35 Tip Offs that You May Be an Alcoholic

There are certain behaviors that go along with becoming an alcoholic and being addicted to alcohol. Here is an extensive list of 35 tip offs that you may have developed an addiction to alcohol.

Some problem drinkers know they have a problem fairly early in the drinking process, but there are many people who are addicted to alcohol who really are the last to know.

1. You believe you can stop drinking anytime you want to, but just don’t.

2. When you go to the doctor you hide the fact that you are drinking excessively.

3. Your friends and family have a growing suspicion that you have a drinking problem, and may mention it or have a talk with you about it.

4. You deny the mounting evidence of your excessive drinking.

5. You trivialize the amount and frequency of your drinking as much as you can.

6. You can’t acknowledge the serious consequences of your drinking.

7. You are forced to make constant excuses for wild or irresponsible behavior.

8. You have a tenancy to blame others or situations in your life for your drinking.

9. You can’t stop drinking for more than a few weeks.

10. You constantly have the urge to drink.

11. Once you start drinking, you usually can’t stop.

12. You keep drinking until you run out of alcohol.

13. You are spending money you need for necessities for alcohol instead.

14. You see people who “want to help” as a nuisance if not an outright threat.

15. You will sometimes start having money problems, and may have to borrow money (for the first time in some cases).

16. You get angry when someone mentions your drinking.

17. If you go into rehab, will find reasons or makes excuses to stop treatment.

18. Some will have problems with the law - DUI’s, etc.

19. You are absent or late for work more frequently.

20. More advanced alcoholics sometimes find they can’t hold a job or will be aware that they have become unemployable due to drinking.

21. If you are a student, you may be suspended from school for drinking.

22. You are more easily upset and have more mood swings.

23. You feel very alone with this problem.

24. You get angry more often.

25. Under the influence you engage in very reckless and/or irresponsible behavior

26. You find yourself continually not meeting your responsibilities.

27. Your relationships become more unstable.

28. Further down the road, you find yourself spending time with people who drink as much as you do.

29. You keep the people close to you at an arms length (keeping a drinking problem secret is difficult particularly with those closest to you) even though you really do want the relationship.

30. Your problem solving abilities don’t seem to work anymore.

31. With more advanced drinking, changing your drinking pattern becomes more difficult if not impossible.

32. You feel much more intense guilt and depression.

33. You need more support from others than you used to.

34. You can’t keep your promises, and tend to avoid social activities.

35. You can’t allow yourself to dwell on your behavior under the influence because it’s too painful.

Max Says:

On Brain and Liver Damage from Alcohol:

It is my belief that most brain damage and liver damage is reversible. But you can’t just continue to drink the amount you are drinking indefinitely and hope for the best. There are consequences.

If in the back of your mind you are starting to worry about this kind of damage…it may be time to give your instincts the attention they deserve and really consider how much longer you are going to be able to pull this thing off…

Do You Ever Ask Yourself am I an Alcoholic?

Take a look at our tip offs that you may have gone from heavy drinking to alcoholism. It’s amazing how often we are the last to know.

Don’t Ever Give Up on Yourself

I was one of those alcoholics who truly believed that I would never be able to stop drinking. I would tell people “I’m a hopeless drunk and I’m never going to get well.” I’ve been clean for quite awhile now, and no one is more suprised than I am. The most important thing for you to remember is to never give up on yourself.