Over 86 percent of American adults consume alcohol in their lifetimes. For over 15 million of those adults, however, alcohol has become a serious problem. In fact, alcoholism is an illness that requires treatment, but far too many individuals don’t get the proper care or medical attention. By learning to spot the signs of alcoholism, you might be able to help someone you love get the help they deserve.
Defining Alcoholism
Scientists prefer the term alcohol use disorder because it more accurately conveys that there are stages to the condition. At one extreme, you have the individual who binges drinks occasionally. On the other, there’s the person who can’t function properly without drinking alcohol. Alcoholism points toward an uncontrollable compulsion to drink. Withdrawal symptoms are the body’s way of telling you that you need to start drinking again. Your mind may compel you to drink by leading you to believe that you can’t function without the drug. You may also experience both conditions.
Symptoms and Signs of Alcoholism to Look For
Everyone’s different. However, if you’re suspicious, confirm your misgivings by keeping an eye on your loved one’s alcohol intake. These are some tall tale signs that your loved one is experiencing alcoholism:
Consume large quantities without showing any effect, it’s clear that they’ve built up a physical tolerance. The body develops a tolerance to a drug, which requires someone to consume more to feel the high.
Stashing or hiding the alcohol can be done in different ways, such as the use of soft drink containers to hide the consumption of alcohol. It signals that the individual knows what they’re doing is unhealthy or wrong, but has lost control.
Drunk driving is a prime example of this type of behavior. It signals the absence of good judgment and the inability to control drinking while traveling.
Experiencing frequent blackouts or memory loss can be a direct result of drinking too much alcohol. When this happens, they won’t have any memory from the previous day.
Alcohol fuels risky behavior causing uncharacteristic risky behavior like lying, cheating, and stealing, among countless other types of behavior. If alcohol changes your behavior negatively, and you continue drinking, then alcoholism is likely.
Getting in the right direction with recovery can be a hard task, if you or a loved one is struggling with symptoms of alcoholism it is important to know why you need help.
Am I an Alcoholic?
There’s a group of five questions that can help you determine whether you or your loved one fall into the category of having a problem with alcohol.
Do certain situations make you drink heavily?
Do you try to hide your alcohol consumption or the number of drinks you have from others?
Are there mornings when you can’t remember everything that happened the night before?
Have you experienced regret about something you did when you were drinking?
Have friends, coworkers, or family members expressed concern about your drinking habit?
As a bonus question, think back to the drinking habits of close relatives. Do others consider one or more of them to be alcoholics?
Encouraging a Loved One to Seek Help
If you or your loved one’s alcoholism has become unmanageable, there’s good news. Drinking doesn’t have to define the rest of your life. If you’re concerned about alcohol withdrawal symptoms, discuss with your loved one the importance of speaking help from an expert. There are multiple treatment options available to make your recovery easier, some treatments include:
Rehab treatment that provides daily clinical care and living environments with others overcoming alcohol or drug abuse
Development of life skills that help you get back on track if you’ve let daily living tasks slide during alcohol abuse
Improvement of coping strategies that help you deal with stressors in a real-life setting
Exploration of recreational activities that don’t include alcohol
Intervening with the suggestion of addiction treatment is a necessity to protect your loved one and others.
Alcoholism Treatment Center in Asheville, NC
At the Crest View Recovery Center in Asheville, NC, we routinely work with family members. They often worry about the drug use of their friends or others in the family. Sometimes, they don’t know where to start or how to seek help. Our caring staff will be there to help you every step of the way. With our various treatment programs, we will make a plan that best fits your recovery. Call us today at 866-986-1371 or get more information on our admissions process to take the first step to sobriety.
