When are you an alcoholic?

The following 11 addiction characteristics belong to an alcohol addiction. The severity of the addiction can also be read from this model. They call this the DSM-5 criteria in mental health care. We speak of problematic drinking when at least two of the criteria below occur within a period of one year.

1. You drink more often and in larger amounts than you intended.
2. You have already had several failed attempts to cut down or quit.
3. Actually drinking alcohol and recovering from it takes a lot of time.
4. You have a strong desire to drink.
5. Because you drink alcohol, you fall short at work, school or at home.
6. You continue to drink alcohol, even though it causes problems in your relationship(s).
7. By drinking alcohol you give up hobbies, social activities or work.
8. You keep drinking, even when it puts you in danger.
9. You continue to drink even though you know that the use is causing or exacerbating physical or psychological problems.
10. You need increasing amounts of alcohol to still feel the effect.
11. Withdrawal symptoms (withdrawal symptoms), you dampen by drinking more alcohol.

Source: helpguide.nl.