Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction

There are different signs and symptoms of alcoholism and addiction that will determine whether or not a person has a genuine problem.  Because alcohol is so intricately woven into the culture of the United States, there are a lot of people who truly enjoy imbibing on social occasions and sharing a drink with others.  However, because drinking alcohol is such a common occurrence, it can make it very hard to determine when the situation becomes serious.  The consequences surrounding alcoholism can be complex and challenging, but the sooner a person seeks treatment for an addiction to alcohol the better the possibilities of a positive outcome are.

Social drinking and full blown alcoholism are two very different things.  The signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction are often punctuated by a variety a different factors and when alcohol becomes the only thing a person thinks about, the time for treatment is obvious.  If a person thinks only about drinking, going to the bar or heading to happy hour to drink, rather than going home after work, it can be a sign it is time to seek help.  There are many reasons why a person will substitute alcohol in lieu of dealing with problems in an honest and straightforward manner, the main reason reported by most alcoholics is to avoid pain or stress in life.  With time and progression an alcoholic can become dangerous and illustrate violent behavior and become out of control, the need for professional help is important and the sooner it is provided the better.

There are many physical signs that accompany alcohol abuse and chronic alcoholism which can be witnessed in people who have a real problem.  Such physical signs include the following:
Numbness or tingling sensations in the feet and hands (due to decreased circulation)
While intoxicated from alcohol, a person can exhibit slurry speech patterns, appear clumsy or unsteady and be dizzy
Black-outs happen when a person drinks so much alcohol they pass out
Severe weight loss
Unexplained stomach ulcers, upset or sore stomach
Redness in the face, nose and cheeks

There are many other signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction that will be obvious to others, while an alcoholic will be the last one to notice or admit the situation is out of control.  There are many warning signs which can show how serious the problems caused by alcohol can be.  The amount of drinks a person drinks per session and how often one drinks can determine if there is a problem or not.  However, there are also other extenuating circumstances which will determine whether or not a person should seek professional help.

There are also warning signs which can signify a true problem with alcoholism and make the need for treatment very important, such signs include the following:

Shaking when not drinking alcohol
Drinking in solitude without others
Making excuses in order to drink
Failing to take care of physical appearance or hygiene
Daily need to drink alcohol
Unable to stop drinking or stop consuming alcohol
Drinking in secrete or hiding the situation from others
Poor dietary habits
Becoming aggressive or mad when confronted about drinking alcohol

Heavy and chronic alcohol abuse, results in the person experiencing negative health consequences and causes serious damage to the liver, brain, kidneys, heart and other vital bodily organs.  Some of the damage caused by alcohol is so severe it cannot be repaired and can lead to serious disease like hepatitis and certain forms of cancer.  Alcoholism can cause someone to experience a premature death in those who deny the need for treatment and do not stop drinking.

No matter how severe alcoholism has grown and how many signs and symptoms exist, it is never too late to get help.  To begin to recover from chronic alcohol abuse and addiction, a person needs to seek the help of a professional alcohol rehabilitation program and enroll for treatment.  An alcohol treatment program will provide the alcoholic with counseling, therapy, 12-step meetings and the ability to participate in positive activities not related to alcohol.  Giving the person the ability to see a life beyond alcoholism is the part of the benefit of treatment and helping the person become sober is the ultimate goal of any rehabilitation program.

The more alcohol a person drinks, the more the human body requires and depends upon it.  A person will need to drink more and more to experience the same effect, which is called tolerance.  If a person drinks heavily and then stops drinking abruptly, withdrawal symptoms will set in.  A person with an addiction to alcohol will build up a tolerance and the withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism can include profuse sweating, tremors, hallucinations, vomiting, nausea, and mental confusion and in severe cases a person can suffer from seizures.  Getting help for an alcohol addiction now can help a person beat the cycle of alcoholism and prevent the disease from growing more sever and out of control.

Long-term, chronic alcoholism can be a complex and challenging disease to treat and conquer.  Coming to terms with the condition is difficult for most people to do, but with professional help a person can experience a complete recovery from alcoholism.  With time, proper treatment and a personal commitment to sobriety, anyone can recover and have a better quality of life.  The help of a professional alcohol treatment program can be instrumental in showing a person how to adjust to a normal way of life and return to society as the productive and sober person they are meant to be.  Life after addiction can be better, brighter and more meaningful once the world of alcoholism is permanently beaten and a person learns how to break away from the chains of alcohol.