Alcoholism is a very serious disease that threatens the life of anybody who suffers from it. It is a progressive illness that gets worse and worse if left untreated. There is sometimes confusion around exactly who has a drinking problem that needs alcohol rehab.

Perhaps this is because alcohol is an acceptable part of many social situations. Alcohol is consumed at parties, sporting events, dinner, and as a pleasant way to relax. Moderate alcohol usage (up to two drinks a day) is not thought to be harmful to healthy adults. Such adults would probably never develop a dependency on alcohol or get into serious trouble because of their drinking. Yet there are those for whom alcohol consumption becomes extremely problematic. They are unable to stop no matter what the consequences and end up needing professional help in an alcohol rehab center. It is estimated that approximately 18,000,000 Americans are alcoholic or abuse alcohol.

Heavy drinking exposes you to a number of risks. Certain cancers occur more frequently in heavy drinkers. Your internal organs like your heart, liver, and kidneys suffer damage from heavy drinking. Alcohol can induce problems in the brain that lead to psychosis, nerve damage, personality changes, and depression. Many car crashes and other accidental deaths can be related to alcohol intoxication. Murder and suicide are also associated with alcohol intoxication.

Because alcoholism is a progressive illness you might not be experiencing all of these symptoms yet. Many people think of an alcoholic as a tramp living under newspapers on a park bench. Because they still have a job and a house they believe that they are not alcoholic. Remember that this illness gets worse and early identification and treatment in an alcohol rehab center in South Africa will help you avoid sharing that park bench.

Most alcohol self-assessment questions focus on "unmanageability" - the problems that drinking creates in normal life. Alcoholism is characterised by a compulsive need to drink no matter what the circumstances. Questions will usually look at the consequences of drinking in various areas: work, social, homelife, physical and mental health, financial, legal, and so on. Generally speaking an alcoholic will know at some level that he/she has a drinking problem. Here are some questions that you could ask yourself to determine if you should seek an assessment at an alcohol rehab:

1) Have you ever tried to cut back on your drinking?
2) Have you ever had to defend your drinking to other people?
3) Have you ever felt guilty about how much you drank?
4) Have you ever needed to have a drink in the morning?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions then it would be a very good idea to approach a professional at an alcohol rehab center and request a complete assessment. Some people would say that even asking yourself if you have a drinking problem is a sign that you should be assessed. Afterall, people who do not have a problem with drinking alcohol never even consider they have a problem.

You can find more self-assessment questions by clicking here. You can contact us if you would like help in finding an alcohol rehab center in South Africa that will be able to offer you a comprehensive treatment program.