The Most Common Symptoms Of Alcohol Abuse
A lot of us go out to the bar with a friend or two on occasion to loosen up and socialize, but unfortunately, for others walking into a bar is the equivalent to meeting up with a drug dealer for the next “fix”.
Alcohol Dependence is a disease and a very serious one at that! If left unchecked, it can cost the alcoholic his job, friends, family and even his life.
So what are the symptoms of someone who has crossed over from social drinking to alcohol abuse? It’s not as if you can ask an alcoholic if he has a problem and get a confirming response. Just as with any other disease, chances are the alcoholic in question doesn’t realize or won’t admit that he has a problem.
In general, there are four different signs that all alcoholics are bound to show.
1) A strong craving to drink. The person will have a strong desire to drink which may not go away until satisfied. This means the person may go out of their way to get a drink.
2) Losing the ability to control the amount of alcohol consumed. Most of us know when enough is enough. An alcoholic normally loses this ability, or chooses to ignore it. This can lead to frequent periods of drunkenness, which over time can lead to serious health concerns, such as cirrhosis of the liver, weakening of the immune system, brain damage, fetal damage (in pregnant women), and even an increased risk of some cancers.
3) A dependency on alcohol to function normally. Frequent abuse of alcohol can eventually lead to dependence. This means the body will not only crave alcohol, but will need it just to function normally. Without it, the body will develop symptoms similar to those of drug addicts undergoing withdrawal symptoms. An alcoholic who is deprived of alcohol can become nauseous, shaky, sweaty, anxious and irritable.
4) A high tolerance to alcohol. As anyone who has drunk regularly can tell you, over time a person will develop a higher tolerance for alcohol, the more they consume. For alcoholics this tolerance is usually far greater than for a normal person. This, along with not knowing their limits, puts an alcoholic at great risk of health problems.
In most cases, an alcoholic must hit “rock bottom” before being able to admit that they have a problem. If you suspect you, or someone you know many be an alcoholic, seek help immediately. There are a number of great organizations out there who can help with information, as well as treatment options.
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