Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction and abuse is a real problem. It can negatively affect personal relationships as well as careers. When life is centered on the next drink, the alcohol is in control. Getting that control back is a daunting task. With support from counseling and family, alcohol abuse or addiction can be controlled. Let us look at the long term effects of alcohol abuse. Physical symptoms of alcohol addiction can include liver damage, heart problems, cancer, and organ failure. Psychological and emotional problems are another result of alcohol abuse.
If you think you have a drinking problem, you very well may be abusing or addicted to alcohol. There are a few signs that may help determine an alcohol problem.
- Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse:
- Hide your drinking habits
- Need a drink to “relax”
- Feel guilt or shame when you drink
- Family or friends complain about how much or how often you drink
- Drink until you lose consciousness
- Forget what you did while you were drinking
- Drink on a daily basis
- Alcohol tolerance is elevated
Alcohol abuse can lead to full-blown addiction. The key is to curb the abuse before it reaches the addictive stage. When a person can pinpoint the reason for the alcohol abuse, whether it is due to stress of a job, relationship or physical pain, the problem can be dealt with through different avenues than the alcohol. Good counselors can help the abuser work through the problem and get him or her back on track to a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Alcoholism is a disease. There are many factors that may contribute to alcoholism such as genetic susceptibility, environment, family life when growing up, and mental health problems such as bi-polar disease or depression. Alcohol is sometimes used to “self-medicate” when problems arise, leading to addiction.
It is important to be aware of some of the signs of alcohol addiction to stop it before it leads to serious complications.
- Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction:
- Tolerance to alcohol is on the rise
- Drinking more than others to get a “buzz”
- Drinking daily to relax
- Withdrawing from alcohol leads to anxiety, shaking, sweating, nausea, sleeplessness, depression, loss of appetite, headache
Family members and friends are usually the ones to bring the drinking problem to the attention of the abuser, even though the alcoholic does not see alcohol as a problem. They may feel that the control to quit is still in their power. They may blame their drinking on others or situations beyond their control. They may feel the problem that everyone is concerned about is intensely exaggerated. Do they also show signs of drug abuse?
Denial is one measure in determining the symptoms of an alcohol addiction. Getting through the denial phase is a big step. Through counseling, the alcoholic can work through this milestone and head toward gaining control of his life once again.