Do I Have a Drinking Problem? A Therapist’s Honest Checklist
Most people who eventually decide to cut back or quit drinking spend a long time wondering first. This isn’t a diagnostic tool, but it is the kind of honest checklist I’d walk through with someone in a first session. If a few of these sound familiar, that’s worth paying attention to, not panicking about.
Questions Worth Sitting With
None of these on their own means you have a problem. But if you’re reading down this list nodding more than once or twice, it’s worth taking seriously.
Do you drink more, or more often, than you planned to when you started the night?
Have you tried to cut back and found it harder than you expected?
Do you think about your next drink earlier in the day than you’d like to admit?
Do you drink to manage stress, anxiety, boredom, or difficult emotions, rather than just to enjoy it?
Has anyone close to you mentioned, even once, that they’re concerned about your drinking?
Have you missed work, cancelled plans, or underperformed because of drinking or being hungover?
Do you ever feel a need to hide or minimize how much you actually drink?
What Comes Next
Recognizing yourself in this list doesn’t mean you have to overhaul your life tomorrow, and it doesn’t mean you have to identify as an alcoholic to take it seriously. It just means it’s worth a closer, honest look. My confidential Alcohol Self-Assessment is a good place to start, or you’re welcome to reach out directly to talk it through.