Recognising the Signs

If any of the following apply to you, it's worth being honest with yourself:

• You drink more than you intend to, more often than you planned
• You find it hard to have a day without a drink
• You feel irritable, anxious, or restless when you haven't had a drink
• You've increased how much you drink to get the same effect
• You've tried to cut down and found it harder than expected
• People close to you have commented on your drinking
• You're drinking alone, or drinking to manage stress, anxiety, or low mood

None of these mean you're an alcoholic. All of them mean it's worth paying attention.