Peter El-Khouri

Have you ever decided to stop drinking for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days?

Yes

No

Have you ever poured a drink after promising yourself (or someone else) that you wouldn’t today?

Yes

No

Do you tell yourself you can stop drinking any time you want to, even though you keep getting drunk when you don’t mean to?

Yes

No

Do you sometimes have difficulty controlling how much you use or for how long you use drugs?

Yes

No

Do you have certain routines — after work, before sleep, on weekends — where using just feels automatic?

Yes

No

Have you started using alone more often, even though you used to only do it with mates or at parties?

Yes

No

Have you ever sat in your car or on the edge of your bed, trying to convince yourself to get up and just start the day?

Yes

No

Do you let messages or emails pile up because even replying feels like too much?

Yes

No

Have you told people you were “busy” or “sick” just to avoid leaving the house or having to talk?

Yes

No

Do you use to take the edge off when you’re anxious, overwhelmed or stuck in your head?

Yes

No

Have you found yourself drinking or using more when your mood crashes or your thoughts spiral?

Yes

No

Do you ever reach for something — not to get high, but just to feel something, or to feel nothing at all?

Yes

No

Have you ever switched from one kind of drink to another in the hope that this would keep you from getting drunk?

Yes

No

Have you told yourself you’d “just have a couple,” but ended up finishing the bottle?

Yes

No

Do you have “blackouts”?

Yes

No

Have you made unsuccessful attempts to cut down your drug use?

Yes

No

Do you occasionally have strong cravings for drugs?

Yes

No

Have you flushed, thrown out or given away drugs, only to go looking for more a few days later?

Yes

No

Do you ever catch yourself replaying an awkward moment from years ago like it just happened?

Yes

No

Have you looked around at your life — your job, your relationships — and wondered if it’s all just slipping through your fingers?

Yes

No

Do you lie in bed with your heart racing, your thoughts stuck in loops you can’t switch off, even though you’re exhausted?

Yes

No

Have you tried to stop drinking or using, only to feel more anxious, flat or emotionally raw than before?

Yes

No

Have you started therapy, medication or self-care, but still found yourself using to cope with what those things bring up?

Yes

No

When one part of you starts to feel more stable, does another part get harder to manage?

Yes

No

Has your drinking caused trouble at home?

Yes

No

Have you had problems connected with drinking during the past year?

Yes

No

Have you ever missed days of work or school because of drinking?

Yes

No

Has your drug use had any negative consequences to your relationships or social life?

Yes

No

Has your drug use had any negative consequences at home, school, or work?

Yes

No

Have you done things under the influence, like spending money, sending messages or taking risks you wouldn’t normally take?

Yes

No

Do you ever go from feeling fine to completely overwhelmed in a matter of minutes, without knowing why?

Yes

No

Have you started avoiding things that might trigger strong feelings, even if they’re things you used to enjoy?

Yes

No

Do you feel like you're always managing your emotions behind the scenes, just to get through the day?

Yes

No

Have you told someone you're getting help for your mental health, but left out how much you’ve been drinking or using?

Yes

No

Do you downplay your use as “not that bad,” even though you know it’s tied to how you’re feeling inside?

Yes

No

Have you ever thought, “If I start talking about this, I won’t know where to stop”?

Yes

No

Have you ever hidden bottles in your car, bedroom or bin so no one would see them?

Yes

No

Do you top up your glass before others notice how much you’ve had?

Yes

No

Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not drink?

Yes

No

Do you keep stashes in places no one else checks, like your car, a drawer or inside old containers?

Yes

No

Have you made excuses to leave a gathering so you could go use without anyone seeing?

Yes

No

Do you avoid eye contact or brush off questions when someone asks if you’re okay?

Yes

No

Do you scroll past photos of yourself from a year or two ago and think, “I don’t even recognise that person anymore”?

Yes

No

Have you stopped doing the things that used to help — like journaling, exercising or cooking — because they just don’t seem to matter anymore?

Yes

No

Do you sometimes put on a “fine” face during the day, only to feel completely empty the second you’re alone?

Yes

No

Do you ever feel like you’re juggling two versions of yourself — one trying to keep it together, and one quietly falling apart?

Yes

No

Have you told yourself you’ll “sort it all out eventually,” but felt too overwhelmed to even begin?

Yes

No

Do you feel like you’re just managing symptoms and not really getting better — like you’re always in survival mode?

Yes

No