Early Signs of an Alcohol Problem
There is no foolproof way of knowing if someone has an alcohol problem, but you can ask yourself some questions that might begin to help you determine if you or someone you know has a drinking problem.
- Are you, yourself, uneasy about your drinking behavior, why you drink, how much, and/or how you feel when you drink?
- Has someone close to you spoken to you about your drinking behavior?
- Do you drink at most social occasions you attend, such as parties, dates or informal get-togethers?
- Do you sometimes think that you need to drink to have a good time?
- Do you seem to have more courage to meet and talk to people when you have had a few drinks?
- Do a few drinks allow you to be more yourself, more the person you would like to be?
- Have you ever taken a few drinks before going to class, to work, or before dates or appointments to bolster your courage?
- Do you keep a bottle in your apartment or car so it will always be handy if you need it?
- Do you do things when you drink that you wouldn't do if you were sober?
- When things go wrong with work, school, in you home life or with your parents, do you drink to forget about it or to make yourself feel better?
- Do you sometimes forget things that happen while you were drinking?
Blackouts are a definite sign that your brain can no longer tolerate alcohol, whether you have been drinking one year or twenty, whether they occur after a few drinks or many, or whether you appear intoxicated or not.
The "test" above is not a foolproof diagnosis, but it is a rather good indicator. One "yes" answer is reason to be alert to the possibility that alcohol could be a problem for you. The likelihood that it is a serious problem increases with each succeeding "yes," and even two "yes" answers should be considered a danger sign. It may mean that you are using alcohol to deal with stressful situations in your life. While this may not be a problem now, it could set up a pattern that will lead to a more serious problem for you as stresses in your life become greater. You may want to start now to develop some other methods of coping with stress. You can do this on your own or with the help of friends, but if you would like some professional help, consider contacting these University of Florida or campus agencies:
- University Counseling Center (352-392-1575)
- Student Mental Health (352-392-1161)
- GatorWell Health Promotion Services (352-392-1161 ext. 1-4281)
- Alcoholics Anonymous (352-372-8091)
- Or contact the mental health center or Alcoholics Anonymous group nearest you
Many of us tend to postpone accepting or even deny that drinking is becoming a problem for us or for those close to us. Problem drinking usually arises from problems we have in handling stress in our daily lives. You can receive help to better handle the stresses you face. Check out suggestions for handling stress and boosting your self-esteem under these headings at our site: PERSONAL POWER; ANXIETY, STRESS AND DEPRESSION; RELATIONSHIPS
Note: This document is based on an audio tape script developed by the University of Texas, Austin. With their permission, it was revised and edited into its current form by the staff of the University of Florida Counseling Center.