Do I Have an Alcohol Problem? How to Tell — and What to Do Next
Most people who come to me with a drinking problem don’t arrive saying “I’m an alcoholic.” They arrive saying something quieter: “I’m just not sure about my drinking.” Or: “I think I might be relying on it a bit too much.” Or simply: “I can’t seem to stop once I’ve started.”
That uncertainty — that quiet, nagging question — is worth taking seriously. It is, in my experience, one of the most honest things a person can do.
So let’s talk about it honestly.
What “an alcohol problem” actually means
The word “alcoholic” carries a lot of baggage — images of rock bottom, of a life completely destroyed. But the reality is that alcohol problems exist on a spectrum, and the vast majority of people who are struggling with drink are still going to work, still maintaining relationships, still functioning in the world.
If alcohol is causing problems in your life — in your health, your relationships, your sleep, your sense of self — that is enough. You don’t have to hit rock bottom to deserve help. You don’t have to be “bad enough.”
Seven honest questions to ask yourself
These aren’t trick questions. They’re the questions I ask in my clinical work, and the ones I once had to answer honestly myself.
- Do you drink more than you intended to, more often than you’d like?
- Do you find it difficult to stop once you’ve started?
- Do you think about drinking when you’re not drinking?
- Has alcohol affected your sleep, your health, your work, or your relationships?
- Have you tried to cut down or stop, but found that you couldn’t?
- Do you feel guilty, ashamed, or secretive about how much you drink?
- Has anyone close to you expressed concern about your drinking?
If you answered yes to two or more of these, it is worth talking to someone. Not because you are beyond help — quite the opposite. The earlier you address these patterns, the easier the path forward tends to be.
Why alcohol problems are rarely just about alcohol
In over twenty years of working with people who have alcohol problems, I have rarely met anyone whose drinking was simply about alcohol. It is almost always about something else — stress, anxiety, loneliness, unprocessed grief, trauma, or the sheer weight of a life lived under pressure.
Alcohol is fast, reliable, and socially acceptable. It offers relief. And it works — until it doesn’t. Understanding why you drink is as important as addressing the drinking itself. That is the work we do together in counselling.
What to do if you think you have a problem
The first and most important step is simply to talk to someone — honestly, without minimising, without managing what you say. That could be a GP, a trusted friend, or a specialist counsellor.
What it doesn’t need to be is dramatic. You don’t need to announce anything to anyone. You just need one honest conversation to get started.
If you’d like that conversation to be with me, I offer a free 15-minute introductory call — no commitment, no pressure, just a chance to talk and see whether working together feels right. All sessions are online, confidential, and available across the UK and worldwide.
Recovery isn’t just about stopping. It’s about building a life that feels worth being present for. You can get better than well.
Ready to take the first step?
Book a free 15-minute introductory call at talktoseamus.co.uk/seamus-macauley-addiction-specialist-appointments — or email
