Alcoholism Warning Signs
What are the warning signs of alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a very sneaky disease that largely blinds the people it effects to such a degree that most people refuse to acknowledge the warning signs even when they are glaringly obvious. The warnings are many, and they vary widely depending on what stage of addiction a person is at. There are also several types of alcoholism, which means there are multiple warning signs for each type.
What are some signs that a person may be a problem drinker?
Everyone knows that “one person” who is an obvious problem drinker, causing all sorts of problems whereever they go. Being a problem drinker can be a bit different than an alcoholic. They may not feel an overwhelming compulsion to drink, but when they do, bad things typically happen. A problem drinker will usually have trouble controlling their drinking and will often get into situations where they cannot control themselves or others around them.
How Can You Tell If Someone Is An Alcoholic?
The first thing you should look for in a potential alcohol addict is whether he/she has ever been diagnosed with alcoholism. It’s possible to develop alcoholism without being clinically diagnosed as having this disorder. However, if someone has been diagnosed with alcoholism, then you know that he/she has already had a chance to address his/her problem.
Can Anyone Become Addicted To Alcohol?
Yes, anyone can become addicted to alcohol. The main difference between one person and another is how long it takes. Generally speaking, the longer a person abuses alcohol, the harder it is to stop. But, no matter how old a person is when he/she starts abusing alcohol
Warning Signs Of Alcohol Addiction
What alcoholism look like in a person?
Alcoholism comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. It is one condition that truly never discriminates. If someone is addicted to alcohol, he/she will likely exhibit certain behaviors that indicate that he/she needs help. These behaviors include:
A change in personality. This could mean that a person becomes more aggressive, hostile, irritable, depressed, anxious, or withdrawn. He/she might become argumentative, angry, or violent.
Changes in behavior. People who abuse alcohol tend to act differently from those who don’t. For example, they might start drinking earlier or later than usual, or they might begin drinking more frequently or less frequently than before.
Changes in mood. When someone drinks too much alcohol, he/she tends to experience changes in mood. For instance, he/she may become sad, angry, happy, or excited.
Physical symptoms. Drinking too much alcohol can cause physical symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, tremors, sweating, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
What are the signs that you are drinking too much?
Aside from the obvious symptoms like frequent hangovers, the signs you are drinking too much can sneak up on you.
Difficulty concentrating. When someone drinks too little or too much alcohol, he or she may have difficulty focusing and paying attention.
Trouble sleeping. Many people who drink alcohol find that they need to sleep longer and more deeply than normal.
Trouble remembering. Those who abuse alcohol may forget important events, appointments, and other responsibilities.
Loss of interest in hobbies. People who abuse alcohol lose interest in activities they used to enjoy.
Other problems. Abusers of alcohol may suffer from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, or other mental health disorders. They may also have trouble holding down jobs or relationships.
Top warning signs of alcoholism
What is it like to be an alcoholic?
Being an Alcoholic is typically very miserable in later stages, however, most alcoholics would tell you they had a ton of fun on the way down. The effects of alcoholism can last for years after a person stops drinking. Some of these effects can include:
Depression. Depression is common among alcoholics. In fact, many people who abuse alcohol go through periods where they feel hopeless, helpless, guilty, worthless, and empty.
Hair loss. Alcoholics often notice that their hair falls out at an early age.
Nausea. Nausea is a common symptom of alcoholism.
Memory lapses. Memory lapses are common among alcoholics.
Fatigue. Fatigue is typical of alcoholics because they usually drink throughout the day.
Stomach pain. Stomach pains are common among alcoholics because they often consume large amounts of food while drinking.
What are the symptoms that you’re dying from Alcoholism?
If your body has been poisoned by alcohol for long enough, it will eventually start showing its effects. The first sign that something is wrong with your liver is usually jaundice. This is yellowing of the skin and eyes. If you have this symptom, seek medical attention immediately. Jaundice is not dangerous but it should never be ignored. Other symptoms include:
Headaches. Headaches are common among alcoholics and are caused by the buildup of toxins in the brain.
Dizziness. Dizziness is another symptom of alcoholism. It’s caused by low blood pressure.
