The Symptoms of Alcoholism 

 

The distinction between heavy drinking and alcoholism is typically based not on the quantity that is being drunk but on the way, the drinking is affecting the life of the drinker.

There are seven key signs of alcohol dependence:

1. The person develops a tolerance for alcohol. This means that it takes more and more alcohol to feel the same level of intoxication.

2. The person has withdrawal symptoms. This means that they feel sick when there is no alcohol in their body. These symptoms include nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety.

3. The person often drinks more than he does or she had originally intended to drink.

4. The person attempts to cut down or to stop drinking but all attempts on their own are failures and they just continue to drink more and more.

5. The person spends a lot of time and effort making sure he or she can get alcohol.

6. The person gives up opportunities for social, recreational, and professional activities because of their drinking.

7. The person continues to drink despite having physical and psychological problems because of the drinking.

For the purposes of diagnosis among professional diagnosticians, if a person has three of these seven signs then they are considered alcohol dependent.

There are some other less official type signs that can be used to determine if someone is drinking too much. The person begins to miss work or is less successful at work. The person seems angry or sad a lot.

The person hits or physically abuses members of the family. The person emotionally abuses members of the family. The person has blackouts (cannot remember what he or she did while drunk).

The person has hangovers (feels really sick the day after drinking). Alcoholism doe not go away by itself so it is extremely important for friends and family members who recognize any combination of these symptoms or signs to encourage the person to seek treatment.

In the long-term alcoholism can cause cirrhosis and cancer of the liver, heart and central nervous system damage, memory loss, impotence and a high risk of over dosing. People who abuse alcohol may not want to admit that they have a problem because they are ashamed or embarrassed or maybe even they do not want to change their lifestyle.

 Did You Know

 

For the alcoholic, quitting drinking is extremely difficult and something that takes time, patience, and dedication. Recovery is not a task that can be entered into lightly or without reservation. If you don't have access to an AA support group then you have 3 other options.

You can use self-help books where the alcoholic is taking responsibility for his own health. This can work well because once the person knows of the problem it becomes easier to resolve.

By putting together their own plan of action and choosing his own techniques, the alcoholic takes an active role in the recovery process.

The more common techniques include examining the individual’s need for alcohol, decide whether to quit drinking altogether, or just to cut back, identify the reasons for quitting drinking and sharing the recovery plan with others.

These are just a few steps that can be involved in self-recovery.

Another thing that someone with alcoholism can do to recover from it is to use a combination of approaches. This could involve working on self-help issues, going to AA meetings and involving other people in the process for support.

The benefit of this approach is that you can work on the issues behind the drinking while at the same time developing some kind of accountability to others. Plus you would be able to rely on support from people around you when you go through the tough times.

 

 
 
Alcoholism can affect anyone and does not discriminate based on race, age, or circumstances. It is a treatable disease, but the person seeking treatment must be willing to give it up entirely.
 
The treatment community for alcoholism typically supports a zero tolerance complete abstinence-based approach to treatment.
 
Research has shown that very few alcoholics can simply cut down on their drinking and be able to know when they have had enough and can stop.
 
Interesting Facts

If a family member is worrying you with their behavor when they are drinking, make arrangements so that you have a safe place to go when their drinking gets out of hand.
 
Once that tolerance is built up, the body craves the feeling of intoxication and the only way to rid the body of those cravings is through total abstinence.
 
Alcoholism, most importantly, is a treatable disease. I cannot always be controlled but there are large success rates with treatment.
 
The alcoholic must remember that they will still have the disease even if they are no longer drinking and they will always be considered to be recovering.

 
 alcohol affects
 

Better Your Health

Site Map
What is the Attraction To Alcohol
Alcoholism is a Widespread Problem
◦ The Difference Between Alcohol Dependence And Alcohol Abuse
◦ FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 1
◦ FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 2
◦ A Brief Summary Regarding Alcoholism
◦ Alcohol Abuse and the College Campus
◦ The Brain And Alcohol
◦ Health Risks For Women Alcoholics
◦ Holiday Survival Guide For The Alcoholic
◦ How A Child See's Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism Detoxification Steps
◦ Alcoholism and the Workplace
◦ The Children of Alcoholics
◦ Common Questions About Alcoholism
◦ Tests for Alcohol Use
◦ Do All Alcoholics Need a Rehab Center
◦ The Dangers and Penalties Of Drinking and Driving
◦ The War On Drunk Driving
◦ How To Determine When Someone Needs Professional Help
◦ Some Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
◦ Diet Hints To Assist With Alcoholism Withdrawal
◦ Helping Someone To Overcome Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism Risk Is Linked to Early Aged Drinking
◦ A Portrait Of An Alcoholic
◦ The Symptoms of Alcoholism
◦ Basic Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Hard Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Cautions Concerning Non Alcoholic Beer
◦ The College Campus And Alcoholism
◦ Dangers of Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 1-6
◦ Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 6-12
◦ What Causes An Alcoholic Blackout
◦ New Shot to Treat Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism's Physical Effects
◦ Group Support For Alcoholism
◦ Threats From Alcoholism
◦ The Truth About Alcoholism
◦ Treating The Three Main Issues In Alcoholism
◦ Treatments for Alcoholism
◦ Vitamins and Supplements For The Alcoholic
◦ Recovering From Alcoholism
◦ Help Your Teen Avoid Becoming An Alcoholic
◦ What Is Alcholism
◦ Family Members Drinking Too Much
◦ Explain Alcoholism
◦ Who Are The Alcoholics
◦ Women Fighting The Consequences of Alcoholism
◦ Al Anon Support For The Alcoholic's Family
◦ Health Consequences Of Alcoholism
◦ Medications Used For Treating Alcoholism
◦ Screening Tests For Alcoholism
◦ What Is The Difference Between Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism
◦ What the Bible Says About Alcohol Abuse
◦ How to Stop Drinking Alcohol without AA
◦ The Truth About Alcoholics Anonymous
◦ Alcoholism - Curable or Just Controllable
◦ The Causes of Alcoholism
◦ So How Much Drinking Really Is Too Much?
◦ Is Alcoholism Hereditary
◦ What Children Need to Know About Alcohol
◦ How to Recognize When Children are Drinking
◦ What You Need to Know about how to Set Up an Intervention for an Alcoholic
◦ How to Quit Drinking Without Gaining Weight