Are YOU an alcoholic?

The first and strongest reaction of everyone that has ever been confronted with the aspect of being labeled an “alcoholic” is always the same, “DENIAL”. Immediately, the individual begins to build a silent wall of defense erecting invisible barriers designed to keep this perceived albatross from being placed around his on neck. Every imaginable verbal defense is mentally prepared beginning with quick sound bytes designed to ward off the “alcoholic labeling” attack being brought on by well meaning family members. The question has always been the same, “are YOU an alcoholic”?

Countless arguments in the alcoholic debate for both sides have been built since grapes were first stomped. One of the better list of questions designed to identify an alcoholic is being presented in today’s Columbia addictions examiner column. This “list” is from The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and is intended to help a person determine whether he or she has symptoms of alcoholism. Also, this list has been used many times by many resources for many years and is considered quite reliable by many professionals. Here's the list:

1. Do you occasionally drink heavily after a disappointment, a quarrel or when the boss gives you a hard time?

2. When you have trouble or feel under pressure, do you drink more heavily than usual?

3. Have you noticed you are able to handle more liquor than you did when you first started drinking?

4. Did you ever wake up the “morning after” and discover you could not remember part of the evening before, even though friends say you didn’t pass out?

5. When drinking with other people, do you try to have a few extra drinks when others will not know it?

6. Are there times when you feel uncomfortable if alcohol is not available?

7. Have you recently noticed that when you begin drinking, you are in more of a hurry to get the first drink than you used to be?

8. Do you sometimes feel a little guilty about your drinking?

9. Are you secretly irritated when family or friends discuss your drinking?

10. Have you noticed an increase in the frequency of your memory blackouts?

11. Do you often find that you wish to continue drinking after your friends say they have had enough?

12. Do you usually have a reason for the occasion when you drink heavily?

13. When you are sober, do you often regret things you have done or said while drinking?

14. Have you tried switching brands or following different plans for controlling your drinking?

15. Have you often failed to keep promises you have made to yourself about controlling or cutting down on your drinking?

16. Have you ever tried to control your drinking by changing jobs or moving to a new location?

17. Do you try to avoid family or close friends while you are drinking?

18. Are you having an increasing number of financial and work problems?

19. Do you sometimes have the shakes in the morning and find it helps to have a little drink?

20. Do you eat very little or irregularly when you are drinking?

21. Do you get terribly frightened after you have been drinking heavily?

22. After periods of drinking, do you ever see or hear things that aren’t there?

Those answering yes to several of the questions from 1 through 8 may be in the early stage of alcoholism. Additional yes answers to questions 9 through 22 may indicate the middle to final stages of alcoholism.

If you are concerned this column means “YOU”, please know that millions have preceded you on this path and it can lead to living a beautiful life of being happy, joyous and free!