ARE YOU AN ALCOHOLIC?

1. Do you lose time from work due to drinking?
2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?
3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?
4. Is drinking affecting your reputation?
5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking?
6. Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of drinking?
7. Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when drinking?
8. Does your drinking make you careless of your family's welfare?
9. Has your ambition decreased since drinking?
10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time of day?
11. Do you want a drink the next morning?
12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
13. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking?
14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?
15. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble?
16. Do you drink alone?
17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking?
18. Has your physician ever treated you for drinking?
19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
20. Have you ever been to a hospital or institution on account of drinking?


If you have answered YES to any one of the questions, there
is a definite warning that you may be an alcoholic.


If you have answered YES to any two, the chances are that you
are an alcoholic.

If you have answered YES to three or more, you
are definitely an alcoholic.


(These questions were made up by Dr. Robert V. Seliger for use
at John Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, MD, in deciding whether a patient
is alcoholic.) Copyright © Recovered Alcoholic Clergy Association, 2000

Overcoming Alcoholism, Smoking and Drug Addiction

An Inspiring Story from one of Alcoholics Nucleus Members

It's been more than 5 years since i decided to stop smoking, doing drugs and drinking alcohol. I consider it as one of my greatest achievements in life.

It was an abrupt withdrawal from an addiction that started when i was in my Junior high.
I even skip classes back then just to attend drinking sessions or sometimes attend class drunk as early as 7am and get scolded by teachers for smoking insde the school premises.

I started using drugs when i was a senior student in high school.
I guess like most typical teenagers, there's a certain time in our lives when we feel like "its me against the world"... and unfortunately encounter people with the same kind of thinkin and get bad influence from them. I easily get into a fight... I chose not to listen to whatever other people say and stand by my decisions though sometimes it's pretty obvious that i'm wrong.

Though God says we should accept everyone the way they are, I think its still wiser if you choose the right kind of people to associate yourself with.

I've learned that when i met my "real" friends in college who brought me towards the light.
I could still remember that dawn of January 12, 2002 when I said to myself and my friends that it would be the last time i'd get drunk and do drugs come what may.

I simply stood by that decision and though it was really hard i tried not to be in places where i used to hang out. Basically tried to keep myself away from everything and everyone who would consciously or unconsciously encourage me to go back to my old habits.

I suffered a lot, It wasnt an easy job, but i think "conviction" would be the right magic word to use.

A lot of alcoholic people say its hard and those who are extremely addicted says its next to impossible to actually rehabilitate yourself and to keep away from alcohol or in other cases drugs. But i think all we need is to believe that we can do it and live a clean life.

When i finally lived a clean life, i started to have a better disposition in life, making sound decisions, and learned to appreciate the things and people around me.
Slowly but constantly moving on... away from my old rotten spirit.

I dont regret that i have ever gone through all those experiences, because everything that happened to me molded me to what i am now, my mistakes serve
as my guide to do right this time. And what's important is now and tomorrow...

So if you're still in the dark, dont be scared to come out so people can help you...