Am I an Alcoholic

It’s a controversial word, but one that’s commonly used by people in addiction recovery. So, what does “alcoholic” mean, why are some people reluctant to use the word, and how can you find out whether it’s a word that defines you?

Join us as we answer each of these questions, and help you decide whether it’s time to reconsider your relationship with alcohol.

If today’s post resonates with you, we’d urge you to reach out to our team for advice on finding the right type of professional help in your area.

Call us on 0800 111 4108 whenever you’re ready.

Why So Many People Resist the Word “Alcoholic”

The word “alcoholic” holds a lot of weight. Even if someone’s showing every sign of alcoholism, they may not be ready to admit they’re officially an “alcoholic”.

Instead, they may:

• Be in complete denial about their drinking habits
• Claim to be in control of their drinking
• Downplay how much they drink
• Compare themselves to people who drink more
• Rationalise alcohol misuse by saying things like “at least I don’t drink every day” or “at least I’m not doing illegal drugs”
• Admit they do have a problem with alcohol but they’re not an “alcoholic”

These diversions and mitigations help the person with alcoholism to escape the reality of their situation. As they’re convincing others they’re okay, they’re also convincing themselves, and delaying getting treatment.

It’s not always a conscious way of living. Many people downplay their alcohol problem without fully realising they’re doing it, as their brain is protecting them from the severity of their issue. 

Shame is a big part of this, as it causes us to want to hide our problems, and pretend we’re doing better than we are. Unfortunately, there is still stigma attached to the word “alcoholic”, so this shame is social as well as internal.

Finally, the word “alcoholic” doesn’t accurately describe the person’s situation.

It’s not a medical term, and it’s used in different ways, so there’s not much certainty around what an alcoholic actually is. This can make people resist using the word.

What Does “Alcoholic” Actually Mean?

Alcohol misuse exists on a spectrum. People can battle a harmful relationship with alcohol without having a dependence or addiction, but one is likely to lead to the other without professional intervention.

According to Merriam Webster, an alcoholic is defined as “a person affected by alcoholism” (1). Alcoholism itself is described as “a chronic, progressive, potentially fatal disorder marked by excessive and usually compulsive drinking of alcohol leading to psychological and physical dependence or addiction” (2).

So, what’s the difference between alcoholism and alcohol dependence or addiction?

Alcoholism doesn’t exist in a clinical sense. It’s a term that’s commonly used by people with lived experience of addiction to describe any sort of dependence or addiction on alcohol, but mostly moderate to severe presentations.

The equivalent clinical term would be alcohol use disorder (AUD), which can be mild, moderate or severe, and includes dependence and addiction.

So, it’s tricky to know exactly what someone means when they use the word “alcoholic”, but a very general interpretation is that the individual has problems controlling their alcohol use, and they’re likely to be dependent on, or addicted to, alcohol.

If I’m Worried About Being an Alcoholic, Does That Mean I Am One?

Do non-alcoholics worry about being alcoholics?

Generally, they don’t, but there’s some nuance here.

If you’re regularly feeling concerned about how much alcohol you’re using, it does increase the likelihood that you may be an alcoholic. Clearly, your brain is telling you that something about your relationship with alcohol isn’t healthy, and that it could point to a serious problem.

Often, this happens after a particular event. Let’s say someone attended a family party, got extremely drunk and behaved in ways they regretted the next morning, and realised others managed to have a couple of drinks and enjoy the night.

This could spark the thought “am I an alcoholic?”, and it’s a question that’s always worth acknowledging.

Having said that, even when someone isn’t drinking like the average person does, the problem isn’t necessarily alcohol addiction. It could be that they’re using alcohol hazardously or harmfully but they aren’t yet dependent on it. 

It isn’t always easy to distinguish between harmful misuse and dependence, as the actions can sometimes be the same. For instance, you could binge drink on the weekends without being physically or psychologically dependent on alcohol, but binge drinking can also be strongly linked to dependence.

The tell-tale signs to look for are tolerance and withdrawal. When someone’s dependent on alcohol, they’ll experience both of these symptoms:

• Tolerance: Needing to drink more alcohol to feel the same effects
• Withdrawal: Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when alcohol hasn’t been consumed in a while

It’s worth mentioning that, in rare cases, people can worry about their relationship with alcohol unnecessarily, due to high anxiety, OCD, paranoia, or manipulation by those around them.

However, the majority of the time, having these concerns means you should carefully consider your drinking habits and behaviours, and reach out for help even if you’re not yet experiencing dependence (as it can begin to affect you very quickly).

What are the Signs of Alcoholism?

As we introduce you to some common signs of alcoholism, think about whether any of these could apply to you or a loved one:

• Binge drinking every time you start drinking
• Drinking alcohol every night
• Hiding the amount you drink
• Avoiding things you enjoy in order to spend more time drinking
• Neglecting responsibilities to drink alcohol
• Drinking despite worsening physical or mental health
• Avoiding socialising unless alcohol is involved
• Consistently drinking more than you intended
• Feeling guilty about alcohol use
• Spending lots of time thinking about alcohol
• Developing a tolerance
• Drinking alone regularly
• Craving alcohol 
• Finding it hard to reduce your alcohol intake
• Experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms

Even if none of these signs resonate with you, you may still be dealing with alcoholism. The symptoms are varied, which is why it’s so important to seek professional help, and receive tailored advice and treatment.

Equally, just because someone relates to one of these signs doesn’t mean they’re necessarily an alcoholic. To give an example, it’s possible to drink on a daily basis without being an alcoholic (though it could lead to alcoholism).

Alcoholism Isn’t Always Obvious

You could read every sign and symptom in the world and still be surprised that someone you know is battling alcoholism.