Fever. Fever is another symptom of alcoholism and is caused by infections.
Weight gain. Weight gain is a common symptom of alcohol addiction. It’s caused by eating more calories than one needs.
The warning signals of alcoholism
How do you know when you’ve reached the point of needing help?
There are several ways to determine whether you are an alcoholic. One way is to ask yourself some questions about your drinking habits. Here are some examples:
Do you ever wake up feeling hungover?
Have you ever felt so depressed that you couldn’t get out of bed?
Have you ever lost control over your temper?
Have you ever tried to cut back on your drinking but failed?
Have you ever drank more than was good for you?
Have you ever gotten into physical fights because of drinking?
Are there any friends or family members who warn you that you are drinking too much?
Has anyone close to you died from cirrhosis of the liver?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you probably need help. It’s time to call a professional.
Am I An Alcoholic?
Am I becoming an alcoholic?
Maybe you don’t feel like an alcoholic today but exhibit many of the warning signs. It’s important to remember that alcoholism is a progressive disease.
Are you an alcoholic?
Why is it that so many alcoholics can’t answer this question correctly?
Why am I using alcohol?
When trying to determine if you are an alcoholic, this is easily the most important question. As the eagles said: Some dance to remember, and some dance to forget. If alcohol becomes the solution to your problems then it’s highly likely it will become the biggest problem in your life, even if it hasn’t already.
What qualifies you as an alcoholic?
An Alcoholic is someone who does not have control over their alcohol use.
Does drinking everyday make you an alcoholic?
SAMSHA healthy daily drinking around 2-3 drinks per day for men and 1-2 drinks per day for women.
Is drinking every day an indication of alcoholism?
No! Drinking every day doesn’t mean you are an alcoholic. In fact, it’s quite rare for people to drink every day. Most people only drink once or twice a week.
How many drinks a week is considered alcoholism?
SAMSHA considers alcoholism drinking more than 3 drinks per day for men, and 2 drinks per day for women, 5 days a week.
A standard drink contains 12 grams of pure alcohol. A shot glass holds 1/2 ounce (14 grams) of pure alcohol. So, a single serving of liquor would contain 4 shots.
Can you stop being an alcoholic?
Yes, you can stop being an alcoholic. You just have to want to change.
Am I an alcoholic?
You don’t know until you’ve stopped drinking. Once you get sober, you’ll find out whether you were truly addicted or not. If you think you may be an alcoholic, here are some tips to try to help you decide if you really are an alcoholic:
1) Ask yourself why you drink. Do you drink because you enjoy it, because you’re bored, because you’re lonely, because you’re angry, because you’re sad, etc.?
2) Ask yourself how often you drink. Is it once a month, once a week, or more often?
3) Ask yourself what happens after you drink. Does it lead to otherbad behaviors such as fighting, lying, stealing, etc.?
4) Ask yourself if you have been diagnosed with another mental illness. Are you experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.?
5) Ask yourself if you are having trouble at work or school. Are you failing classes, getting fired from jobs, losing relationships, etc.?
6) Ask yourself if you believe you have a drinking problem. Do you feel guilty, ashamed, afraid, nervous, etc.?
7) Ask yourself if you see a doctor regularly. Have you had a checkup recently? How long has it been since you last saw a doctor?
8) Ask yourself if you take medication. Do you take medications for high blood pressure
Am I an alcoholic or just abusing alcohol?
Many problem drinkers are alcholics in the making. They simply haven’t been drinking long enough for the problem to fully develop.
If you stop drinking, are you still an alcoholic?
Alcoholism is a disease of the mind moreso than one of the body. The fact is that if you have been prone to alcoholic behavior, than it will likely happen again. This is because the decision making part of the alcoholic brain is often bypassed in favor of impulsively driven behaviors.
Am I an alcoholic if I drink out of pure loneliness?
Drinking out of loneliness is a good example of using alcohol to treat your problems, which almost always leads to the drinking itself becoming an issue as well.
Why am I an alcoholic?
Are there different types of alcoholics?
