AM I AN ADDICT?

Most of us do not have to think twice about this question. WE KNOW!

Our whole life and thinking was centered around our addiction in one form or another - always scheming and plotting to find ways to feed our addictions. We lived to use and used to live.

Very simply, an addict is a man or woman whose life is controlled by by a substance or action.

We are people in the grip of a continuing and progressive illness whose ends are always the same: jails, institutions, llness, poverty, and death.

Only you can decide if you have an addiction, or whether or not a 12 step recovery program can help.

The following questionnaire may help you! If you answer YES to four or more questions, you may have a problem that can be helped by the steps. See how you do.

Remember that there is no disgrace in facing up to the fact that you have a problem! Answer YES or NO to the following questions. If your addictive behavior is not drinking, substitute what you think should go there.

This information is just for you. Nothing is recorded. When you close this page, everything vaporizes!

1. Have you ever decided to stop drinking for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days?
   
   
2. Do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking - stop telling you what to do?
   
   
3. Have you ever switched from one kind of drink to another in the hope that this would keep you from getting drunk?
   
   
4. Have you had to have an eye-opener upon awakening during the past year?
   
   
5. Do you envy people who can drink without getting into trouble?
   
   
6. Have you had problems connected with drinking during the past year?
   
   
7. Has your drinking caused trouble at home?
   
   
8. Do you ever try to get "extra" drinks at a party because you do not get enough?
   
   
9. Do you tell yourself you can stop drinking any time you want to, even though you keep getting drunk when you don't mean to?
   
   
10. Have you missed days of work or school because of drinking?
    
    
11. Do you have "blackouts"?
    
    
12. Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not drink?

What's your score? Did you answer YES four or more times? If so, you are probably addicted.

Why do we say this? Because thousands of people in recovery have said so for many years. They found out the truth about themselves - the hard way.

But again, only you can decide whether you think a 12 step recovery program is for you. Try to keep an open mind on the subject.

Experiencing Post Acute Withdrawal: I start having problems with one or more of the following; thinking difficulties, emotional overreaction problems, sleep disturbances, memory difficulties, becoming accident prone, and/or starting to experience a serious sensitivity to stress.
Return To Denial: I stop telling others what I’m thinking/feeling and start trying to convince myself or others that everything is all right, when in fact it is not.

Avoidance And Defensive Behavior: I start avoiding people who will give me honest feedback and/or I start becoming irritable and angry with them.
Starting To Crisis Build: I start to notice that ordinary everyday problems become overwhelming and no matter how hard I try, I can’t solve my problems.

Feeling Immobilized (Stuck): I start believing that there is nowhere to turn and no way to solve my problems. I feel trapped and start to use magical thinking.

Becoming Depressed: I start feeling down-in-the dumps and have very low energy. I may even become so depressed that I start thinking of suicide.
Compulsive And/Or Impulsive Behaviors (Loss Of Control): I start using one or more of the following- food, sex, caffeine, nicotine, work, gambling, etc. often in an out of control fashion. And/or I may react without thinking of the consequences of my behavior on myself and others.

Urges And Cravings (Thinking About Drinking/Using): I begin to think that alcohol/drug use is the only way to feel better. I start thinking about justifications to drink/use and convince myself that using is the logical thing to do.

Chemical Loss Of Control (Drinking/Using): I find myself drinking/using again to solve my problems. I start to believe that “it’s all over ‘till I hit bottom, so I may as well enjoy this relapse while it’s good.” My problems continue to get worse.

Adapted from Terence T. Gorski's Warning Sign Identification Process