Are you an alcoholic?

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by Ann E. Smith

Created on: June 15, 2009

Drinking is a part of cultures all over the world, as people consume alcoholic beverages at parties, sports events, fancy dinners, wedding receptions and all kinds of other gatherings. People vary in the amount of alcohol they drink, as well as the frequency.

For some people, a stiff drink welcomes them home after a long day at the office. Others limit their drinking to the weekends. Still others drink every day, and they drink to get drunk.

While people's drinking habits vary widely, there are some who have crossed a line and are no longer social drinkers. They are no longer heavy drinkers. They are instead alcoholics.

And they are plentiful. "Approximately 53 percent of men and women in the United States report that one or more of their close relatives have a drinking problem" (ww.alcoholism-statistics.com). Do you fall into that category? Are you an alcoholic?

While it is clearly best to be diagnosed by a doctor or psychiatrist, most alcoholics know they have this disease far before anyone has to tell them. They may act as if in denial, but they know something is wrong down deep in their core beings.

If you think your drinking is getting out of hand and wonder if you need to seek treatment for alcoholism, below are a few symptoms of this illness. This list is not comprehensive by any stretch, but it can give you an indication of traits of alcoholics.

* You cannot stop at just one.

How many times has it happened to you? You have met friends for a drink, vowing to just have one this time, and gone home completely out of your mind as a result of heavy drinking? Most alcoholics can relate.

They have tried time and time again to stop after just one drink. They really want to be able to do so, and they are sincere. Yet they cannot - no matter what the consequences of their drinking.

* You turn to alcohol to solve your problems such as stress or relationship issues.

Alcoholics drink to feel normal. That's right. They drink to capture a sense of calm and courage, even though drinking is actually wreaking havoc on their bodies and minds.

If you use alcohol as your main coping mechanism for tough things that happen, then you may be an alcoholic. Think about how you react to bad news.

Do you go straight to the bar without telling your spouse or taking time to sort through what has happened? Do you do this every time something goes wrong? If so, there is cause for concern.