Yes. There are two main categories of alcoholics: those who suffer from acute alcoholism and those who suffer from chronic alcoholism. Acute alcoholics typically have a problem with alcohol use in only one area of life. Chronic alcoholics have a problem with alcohol throughout most areas of their lives.
What does “acute” mean?
Acute means short-term. This type of alcoholism involves problems with alcohol use in only a few areas of your life. You’ll likely have a problem with alcohol at work, school, home, or socially.
What does “chronic” mean?
Chronic means long term. This type of alcoholism affects multiple aspects of your life. You will likely have a problem with drinking alcohol at work, school or socially. You may also have a
Do you have to be an alcoholic to get addicted to alcohol?
The answer is no. People who don’t abuse alcohol do not need to be alcoholics to become dependent on it. It takes many years of regular heavy drinking before the physical effects of alcohol addiction start to show up.
You might be an alcoholic if you:
• Drink too much alcohol.
• Feel depressed when you aren’t drinking.
• Think about drinking all the time.
• Find it hard to cut down.
• Drink alone.
• Get drunk very quickly.
• Keep drinking despite knowing it isn’t good for you.
• Can’t go without alcohol.
• Don’t realize how much you drink.
• Feel guilty about drinking
Can you tell if someone else is an alcoholic?
No. There’s no way to know whether or not someone else is an alcoholic unless they admit it.
How can I tell if I’m an alcoholic?
There are several signs that may indicate alcoholism. These include:
• They have compulsion to drink.
• They are drinking to escape feelings.
• Feeling bad when they don’t drink.
• Repeatedly going over and over things that happened while they were drinking.
• Having difficulty controlling their drinking.
• Feeling irritable or depressed when they don’t drink for a period of time.
• Not being able to control their drinking even though you want to.
• They are often unable to remember anything that happened during the previous day or night.
How long should you wait before calling yourself an alcoholic?
It depends on what kind of alcoholic you are. If you’re a social drinker, then you probably won’t notice any symptoms until after five or six months of heavy drinking. However, if you’re an emotional drinker, you may experience some of these symptoms sooner. The fact is, if you have any doubt in your mind, it’s probably best to discuss these issues with a licensed professional.
Why do people become alcoholics?
People become alcoholics for a variety of reasons, although many experts believe the cause is primarily hereditary. Some people develop a genetic predisposition toward alcoholism. Others may inherit certain personality traits that make them vulnerable to developing alcoholism. Still others may have had a traumatic childhood event that made them fear authority figures.
Is alcoholism a mental illness?
Some people think so. Others disagree with this idea. Either way, alcoholism has its own set of symptoms and causes. For instance, people who are alcoholics usually have trouble thinking clearly, remembering details, and concentrating.
Am I an Alcoholic quiz?
Is there a test to see if you are an alcoholic?
We have put together this quick test to self-assess. Remember, it’s always better to contact a licensed professional with matters such as these.
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/alcohol-use-facts-resources-fact-sheet.pdf
Psychiatrists and Psychologists use different literature to diagnose alcoholism. We have created a free quiz for you to fill out to see how you measure up against the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) criteria for alcoholism.
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Is it possible to recover from alcoholism?
Many people have brought their alcoholism into long-term remission by not taking another drink. For many, it is important to work a program of recovery regularly to stay recovered. Some rare cases are able to put the bottle down and never look back. However, for most Alcoholics, the only way to recover is by seeking some form of outside help.
What happens when you quit drinking?
When you quit drinking, you’ll feel like crap for a while. You’ll also feel a lot better physically, but there will be times when you feel worse than ever. This is because your body is still detoxing from all the years of abuse. It takes a few weeks for your liver to get back into shape. During this time, you might experience nausea, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, muscle aches, insomnia, and other unpleasant side effects.
Reach Out Today
Seachange Recovery specializes in treating both the body and mind of those addicted to alcohol. Initially using the latest medications to ease the discomfort that comes with physical dependency on alcohol during detox. Most individuals treatment can be covered by insurance, but we’re here to help anyone that needs it. Give us a ring to start up a totally confidential call with one of our many staff members (who is likely a recovering alcoholic themselves!)