The signals that someone may have AUD include:
- An uncontrollable urge to drink
- Lack of control over how much you drink
- Negative thoughts when you’re not drinking alcohol
There are mild, moderate, and severe forms of AUD. Which one you may have depended on your behaviours and patterns with alcohol. You’re more likely to have AUD if one or more of the following is true:
- You can’t relax or fall asleep without drinking.
- You need a drink in the morning to get going.
- To be social, you have to drink.
- Alcohol serves as your escape from feelings.
- After drinking, you drive.
- You mix alcohol and medications.
- You drink when you’re pregnant or caring for small children.
- When loved ones ask how much you drink, you don’t tell the truth.
- You hurt people or become angry when you drink.
- It’s tough for you to remember what you did when you were drinking.
- Your responsibilities suffer because of your drinking.
- Drinking has caused you legal problems.
- You tried to stop drinking but failed.
- You can’t stop thinking about drinking.
- To feel the effects of alcohol, you have to drink more and more.
- You have withdrawal symptoms after you drink, like shakiness, nausea, trouble sleeping, or seizures.
The more of these that describe you, the more severe your AUD is likely to be.