Making excuses to take a drink: When somebody tells you a reason every time they have a drink, you be on the lookout for more signs of alcohol abuse.

Secret habit: It’s common for those caught up in alcoholism to try and prevent their loved ones or friends finding out about their problem. As a result, many alcoholics make an excuse by saying they’re going for a walk, when in fact that walk will be to the pub or to the nearest liquor store.

Unable to say no: If somebody can’t turn down the offer of a drink, irrespective of the time, or location, then there’s every reason to suspect alcohol abuse. Remember, alcoholics will experience withdrawal symptoms if they don’t drink.

Unable to have only a single drink: It is practically unheard of for an alcoholic to have only one drink because the bottom line is, they simply don’t know when to stop.

Get yourself in the mood: Mood swings can also be a sure sign of alcoholism as alcoholics will only be in high spirits when they have drink available. During sober periods when reality is not clouded by alcohol, sufferers usually become despondent and unresponsive.

Using alcohol to pick themselves back up: While all alcoholics abuse alcohol, they do so for a variety of reasons. One think you can be sure of though, is that they will always be able to find a reason, irrespective of their mood.

How much can you handle: Over time, alcoholics will need to consume larger quantities of alcohol in order to achieve the desired results and while it may be taking them longer to become intoxicated, there’s no reduction in the amount of damage being inflicted on their liver, kidneys and etc.

Feeling that you cannot cope without at least one drink: If you can’t perform simple tasks without having a dring is a clear indication of an alcohol abuse problem. If you need a drink to be able to focus you definitely need to consider a treatment program.

If you are even reading this, then it stands to reason that you have been asking this question already. There is no single answer to this question, but there are a number of things which you should ask yourself to make this determination. If you’re currently trying to find the answer to this question, then read the three questions which follow – they can indicate that it’s time to seek out some help for your alcohol addiction.

How much work or school have I missed due to my drinking problem in the last thirty days? If you have missed more than a single day because of your drinking, then it is certain that you could benefit from treatment for your alcohol addiction.

I once heard a man at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting say the following: “I used to have a few drinks after work. I found it to be so much fun, I started to have a few drinks before work as well. After awhile, I started having a few drinks during work. After I was fired, I started having a few drinks instead of work.” Of course no one should let things get this far, but missing work could be a sign of alcohol addiction.

Do I hide my drinking from my family? If the answer is yes, you may need alcohol addiction treatment. Going to a bar and telling your spouse you are working overtime is one way of hiding your drinking habit. Another way is to wait until your spouse goes to sleep before you start to drink.

Have I gotten into legal trouble because of my drinking problem? Drinking can lead to a lot of different kinds of run-ins with the law; drunk driving, domestic violence and other violations of the law can stem from a drinking problem. If you have had problems with the law because of your drinking, you need to get treatment for alcohol addiction immediately.

Understanding that your drinking is a problem and that you have an alcohol addiction is the first step on the road to recovery. You can’t recover by yourself; but there is support out there which can help you, so you don’t have to face this struggle by yourself.

There is no cure for alcohol addiction as such, but you can get treatment which can keep you sober and let you life a healthy life which is more enjoyable. The sooner you start with it the better.

What most goes through most alcoholics mind during a period of reflection is whether they will really have to stop drinking alcohol forever. The idea of drinking in moderation or just socially seem to be distinct possibilities but just the thought of being able a have a least one more drink will make giving up even more appealing.

Many alcoholics though do see this option as a way out, but soon find out that they haven’t got the strength to carry on and revert back to previous drinking habits. A few alcoholics do though actually manage, but the question we have to ask ourselves is whether they really were alcoholics, or just alcohol abusers or addicts.

If you were to ask a real alcoholic whether they thought they were capable of just having the odd drink and they were honest, they would almost certainly say that it would be just impossible.

It takes a lot for an alcoholic to even try to have the odd drink and I have heard several stories from people who have and then regretted it later. One guy in his forties who had been dry since his teens decided to start again thinking he was ready, but only ended up getting back his previous bad habits and has not since been able to get dry.

Pregnant mother who are alcoholics often manage to kick the habit for 9 months, but the bad habit always returns, but this time it will destroy another life. It is difficult to see how a women could care for something so much when inside her, but once the joy arrives and can really be loved, alcoholic women know that they only love one thing and that is alcohol.

These stories can be heard on every street corner, as alcoholism stretches all over the planet as the result of being the perfect tax generator for our greedy governments. If you need help as an alcoholic, don’t go to them for help as they are only interested in your money. What you need is independent advice from people who have managed to overcome the disease of alcoholism and whose only wish now is to help other people who need support to stop drinking alcohol.

The stop drinking advice blog is a great place to start where you will be able to get good advice from qualified experts that deal with people who have already helped other people to stop drinking alcohol as well as doing it themselves.