Are you a member of AA - Almost Alcoholic? Warning signs...

An occasional drink or glass of wine can be beneficial...

 

...and too much alcohol is no good. There’s a lot of room between the two categories and according to Dr. Robert Doyle, author of “Almost Alcoholic,” a lot of us are almost there. He explains that alcohol effects every person differently, so there’s no set amount that is considered safe. To determine if your an Almost Alcoholic, Dr. Doyle suggests asking yourself these questions:

• Do you continue drinking despite negative consequences, such as disrupted sleep or hangovers?

• Do you look forward to drinking and arrange your schedule to be sure you can have a drink?

• Do you drink alone?

• Do you sometimes drink to control negative feelings such as boredom or anxiety?

• Is your drinking causing suffering to yourself or a loved one?

If the answer is yes to any of those questions, you should rethink your drinking habits. Even if you’re just a social drinker, it can be problematic. Ask yourself if you would enjoy that activity or those people without alcohol. Test yourself and switch up your routine. Skip a drink that you would normally have and see how that feels. It’s important for Almost Alcoholics to break those associations to avoid a real problem down the road.