Most people enjoy a drink from time to time, such as beer, wine, or a cocktail at dinner or a special occasion. But for some people, without even noticing it, drinking becomes the centerpiece of their lives. It’s understandable to wonder at those moments, “Am I an alcoholic?”
It’s an important question with no objective answer. Alcoholism isn’t diagnosed based on how much you drink. The answer is judged on the impact that alcohol has on your life, how it changes your ability to enjoy life, and whether it interferes with healthy relationships.
When the impact of alcohol starts having these negative impacts, it’s time to consider getting help. Professionals at TruHealing Centers can help you answer the question, “Am I an alcoholic?” and build a treatment plan to help you restore a life of sobriety.
Defining Alcoholism
Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder, is a serious disease that is painfully common across the nation and the world. Alcoholics realign their priorities to put their drink of choice first, before almost anything else in their lives. For that reason, alcoholism is considered an illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
While alcoholism isn’t based on a quantity of drinking, it does involve excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, which can be difficult to define. What’s excessive for you may not be excessive for someone else.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that the negative effects of alcohol are always plainly noticeable. A subset of alcoholics are known as high-functioning alcoholics, people who fit the diagnostic criteria yet hide their problems from the world.
Understanding the ways in which alcohol can interfere with your life can help provide an answer to the question, “Am I an alcoholic?” Furthermore, it can determine if you need an alcohol addiction treatment center.
Alcoholism Is a Common Disease
According to the National Institutes of Health, about fifteen million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with an alcohol-use disorder. But only a small portion receive treatment, and the effects of alcoholism are often devastating.
The NIH estimates that alcohol-related problems, including social challenges such as lost productivity, cost the country a staggering $250 billion a year.
Worldwide, the human toll is also enormous. According to the World Health Organization, alcohol claims the lives of about three million people each year. The twenty to forty-year-old age group alone accounts for about fourteen percent of alcohol-related deaths.
More men than women struggle from alcoholism in the United States by about a two-to-one margin. The answer to the question, “Am I an alcoholic,” then has immense ramifications for the individual and society alike.
Am I An Alcoholic?
Clinical professionals at Amatus Recovery Center can help provide an authoritative answer to the question, “Am I an alcoholic?” Our team will work with you to conduct a thorough and compassionate screening, followed by a treatment program. Some good indications of problems with alcohol that suggest that you or a loved one may want to get a professional opinion include:
- Concealing your drinking
- Uncontrolled drinking
- Experiences instance of blacking out from a night of drinking
- Responding defensively is someone comments on your drinking
- Continuing to drink even though it’s causing problems
- Showing withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, or shaking
Break the Cycle of Dependence at TruHealing Centers
If you’ve felt the need to ask, “Am I an alcoholic?” there may be a good reason for you to seek professional help. The clinical team at TruHealing Centers will work with you to conduct a confidential, comprehensive evaluation to get to the bottom of your troubles. If the answer is yes, we will create a customized treatment plan, including detox, counseling, and aftercare. Our centers can also assist with other forms of substance abuse. Contact us [Direct] today for a consultation.