important source of support for anyone who wants to get sober. However, AA does not provide medical care or therapy, both of which are also important components of recovery. If you have been abusing alcohol for a long time, you need to address the underlying causes of your addiction as well as the physical damage alcohol has done to your body.
Get Help For Alcoholism
If you are addicted to alcohol, the best way to get sober and stay sober is with an accredited alcohol rehabilitation program at Archstone Behavioral Health. Archstone Behavioral Health is a holistic recovery facility that treats the whole person, not just the illness of alcoholism. Our caring staff members specialize in addiction. They use a combination of medical treatment, individual therapy, group therapy, alternative therapies, and twelve-step programs to give you the healing, safety, and tools and techniques you need to begin rebuilding your life, and to stay sober once you leave rehab.
Archstone Behavioral Health offers residential, partial hospitalization, outpatient, transitional care, or extended care program options to meet your individual alcoholism recovery needs, and its location in sunny Lantana, Florida, near Palm Beach International Airport, makes it a terrific option for addicts from New York (NY), New Jersey (NJ), Washington, DC, Philadelphia (PA), Baltimore (MD), New England, and all over the United States. If you’re ready to get sober, call Archstone Behavioral Health at (561) 475-4237 to get help today.
