What Questions Should I Ask Myself About My Drinking?
By Holly Wilson
Have you ever found yourself wondering if your relationship with alcohol has crossed an invisible line? Maybe you've noticed your evening glass of wine has become two or three, or you’re increasingly turning to alcohol instead of prayer when life feels overwhelming. You’re not alone in asking these questions, and seeking answers is an important step toward understanding where you stand.
The Truth About Alcohol Use: It’s a Spectrum
Many people believe there are only two types of drinkers: those who have their drinking under control and those who are “alcoholics.” However, the reality is far more nuanced. Alcohol use exists on a spectrum, ranging from occasional social drinking to severe physical dependence. Where you fall on this spectrum isn’t about labels—it’s about honest self-assessment and understanding how alcohol affects your life, relationships, and most importantly, your relationship with God.
Key Alcohol Questions to Consider
When evaluating your relationship with alcohol, it’s important to be thorough and honest with yourself. These questions help create a comprehensive picture of how alcohol may be affecting different areas of your life.
Quantity and Frequency:
How many drinks do you typically have in one sitting? (Be honest about pour sizes - a home pour is often 2-3 times standard drink sizes.)
How many days per week do you drink? Pay attention to patterns like only weekends vs. daily drinking.
Do you find yourself drinking more than you initially planned? Notice if one drink regularly turns into several.
Have you noticed your tolerance increasing over time?
Do you feel anxiety if you know alcohol won’t be readily available?
Emotional and Spiritual Impact:
Do you turn to alcohol before turning to prayer when stressed? Notice your first instinct in difficult moments.
Has alcohol affected your church attendance or spiritual practices? Consider both Sunday morning attendance and daily devotional time.
Do you feel guilty about your drinking habits? Pay attention to that still, small voice.
Has alcohol created distance between you and God? Consider whether it's affecting your prayer life or Bible study.
Do you find yourself hiding or minimizing your drinking from your church community?
Control and Behavior:
Have you tried to cut back but found it difficult? Note any failed attempts at moderation.
Do you hide or downplay how much you drink? This includes hiding empty bottles or drinking before/after social events.
Has anyone expressed concern about your drinking? Include comments from family, friends or colleagues.
Do you find yourself thinking about drinking throughout the day?
Have you created rules around your drinking that you struggle to follow?
Life Impact:
Has drinking affected your work performance? Include both obvious impacts like tardiness and subtle ones like reduced productivity
Do you miss important events or commitments due to drinking or hangovers?
Has alcohol impacted your relationships with family or friends? Consider both direct conflicts and subtle withdrawal from relationships.
Are you spending more money than you’d like on alcohol?
Has your physical health or mental clarity been affected?
Are you fully present for your children or spouse in evening hours?
The Value of Professional Alcohol Assessment Tools
While self-reflection is important, structured alcohol assessment tools can provide more objective insights. Taking an alcohol questionnaire or assessment like the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) can provide valuable insights into your drinking patterns. These tools don’t diagnose alcohol use disorder (AUD), which only a licensed medical professional is qualified to do, but they can provide awareness and understanding. Think of an alcohol questionnaire as a spiritual and practical checkpoint, helping you evaluate whether alcohol has taken a place in your life that once belonged to God.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Understanding these warning signs in detail can help you recognize when your relationship with alcohol needs attention.
Increasing Tolerance:
Needing more alcohol to achieve the same effect
Finding that your usual number of drinks doesn’t give you the relief it once did
Noticing you can drink more than others without showing obvious effects
Having to drink more to feel relaxed or sociable
Switching to stronger drinks or drinking them faster
Loss of Control:
Difficulty stopping once you start drinking
Making promises to yourself about limiting drinks but breaking them
Finding yourself drinking on days you planned not to
Drinking earlier in the day than you used to
Making excuses to have “just one more”
Prioritizing Alcohol:
Choosing drinking over other activities or responsibilities
Planning events around alcohol availability
Spending increasing amounts of money on alcohol
Organizing your schedule to accommodate drinking or recovery time
Physical and Emotional Dependencies:
Needing alcohol to start your day or handle stress
Experiencing anxiety when alcohol isn’t available
Using alcohol to sleep
Drinking to manage emotions or difficult situations
Relationship Impact:
Drinking causing tension in important relationships
Receiving concerned comments from family or friends
Hiding or lying about drinking habits
Avoiding deep conversations or intimate moments
Preferring to drink alone
Missing important family moments due to drinking or recovering
Professional Consequences:
Decreased productivity at work
Missing deadlines or meetings
Making mistakes due to hangover effects
Using sick days to recover from drinking
Spiritual Disconnect:
Feeling distant from God
Skipping church or Bible study due to drinking
Avoiding prayer because of guilt
Making promises to God about drinking that you can’t keep
Using alcohol to fill a void that you know should be filled by faith
Our Quick Quiz
At Gracefully Sober, we offer a confidential alcohol quiz designed specifically for Christian women questioning their relationship with alcohol. This quiz considers both practical and spiritual aspects of drinking, helping you understand where you stand and what steps might be right for you.
The purpose of any alcohol assessment or questionnaire isn’t to label or judge—it’s to provide clarity and guide you toward appropriate next steps. Whether you’re occasionally questioning your habits or feeling deeply concerned, understanding where you are is the first step toward where God is calling you to be.
If your responses to these questions raise concerns, know that you’re not alone and that help is available. At Gracefully Sober, we offer a unique approach that combines evidence-based practices with biblical truth, helping women find freedom from alcohol through faith and understanding how our brains work.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7
When to Seek Professional Help
While an alcohol questionnaire can provide valuable insights, certain situations warrant professional intervention. Consider seeking professional help from a medical provider if you:
Experience physical withdrawal symptoms when not drinking
Cannot control your drinking once you start
Put yourself or others at risk while drinking
Feel alcohol is affecting your physical or mental health
Find that drinking is creating distance between you and God
A Grace-Filled Approach to Change
As you evaluate your relationship with alcohol through various assessment tools, remember that true transformation comes through both practical steps and spiritual renewal. An alcohol substance use evaluation can show you where you are, but your faith can light the path forward.
Whether your alcohol questionnaire results suggest minor adjustments or significant changes are needed, approach this journey with grace. God's love for you isn’t dependent on your drinking habits, and seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a step of courage and wisdom.
After completing an alcohol assessment, consider these next steps:
Pray for guidance and clarity about your results
Share your concerns with a trusted friend or spiritual advisor
Explore resources and support options
Consider professional guidance for developing a plan forward
Join a community of women on similar journeys
Questioning your relationship with alcohol means you’re paying attention to God’s gentle nudges toward a better way of living. Whether you need minor adjustments or more comprehensive support, there are paths forward that honor both your faith and your need for practical, evidence-based solutions.
Ready to Begin Your Health Journey to Drinking Freedom?
If you’re ready to gain clarity about your relationship with alcohol, start with our confidential quiz. This alcohol questionnaire is designed specifically for Christian women and will help you understand where you stand and what support might be most helpful for your journey.
Want to learn more about how faith and science can work together to transform your relationship with alcohol? Schedule your free Freedom Call today.
