Are You an Alcoholic? Signs of Alcoholism You Shouldn’t Ignore
Do you love drinking but don’t fit the stereotype of an alcoholic? You could still have a drinking problem and won’t know it. Here are signs of alcoholism you shouldn’t ignore.
Did you know that one in every 12 adults suffers from alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence in the United States? That’s over 17 million people.
But for many people, it can be hard to know whether or not they have a drinking problem.
That’s why we created this guide to help. Keep on reading to learn more about the signs of alcoholism you shouldn’t ignore.
Alcohol Withdrawal
The first sign of an alcoholic is when you experience withdrawal symptoms. This includes a wide variety of symptoms, but they all happen when the body can’t function without alcohol.
These often come in the form of shakes in the morning. Because of this, many alcoholics start to drink in the morning, which only makes the problem worse.
Some other common symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Uncontrollable shaking (the shakes)
- Headaches
- Vomiting
When these things start to happen, you know that your body is addicted and that you should take action. Remember that when someone is addicted to alcohol, the chemistry of their brain has literally been changed, especially with regard to their serotonin and dopamine levels.
Also note that people’s symptoms differ from one another. Some people will experience only some of the symptoms and they can happen at different levels of intensity. Your biological makeup is a big factor.
Delirium tremens is the most dangerous withdrawal symptom because it can lead to death. It’s an intense mix of seizures, confusion, and uncontrollable shaking.
Only 5% of those hospitalized for alcohol withdrawals develop this condition, but it’s very serious.
Irresponsible Drinking
Another sign of alcoholism is irresponsible drinking. Basically, this means that someone drinks without considering the consequences because they are so dependent on it.
Often times, this can interfere with their safety. For example, someone might drink and still drive. This is obviously a terrible decision all too common among alcoholics.
In other cases, people will drink and still take their prescription medications, even if the label says not to. Have an important work meeting or presentation? Alcoholics often will still drink beforehand which can negatively affect their professional performance.
When an alcoholic is looking to get their fix, they tend to not think about the consequences.
You Hide Alcohol around Your Home
Do you tend to hide your alcohol around your house? This is another sign of alcoholism.
This usually happens because the person is ashamed and is trying to conceal their habits. Another reason is because they want to be able to access alcohol anywhere in the house.
Think about it. Do you have bottles in closets? Under your bed? Behind cabinets?
If so, this is a common sign of alcoholism and you should consider getting help.
Add This to Your List of Signs of Alcoholism: You Make Excuses to Drink
When someone is in the early stages of alcoholism, it’s common to see them making excuses to drink.
Have a rough day? It must be time for a drink.
Did you get some great news at work? Let’s celebrate by drinking!
See the pattern here? No matter what happens, an alcoholic tends to go to drinking to cope or deal with the situation, both in positive and negative moments.
The Drinking Starts Earlier
As someone is becoming more and more dependent on alcohol, their drinking begins to start earlier and earlier in the day.
Perhaps a drink or two at night after dinner was the norm a few months ago, but now it seems like you’re drinking around lunch time or even right when you wake up.
The truth of the matter is that this is a common sign of alcoholism. This is because if they don’t drink, their symptoms tend to start happening. And so to avoid the negative symptoms, they drink.
It’s a vicious cycle.
You Avoid Events that Don’t Have Drinking
Has this happened to you? You get invited to a party or event and you know that alcohol won’t be served, so you decide not to go.
On the other hand, a friend reaches out to you and invites you to a party that definitely will include drinking, and you immediately accept.
If you notice that this has happened multiple times, it’s probably a sign of early alcoholism. How come? Because what we learn from this is that when alcohol’s involved, you’re excited and when it’s not, you’re not.
In other words, alcohol is controlling your life instead of you being in control.
Often times, this leads people to stay home and drink by themselves. Many alcoholics will disappear for days on end and drink alone. These are obviously negative and unhealthy habits.
Your Drinking Affects Your Relationships But You Won’t Stop
Alcoholism doesn’t just affect the drinker. It also can hurt anyone close to them.
Many times, a relationship will be having serious issues and might end. A significant other will bring this up and mention that drinking is part of the problem, but the alcoholic won’t stop their drinking.
If this is happening to you, it’s time to make a change. If you need help, check out our wide range of treatment options.
You Get Defensive
This is a classic sign of alcoholism. But when someone dealing with alcoholism hears that term, they tend to tense up.
There’s a lot of stigma around the word alcoholic and no one likes to admit they are in the wrong, especially when first confronted with an issue.
In many cases, when people bring up alcoholism with someone who’s struggling with it, they react in a physical or verbal way. And it’s often in a very angry manner.
But the truth of the matter is that these signs are very common and are often proof of a deeper issue. The way to get over it is through professional help, which we offer at our treatment location.
Closing Thoughts
Now that you’ve read through these signs of alcoholism, it’s time to think about your situation. Do these apply to you?
If so, don’t worry. There is hope and help available!
Our team of experts can help you overcome your addiction and get back to your normal life. Contact us today to get started.
