How Do I Know If I Need Help For My Alcohol Use?

Signs Of An Alcohol Problem

The signs of alcohol addiction can be easy to recognize in some cases and difficult in others, especially for those who can continue to function normally at home, school, or work.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) lists eleven criteria for licensed professionals to use when diagnosing someone with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). The criteria include the following:

• You drink larger amounts of alcohol and for longer periods than intended.
• Despite your desire and efforts, you can’t quit drinking alcohol.
• Much of your time is spent seeking, drinking, or recovering from alcohol’s effects.
• You have intense cravings and urges to drink alcohol.
• Drinking alcohol interferes with your ability to fulfill your duties at work, home, or school.
• You continue to drink alcohol despite it causing significant social or interpersonal problems.
• You avoid work, family, or social activities to spend more time drinking alcohol.
• You drink alcohol in situations that may be dangerous.
• You continue to drink alcohol, knowing it can worsen physical or psychological problems.
• Tolerance builds as you need to drink more alcohol to increase its effects.
• You experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms when you cut back or go without alcohol.

A diagnosis of AUD is classified as either mild, moderate, or severe. Meeting two to three criteria equals mild, three to five equals moderate, and six or more equals severe.

The diagnostic criteria are not the only way to determine if someone has an alcohol problem. Partaking in negligent or dangerous behaviors, like frequent binge drinking and blacking out, can also signify a problem with alcohol. The following examples are signs you or someone you love needs help:

• Skipping work to spend the day drinking
• Getting defensive when questioned about your alcohol use
• Drinking and driving, putting yourself and others at risk
• Going to happy hour but being unable to stop drinking when happy hour ends
• Spending money on alcohol instead of paying the rent or other essential bills
• Experiencing blackouts or not remembering what you did while drinking
• Drinking alcohol in secret or hiding it
• Dealing with withdrawal symptoms by continuing to drink
• Choosing alcohol over relationship, job, family responsibilities
• Being able to out-drink all your friends

You or your loved one may have unique changes that only they exhibit. It’s crucial to pay attention to these changes because they can signal the development of an alcohol problem. When you first suspect a problem, reach out for help.

Early Signs Of Alcoholism

Alcohol use disorders develop over several stages, each of which reveals signs of alcoholism. Early signs of alcohol addiction may reflect the reason someone is drinking, which may be to dull pain, fit in socially, cope with mental health symptoms, or increase confidence.

Drinking alcohol can quickly develop into a problem. Withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism can appear after one episode of binge drinking or heavy drinking. Drinking alcohol to stop withdrawal symptoms is how many people get caught in the vicious cycle of addiction.

Behavioral Signs Of Alcoholism

Alcohol misuse causes you to behave in ways you wouldn’t if you weren’t drinking. Alcohol directly alters how the brain functions, which leads to noticeable behavioral signs of alcoholism, including the following:

• Behaving in ways that violate the law, like drinking and driving, public intoxication, or fighting
• Being worried about running out of alcohol to the extent that getting more becomes a priority
• Finding reasons to drink alcohol over fulfilling daily responsibilities
• Drinking alcohol alone or in isolation
• Drinking at unusual times of the day, like early morning
• Becoming angry and agitated when confronted about your drinking habits
• Being unwilling to stop drinking
• Hiding alcohol around the house or workplace

Any behaviors that seem atypical or are causing problems for your loved one may be a sign to pay attention to and address as soon as possible. Alcohol misuse can quickly grow into an AUD, increasing the chances of harm.

Physical Signs Of Alcoholism

Physical signs of alcoholism will likely be easy to recognize. You or your loved one may exhibit any or all of the following:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Shaky hands or tremors
• Changes in weight
• Redness or flushing of the face and palms
• Bloodshot eyes
• Slurred words
• Lack of balance
• Injuries while intoxicated
• Poor hygiene

Psychological changes, including mood swings, personality changes, or an increase in mental health symptoms, may also accompany physical and behavioral signs of alcohol addiction. Whether you have one or more of these symptoms of alcoholism, getting help is crucial.

