For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Instantly check if your insurance covers treatment at The Recovery Village. Once completed, you will receive an email with your benefit details.
Risk factors
However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification. If you think a partner, friend, or family member may be living with alcohol use disorder, you can take this quiz on behalf of them as well. This online screening is not intended to be a diagnostic tool. It will not guarantee that you may be diagnosed with alcohol use disorder. This free, medically-reviewed alcohol use test is meant for anyone who thinks they may benefit from an evaluation for alcohol use disorder. If you want to cut back, consider how you could restructure your time to rewire your habits.
Alcohol use disorder
Thousands of people from all walks of life battle alcoholism every day, and thousands make the decision to seek help. Alcohol misuse can impact every aspect of your life in ways you may not expect. Having four or five symptoms indicates a moderate alcohol use disorder. People with a moderate alcohol addiction may binge drink so frequently that they do not show signs of tolerance or withdrawal.
What your biological age can reveal about your health
- If you have continued to drink in spite of negative consequences, that could be an indication of a serious problem.
- Only a licensed mental health professional or trained medical doctor can give you a diagnosis and help you figure out the next best steps for you.
- Instead, this questionnaire is designed to assist you with examining your behaviors and the nature of your substance use or the substance use of a loved one.
You are likely to engage in several forms of therapy, from individual to group therapy. Alcohol use disorder is often linked to other mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. Talking to a qualified therapist can help you get to the root of your condition and devise a means to kick it. A person with AUD can lose control over the amount of alcohol they consume and continue to drink despite any adverse health, social or occupational consequences. Alcohol use disorder can cause serious and lasting damage to your liver.
It may negatively impact your relationships — both personal and professional — and affect your mental and physical health. Regularly drinking in this manner warrants a closer look at your relationship with alcohol and it may be time to consider getting help for your drinking habits. If you are ready to discuss treatment, our admissions navigators are available 24/7 to speak with you today.
Have you unsuccessfully tried to cut back or stop drinking?
In some cases, it may be very obvious that you have a problem with drinking. Instead, the term is used to indicate that a person misuses alcohol. If you think a medication could be the culprit behind your thirst at night, talk to your doctor. Am I an Alcoholic Excessive thirst (and even nighttime urination) could be a possible side effect. Your doctor might be able to prescribe something else, adjust your dose, or recommend you take it at a different time of day to decrease nighttime thirst.
If you’re concerned about your answers, the first step is to talk with a healthcare provider about your drinking. You can talk to a physician, psychiatrist, or mental health provider. They can ask you further questions and help you figure out if you have an alcohol use disorder. Research studies have shown that a third of people being treated for alcohol use disorders exhibited no symptoms after a year of treatment. Many others reportedly reduced their alcohol consumption and had fewer problems related to alcohol.
- But the questions above can help you reflect on your relationship with alcohol and may give you insight into whether you have a problem.
- It’s possible that you’re dehydrated, which comes with a host of other symptoms, like dry mouth, dark-colored urine, and fatigue, according to the National Library of Medicine.
- From there, they may recommend that you get professional treatment — such as detox, residential treatment, or outpatient treatment — to manage your drinking.
- When you keep drinking this way, your tolerance will keep rising.
- This online screening is not intended to be a diagnostic tool.
What is Alcohol Use Disorder?
