Jason Wahler: Why Take an Addiction Quiz?

man suffering with substance abuse and addiction

Knowing when to reach out for help when you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction isn’t easy. Jason Wahler explains how a quiz can help.

Is It A Problem To Be Hiding An Addiction?

Here’s a fact: Secrets keep us stuck.

When you are sick and tired of feeling sick and tired all the time, you know there has got to be another way to live. But if you are hiding the signs and symptoms of addiction behaviors, you are making it easier to stay firmly rooted in denial. This kind of sneaky secret keeping can be deadly.

Addiction is sneaky like that. Sometimes it’s obvious to everyone around us, before we are even aware of how much we are struggling and hiding. Then we reach a point when we know we are going down a dangerous path, but we either don’t want to stop, can’t stop, or seriously don’t even know how to get help. That’s what it was like for me.

We are all unique because of our personal experiences. But when it comes to addiction, we are all the same; as an active addict, we deceive others in order to cover up our addiction. The problem is, we will continue to be as sick as our secrets. That’s why taking an addiction quiz is an easier first step than picking up the phone or talking to a real person. 

And I totally get it—we are all looking for “an easier, softer way” to handle such a serious issue. I am one of millions of people who struggled with addiction and got sober. The entertainment industry added fuel to the fire of my addictions, which led to jail time and an attempted suicide. Easy access to drugs and alcohol made my addiction bottom come a lot quicker than for some. I fortunately found comfort in knowing that I wasn’t alone in my addiction and that there was a way out of my own personal hell.

Even though there isn’t a one-size-fits-all addiction treatment, there is a really simple first step that is easy to take to find out if you have an addiction. Taking a self-guided addiction quiz is perfect when you aren’t yet sure what to do or if you’re still looking for answers.

When Should You Take an Addiction Quiz?

Taking an online addiction quiz should never be considered a substitute for professional guidance. That said, for many people who are still struggling to accept that there is an addiction problem this can be an easier first step to gain perspective. If you are feeling anxious about the possibility of addiction taking root, a self-guided quiz can help alleviate your feelings of uncertainty, no matter the results.

You should take an addiction quiz as soon as you suspect that you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction. An addiction quiz is also a helpful tool for family members who aren’t sure if they should be concerned about a loved one’s behavior.

Taking an addiction quiz as soon as possible can help you understand if someone’s behavior is a sign of a deeper issue before it leads to more serious consequences. By the age of 23, my struggle with addiction had led to more than a dozen arrests and jail time. It wasn’t until I realized my addiction had pushed my parents’ marriage to a breaking point that I knew I had to do something about it. It wasn’t until I understood the impact of my behavior on my parents that I admitted I needed help with addiction. When I couldn’t find the motivation to do it for myself, I could at least do it for them.

Why I Recommend ALYST’s Addiction Quiz

I recommend ALYST’s addiction quiz because it is a safe and simple quiz which provides specific information about what steps you should take next. It isn’t always easy to recognize addiction or to know what to do about it, but ALYST takes away the confusion and provides a solution.

Before I got sober for good, I had attended almost a dozen treatment centers across the United States, so I have a good idea of what works and what doesn’t. ALYST offers the best, most comprehensive rehab approach in a safe, judgment free space. They understand that sometimes you have to go outside the box to make recovery realistic, and that treatment truly has to be individualized if it’s going to work, especially when you have heightened concerns around privacy, confidentiality, or lifestyle like I did.

If you’re convinced rehab doesn’t work or that it isn’t for you, I urge you to learn more about the inspiring work ALYST is doing. I think you’ll be surprised by all the options you have. Ones that really work. When you’re ready, taking the addiction quiz can be a pivotal first step.