The Difference Between Heavy Drinkers And Alcoholics

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism identifies multiple levels of drinking, including binge, high-intensity, heavy, alcohol misuse, and alcohol use disorder.

They note that heavy drinking and alcoholism are not the same. Heavy drinking is based on how much you drink. Men who drink heavily consume five or more drinks on any given day or 15 or more drinks per week. Women consume four or more drinks a day or eight or more alcoholic drinks per week. Heavy drinkers can stop drinking in between episodes.

Conversely, men and women with alcohol use disorders cannot stop drinking even when they experience adverse consequences, like DUIs, job loss, broken relationships, or worsening physical or mental issues.

What If I Don’t Drink Every Day?

You may wonder, “Do I need alcohol treatment if I don’t drink every day?” That’s a good question since many people do not have an alcohol problem and can have an occasional alcoholic drink without experiencing any adverse effects.

On the other hand, some people may go days or weeks between drinking episodes but can have an alcohol use disorder even if they do not drink every day. A quick test to help you know when to seek help for alcohol abuse is the CAGE Assessment, where you answer four questions with yes or no. The questions include:

• Have you ever felt like you need to cut back on drinking?
• Have people annoyed you by saying you have a drinking problem?
• Have you ever felt guilt after drinking?
• Have you ever had an eye-opener (a drink after you wake up to get rid of a hangover or withdrawal symptoms)?

Each yes answer equals one point, and any score above two suggests you should seek an assessment from a mental health professional. Keep in mind there are various types of alcohol problems, and your drinking can fall into harmless or mild, or any of the following types of alcohol problems:

Binge Drinking

Binge drinking, like heavy drinking, refers to how much you drink in a specific period. For men, binge drinking means consuming five or more standard alcoholic beverages in two hours; for women, it means drinking four or more standard alcoholic beverages in two hours. Standard drinks contain 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol. These amounts are what get your blood alcohol concentration to .08%, which is considered officially intoxicated.

High-Intensity Drinking

High-intensity drinking is when someone consumes more than what is considered to be binge drinking. Some refer to this level as level one or level two binge drinking. At level two, you drink two to three times more than someone who is binge drinking, or 10 alcoholic beverages for males and eight for women. Level three means you drink three times what an average binge drinker would consume.

Alcohol Misuse

Anyone drinking excessive amounts of alcohol may make choices that put themselves or others in danger. This is alcohol misuse and can include both binge and heavy drinking.

Alcohol Help is not affiliated with any insurance.

How To Get Help for Alcohol Abuse

Getting help for alcohol abuse begins with an assessment by a licensed professional who can accurately diagnose you and recommend an alcohol treatment plan that meets your needs. Treatment plans are usually integrative, using multiple therapies to heal all areas of your life.

Pharmacotherapy

Alcohol use disorder produces painful withdrawal symptoms, but there are treatment medications to ease symptoms, such as acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone.

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapies help you change unhealthy thought patterns, which will then change how you feel and behave. This will produce positive actions to help you reach the goals you set for overcoming alcohol use disorder and in recovery. Examples of behavioral therapies include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Mindfulness-based CBT (MB-CBT)

You may also benefit from trauma-focused therapies and alternative therapies. Examples include acupuncture, yoga, meditation, art therapy, music therapy, or equine therapy.

Support Groups

Peer support is an essential part of recovery from an alcohol use disorder. You can get support in group therapies led by a therapist or benefit from peer-led groups in the community. Alcoholics Anonymous and SMART Recovery™ are two examples of effective recovery support groups. Your family can also attend support groups to learn how to help you have a successful recovery and receive support for how they have been affected by your AUD.

Find Alcoholism Treatment

If your drinking patterns are making you question if you need help for alcohol misuse, now is the time to start learning more about available recovery resources and alcohol addiction treatment.

Contact a treatment provider today for free to discuss your rehab-related questions and explore your treatment options. It’s never too early to start the journey towards a healthier, sober future.