Drinking Problem or Problem Drinker – One of the most challenging things we ever do is look inside ourselves to uncover/unmask the truth. The more critical the need to look. the more challenging looking is. One of the most challenging areas for any of us is the area of addiction. As it says in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous “Who likes to admit complete defeat? Practically no one.“ With this in mind, I want to look at some questions you can ask yourself in the privacy of your own mind. It’s not one of these questionnaires whereby if you answer 3 out of 10 or 5 out of 10 as yes then you do have a problem. The test isn’t that scientific, but it doesn’t need to be scientific for us to see the truth. If it turns out that alcohol is merely a problem, then all you must do is dial it back just a little and you should be fine. If it turns out that you are a problem drinker, then maybe we should have a conversation. Feel free to print these questions out and look at them later. They weren’t designed to be answered in a vacuum. If we are honest, then these types of questions take a little bit of time to look at and be self-searching.

SUGGESTED QUESTIONS

1. Do you require a drink the next morning? 

Answering yes to this questions implies compulsion.

2. Do you prefer to drink alone?

Yes, to this question often indicates a social anxiety or need to hide how much or when we drink.

3. Do you lose time from work due to drinking?

If this is true, then alcohol is beginning to be more important than is safe. 

4. Is your drinking harming your family in any way? 

If we can see this harm and don’t change then it is an indication of a problem. Our family will let us know. Pay attention.

5. Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily? 

This often indicates alcohol is becoming a means of self-medicating based on daily events or an increasing tolerance.

6. Do you get the inner shakes unless you continue drinking? 

Like question Number One this indicates a compulsion. You now have the beginning stages of needing alcohol on a cellular level.

7. Has drinking made you irritable? 

This is where brutal honesty is important. More than once do you use alcohol to calm your nerves. An acute need can often turn into a compulsion

8. Does drinking make you careless of your family’s welfare?

Disregarding the needs of the family for the sake of drinking is a dangerous shift in priority. If you notice this, it indicates the mental and physical addictive nature of alcohol. 

9. Have you harmed your husband or wife since drinking? 

If this has happened without seeking help it is a strong indicator of a problem.

10. Has drinking changed your personality? 

Personality disorders are either heightened or initiated by regular use of alcohol. Some of us have psychological as a root cause of our addition and some develop it along the way. Either way, if this is true of you, then you have crossed over from problem drinker to drinking problem.

These 10 questions I have listed can draw a fine line between problem drinkers or drinking problems. If you are on one side or the other, then the answer is simple. IF you are on the borderline between the two then it might be in your best interest to at least talk to someone. I hope you stay blessed