Music is blasting, you start getting ready with your roommates for what's sure to be "the greatest night of year" (because we say that all the time). You're a drink or two in and your song comes on. It's about to be a good night.

A few hours later, you’re in the bar, breaking it down on the dance floor and you hear someone call you by another name. 

“Hmm they must have forgotten my name,” you think. But in fact, said person does know your name and does understand the fact that they’ve been calling you something different. 

This friend has just solidified the fact that you have an alter ego that comes out after a few cocktails and a couple of hours partying. Totally normal because you either have an alter ego, or wish your friends gave you one. This is the drunken alter ego and it is nothing to be ashamed of. If you are that mild, mellow, sober person during the week, your alter ego is a blast in a glass that everyone loves.      

From my personal experiences (with friends who shall remain nameless), there are a few stages to coming to terms with the fact that you have a DAE (drunk alter ego). After months of denial, you have come to the right place where all your questions are answered. Below are the 12 signs you have a drunken alter ego (because secretly deep down, you really love it).

1. People start referring to you by another name (usually starting with the same first letter as your actual name). 
2. You’ve gotten so used to this name that you've stopped responding to your real name. 
3. You have begun to refer to yourself in the third person… and no one questions you about it. 
4. Your friends encourage you to drink more because, “they like you better when you’re drunk.” 
5. Your inebriated alter ego is the complete opposite of your sober self… who needs a filter anyway? 
6. You feel like you’re on a reality show because your friends film everything you do (especially after the hour of 2 am). 
7. But you don’t hate it when you spend the whole morning after asking, “I did what?” while willingly re-watching the train wreck that was the night before. 
8. When telling a story, your friends refer to you by your alter ego’s name. 
9. Your friends are all visibly disappointed when you choose to have a mellow night. 
10. You walk by someone you don’t know on campus but they act like you’re best friends and call you by your alter ego name. 
11. You blame all of your actions on “someone else” **cough, the alter ego** because it’s just too easy… “the alter ego made me do it!” 
12. Most importantly, you (or your alter ego) are always the life of the party and you and your crew wouldn’t have it any other way.