For many people it is hard to determine the difference between being a recreational drinker and having an alcohol use disorder. You may not know if you need help from an outpatient alcohol treatment facility. There are, however, some common warning signs that you can look for when trying to determine if your alcohol use has become problematic and if an outpatient alcohol treatment center is right for you: Being unable to control when or how much you drink Having uncontrollable cravings to drink Coping with emotions by drinking Engaging in “binge drinking” – having five or more drinks in a sitting Needing to consume increasingly larger amounts of alcohol to experience the same effects Having difficulty cutting down or stopping drinking or tried to stop on your own but could not Storing alcohol in hidden places, such as at work, in your car, or in unusual places in your house Feelings of irritability if you cannot drink when you want to Continuing to drink despite experiencing negative consequences in your personal or professional life Getting into multiple situations while drinking or after drinking that increase your chances of getting hurt (e.g., driving, unsafe sex, being in a dangerous area) Experiencing blackouts or periods of time when you cannot remember what you did, where you were, or who you were with Being dishonest to others or hiding your drinking habits Preferring to drink over engaging in other activities/hobbies Experiencing symptoms when you are unable to drink such as nausea, sweating, shaking, hallucinations, vomiting, convulsions, anxiety, depression, insomnia, hand tremors Making excuses for drinking such as to deal with stress or to relax Feeling guilty or ashamed about your drinking