Even the close families and friends of alcoholics can miss signs, so when it comes to colleagues, employers, acquaintances and neighbours, alcoholism frequently gets missed.

Sometimes, that’s because people don’t want to accept the problem that’s staring them in the face. Maybe there are clear signs, but they don’t want to jump to conclusions, or they aren’t ready to accept that someone needs professional help.

Other times, signs are covered up very well. A big part of alcoholism is secrecy, meaning many people who struggle with their alcohol use can downplay or hide their issues from everyone around them.

They may be successful in their career, happy in their relationship and friendships, and financially stable, all while managing a crippling dependence on an addictive substance.

Can I Get Better Without Professional Treatment?

Below, we offer guidance on whether you can overcome addiction without professional help:

1. Will my symptoms improve over time?

No, your symptoms of alcoholism will not improve if you’re still drinking alcohol and not receiving professional treatment.

You may adapt to how you feel to a certain extent, but that’s not good news for your health. Adapting doesn’t mean you’re functioning well, and it can actually mask serious health problems.

It’s very likely that symptoms will worsen if you continue to delay treatment. Alcohol use disorder damages the brain and body, and the more alcohol you’re consuming, the riskier this is for your physical and mental health.

Whilst we can’t predict exactly how your health will be affected, we’ve seen people develop:

• Cancer, of various types
• Liver disease
• Heart disease
• Memory problems
• Low self-esteem
• Depression
• Panic attacks
• Insomnia

2. Can I get sober alone?

It’s very rare for people to transition into long-term recovery without professional treatment.

Alcohol use disorder is a relapsing disorder. No matter how much you try, it’s exceptionally difficult to give up alcohol once you’re dependent, unless you receive adequate support.

In fact, it’s dangerous to do so. Suddenly withdrawing from alcohol can cause dangerous symptoms, and result in hospitalisation or death. 

The safe option is to detox in a clinical setting, where you receive plenty of support, your symptoms are tracked, and you follow a structured detox plan crafted by medical professionals.

We’ve mentioned that alcohol addiction comes with psychological dependence, and that’s not something that can be treated effectively by detox. Whilst patients may feel more capable of staying sober once they’ve withdrawn from alcohol, the psychological attraction to the drug is extremely powerful.

That’s when therapy comes in. Addiction therapy, from group therapy sessions to contingency management (an evidence-based behavioural therapy), is an essential part of many recovery programmes, helping patients learn why they’re drawn to alcohol, and how they can maintain sobriety permanently.

3. Do I have to go to rehab if I’m an alcoholic?

Recovery is all about informed choice. No one can make you go to rehab, even if your problem is severe.

However, residential rehab is an incredible place to be if you’re experiencing problems with giving up alcohol. It touches on so many aspects of addiction, and consistently lowers relapse rates in individuals who once thought they could never stay sober.

Other treatment options can also lead to long-term sobriety, but statistics don’t lie, and inpatient rehab is the most effective of them all, for most (but not all) patients. Other important options include alcohol detox (without the secondary stage of psychological treatment), online rehab, intensive outpatient services, Alcoholics Anonymous groups, etc.

Will I Always Be an Alcoholic?

You may have heard people say that once you’re an alcoholic, you’ll always be in recovery. This is something we strongly agree with at Rehab4Alcoholism. 

Alcoholism is very hard to treat, and even when someone has completed comprehensive treatment at rehab, there’s still a risk of relapse. It’s a lifelong disease, with no cure, but there’s still plenty of hope to be found.

Being in lifelong recovery doesn’t mean a lifetime of experiencing dreadful symptoms or feeling deep shame about your addiction.

As you work on your addiction, you’ll develop healthier coping mechanisms, helping you to rebuild a positive life. There will always be challenges along the way, but with the right set of tools, you can learn how to manage any challenge that arises, with healthy emotional regulation and a strong support system.

How Can Rehab4Alcoholism Help?

Our excellent reputation in the industry is evidenced by our substantial network of UK rehabilitation centres and happy clients.

From private rehabilitation centres to NHS facilities in the UK, and diverse options abroad, we provide something for everyone.

Ready to consider professional help? There’s no time better than the present. Please get in touch with us on 0800 111 4108 to chat to a patient, understanding advisor.

FAQs

Below, we outline some frequently asked questions around this topic:

1. What are the UK drinking guidelines?

It’s recommended for men and women to drink “no more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days with several drink-free days, and no bingeing” (3).

Plenty of Brits see this as too strict, but keep in mind that heavy drinking is somewhat normalised in the UK, and lots of people are privately dealing with serious consequences of alcoholism.

Drinking over the recommended guidelines doesn’t mean you must be an alcoholic. These are simply recommendations for keeping alcohol use safe. So, if you consistently drink much more than this, your risk of developing alcohol use disorder is much higher.

2. Can someone be an alcoholic despite having a successful career?

Absolutely. Having a successful career isn’t mutually exclusive with alcoholism. 

Alcoholism does often cause problems within the workplace, from low productivity to job loss, but this doesn’t always show up straight away, and some people manage to hide their alcoholism at work long-term, with it never becoming obvious to colleagues or managers.

3. Isn’t It Too Early to Get Help?

It’s never too early to get help. Early intervention is closely linked to successful long-term recovery, as alcohol issues are much easier to treat when they’ve only recently emerged.

As humans, we’re naturally less motivated when it comes to future outcomes that we don’t benefit from right now. That’s why it’s so important to read other people’s stories, and explore our resources, to understand exactly why you should get help sooner rather than later.

References

[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alcoholic

[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alcoholism

[3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6166584/

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