Addiction can negatively impact your physical and mental health, lead to financial instability, and strain relationships with your loved ones. Assessing whether you’re addicted to alcohol or drugs can help you take action toward seeking the necessary help and support to begin your recovery process. Here are some questions to ask yourself to assess if you have an addiction:
1. Do You Consume Alcohol or Drugs in Larger Quantities Than You Intended?
This question seeks to determine whether you have difficulty controlling your substance use. If your answer is yes, it could mean the substances have more control over you than you do them.
2. Have You Tried To Limit or Eliminate Substances and Failed?
This question also assesses your level of self-control. If you’ve attempted to stop substance use, you may be on the right path. You may need help from an addiction professional if your attempts have been unsuccessful, as your drug or alcohol use may have a stronger hold on you than you anticipated.
3. Do You Experience Strong Urges To Use a Substance?
Experiencing strong cravings for alcohol and drugs is often a sign of addiction. This is especially applicable if the urges are hard to resist and accompanied by physical, emotional, or mental distress.
4. Has Your Substance Use Impacted Your Relationships?
While it may be normal for a few people to disapprove of alcohol or drugs, it’s a cause for concern if most of those around you have started to break off relationships due to your substance abuse. They may be against your substance use because of excessive dependence.
5. Has Your School or Work Performance Suffered Because of Substance Use?
People struggling with addictions sometimes find it difficult to focus on their education and work. If this describes your situation, you may have a substance use problem. Seek professional help through therapy, rehab, or other recovery programs.
6. Do You Continue To Use Substances Despite Their Negative Impacts?
Individuals with addictions are often aware of the harmful impacts of substances on their lives but continue to use them regardless. This indicates a loss of control, as people do not often willingly jeopardize their life and relationships.
7. Have You Developed a High Substance Tolerance?
People struggling with addictions need to increase their substance intake with time to get their desired effects. This is because the body adapts to substances over time, causing a diminished effect when one uses them in the same quantities. If your tolerance has gradually risen with extended use, you may be experiencing an addiction.
8. Have You Lied To Conceal Your Substance Use?
Some people are dishonest about their substance use to hide the extent of their addictions. Lying about substance use may also indicate guilt or shame stemming from certain addictions. Lying to friends and family can be another indicator that substance abuse may be an issue.
9. Have You Sold Personal Belongings To Obtain a Substance?
Resorting to desperate measures like selling personal items for alcohol or drug money is a red flag. It can indicate you prioritize substance use over everything else and are losing control.
10. Do You Need Drugs or Alcohol To Feel Normal?
People with addictions require substances to function normally. Some use drugs or alcohol when they wake up to feel normal. You may have a high substance dependence if this describes your condition.
11. Do You Find Yourself Constantly Thinking About Certain Substances?
Individuals with addictions are often preoccupied with thoughts of using substances. Some even plan their next use when in the middle of using them. This signals a strong attachment to substances and may even indicate a dangerous addiction.
12. Is Your Appearance Changing Due to Substance Use?
Some people stop caring for themselves because of their addictions. They may experience dramatic changes in their hygiene and dressing. People also experience some uncontrollable changes to their physical appearance because of substance use. These include dental decay, weight loss or gain, and wrinkled or puffy skin.
Educate Yourself About Addiction
Some people are addicted to substances and don’t even realize it. They don’t know what signs and symptoms to look for. Ask yourself these questions to determine if you need professional help. If you answer yes to most of them, seek the guidance of an addiction specialist to learn how to regain control over your life.