What Are Common Signs of Alcoholism?
What are common signs of alcoholism? Developing an alcohol addiction problem happens over time with many red flags raised along the way. While countless people in our country abuse or overuse alcohol, they are not physically dependent on it. If alcohol were removed from their lives they would not suffer any physical withdrawal symptoms or severe cravings to drink. On the other hand, a person who is an alcoholic and has to go without drinking will experience a number of withdrawal symptoms.
Some of the early signs of an alcohol abuse or addiction problem include tolerance, withdrawal, denial and out-of-control drinking. Tolerance is when the user's body begins to need more and more of the said substance to achieve the desired effect. For example, a person who once only drank a beer or two now needs four or five to experience the buzz that comes from alcohol. Professionals in the field of addiction share that an increased tolerance is one of the first major warning signs of alcoholism.
Withdrawal is the next issue when it comes to answering, what are common signs of alcoholism? When the user's body begins to depend on the substance and it is no longer provided, they experience withdrawal. Depending on the severity of the alcoholic's problem they may suffer jumpiness, shaking, sweating, vomiting, fatigue, insomnia and depression. In rare cases, withdrawal can be serious or dangerous and include symptoms of fever, hallucinations and seizures.
Many people who have problems with alcohol are in denial about their level of dependence. A person who is in denial about their alcohol use may underestimate how much they are actually drinking. They may become defensive when confronted by family and loved ones and downplay how much they consume. They might turn the attention back on the loved one and say that they are making a big deal out of nothing or blame their alcohol use on problems they are experiencing in their life (i.e. work, school, relationships, money, etc.).
Out-of-control drinking is another one of the common signs of alcoholism. A person who is struggling with early stages of alcoholism will have a limited ability to show self-control when it comes to their alcohol consumption. As their problem progresses they may choose to drink alone and/or in secret. Alcoholics are known for keeping a constant supply of alcohol in the house as well as hiding alcohol is peculiar places so that it is always accessible to them. As their addiction spirals out of control they will lose interest in their family and friends. They may develop problems financially, legally, in their personal health and other areas of their life. �'
What are common signs of alcoholism? Drinking and driving is a major problem among alcoholics. They drink more than they think they do and then get behind the wheel. This may happen unintentionally because as an alcoholic their ability to judge how much is too much no longer exists. Their actions take on a new level of recklessness because their drinking now affects more than just them; it affects all those on the road with them.
Another sign of alcoholism is having the desire to cut-back or stop drinking all together and not being able to. This is a classic symptom of addiction. Even though the person knows that their drinking is negatively affecting them they still cannot stop drinking. This is a wakeup call for the drinker. They cannot stop on their own and need to take a hard look at getting help for their addiction problem.
People suffering from alcoholism will often neglect activities that were once important to them. They begin to spend more and more time getting alcohol, drinking and getting drunk and then recovering from their overindulgence. It takes up so much of their time that they no longer have the energy to engage in hobbies or spend time with people they care about.
Suffering from blackouts and memory loss are common signs of alcoholism. An alcoholic may drink so much that they suffer a blackout or partial memory loss. They cannot remember their actions during a period of time that they were under the influence. During a blackout the alcoholic may say or do things to those they care about and have no recollection of it. Their hurtful words or behavior can leave lasting emotional and physical scars that they personally will never be able to recall inflicting. Also, alcoholics are known for breaking their word. They may have the best of intentions to attend their child's dance recital or soccer game, to pay their bills on time or not call in sick for work. These good intentions never come to fruition because the alcoholic does not follow through.