Alcohol dependence is a rising problem that affects millions around the world and often takes lives without letting them know. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions.
What seems like causal shots with friends can turn into an addiction that negatively impacts relationships, peace of mind, and general health. Understanding the difference between alcohol addiction vs social drinking is crucial; social drinking typically doesn’t involve a loss of control or negative life consequences, whereas addiction does.
According to NSDUH research at 2023, a study reveals that approximately 224.3 million individual ages 12+ suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) or have serious alcohol related issues at certain points of their life. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) also highlights that this condition can range from mild to severe.
So, identifying the signs of alcoholism early is essential for timely intervention and getting the right therapy near you. Professionals often use criteria from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-5, to formally diagnose AUD. For initial checks, healthcare providers might use simple screening questionnaires for problem drinking, such as the CAGE or AUDIT-C tools, to quickly assess risk.
What Is Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a relapsing neuropsychiatric condition marked by dysregulated mesolimbic-dopamine signaling and compulsive ethanol intake; NIAAA and DSM-5 operationalize it via an 11-item criterion set stratified into mild, moderate, and severe tiers.
What Happens When You Drink Alcohol?
Simple:
- It travels in your bloodstream through your stomach and intestines, then goes into your organ systems, including your brain. The amount of alcohol in your blood is measured as Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).
- Your brain’s working capacity weakens, altering how you think, feel, and act. If you regularly drink alcohol, your brain becomes dependent on it.
- It is because alcohol modifies chemicals functioning within your brain, specifically neurotransmitters.
Technical:
- Prodromal features include escalating pharmacodynamics tolerance, reward-salience preoccupation, executive-function erosion, and affective lability often evidenced by anhedonia, dysphoria, and irritability during brief abstinence intervals.
The Physical & Psychological Signs of Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction can affect the body and mind, leading to psychological and physical changes that may disrupt everyday life. These are the key warning signs of alcohol abuse. Here are the most common signs from which you can tell that someone in your life could be struggling with this issue, which will help you understand how to recognize alcoholism in a loved one.
#1. Changes In Appearance
Excessive consumption of alcohol or drugs could end up in physical changes that are difficult to neglect, including:
- Instant weight fluctuations (gain and loss).
- Sleep problems, like drowsiness or insomnia.
- Unusual bruises or marks across the body.
- Red eyes
- Cold sweats, shaky hands, or sweaty palms.
- A flushed or puffy face
- Pale skin tone
- Recurring nausea or vomiting
- Energy levels drained, and constant fatigue.
Over time, serious health issues can develop, which are some of the physical effects of long-term alcohol use, such as liver disease, including conditions like fatty liver and eventually cirrhosis.
#2. Impact on Self-Esteem and Personality Changes
Alcohol dependence can have an impact on one’s confidence, which eventually changes a person’s personality. Like, people who consider themselves worthless may rely on alcohol to feel comfortable in social gatherings. Due to these feelings, their behavior is too loud and moody, with anger or frustration.
These changes cause relationships problems and a struggle to maintain the responsibilities of a professional or personal life.
#3. Being Unable to Stop Once You Start
Alcohol tolerance is usually high in those who are affected by alcohol addiction. This often involves Binge Drinking, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines as consuming a certain amount of alcohol in about 2 hours. After just one drink, some people may feel the effects of alcohol, but others who are dependent on alcohol may find it difficult to stop until they don’t have more. They don’t feel intoxicated after several beers.
Their tolerance will keep increasing over time. As a result, they will require progressively more alcohol to get the intended effects.
#4. Frequently Asking to Borrow Money
Signs that someone you care for may be struggling with addiction include sudden changes in behavior, such as frequently borrowing money from you without genuine reason. While asking money is not a problem, but when they ask daily, then it is a sign that can’t be neglected.
Paying attention to these minor actions reveals deeper secrets.
#5. Most Time Spent Away From Home
A person may have an AUD if they’re making excuses regularly to go to the store but come back empty-handed. Similarly, going out for walks or cigarettes at random times or staying out for a prolonged time may also cause issues. These alterations in behavior or habit could mean they are having difficulties and might need support.
#6. Neglected to Handle Normal Responsibilities
For people with an alcohol dependence, social gatherings are centered on drinking. They will attend any gathering which involves alcohol and make it the mainstay of their social lives. Even family gatherings lose their importance when alcohol is only a concern.
Common social effects are:
- Losing friends because of the behavior when drunk
- Work performance is less efficient
- Not paying attention to relationships and work
- Being isolated from friends due to frequent interactions with people who drink heavily.
#7. Drinking as Stress Relief
A person who is dependent on drinking, then they will turn to alcohol as a way to relieve stress. If they are dealing with anger or anxiety, their first action is to reach for the nearest drink.
#8. Isolation and Secrecy
People who struggle with alcoholism frequently feel like they are withdrawn from social gatherings and separating themselves from their family and friends. The feelings of guilt, shame, and embarrassment can lead to concealing their drinking behaviors.
This sense of loneliness may show signs such as a lack of social engagement, excuses to avoid conversation, or increased insecurity.
#9. Experiencing Withdrawal
Withdrawal hits when your system responds to the lack of alcohol, not to excessive use. This is clinically known as Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. When a person tries not to drink, the absence of alcohol may cause withdrawal symptoms such as stress, fatigue, irritability, nausea, or depression. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal at home can range from mild anxiety and shakiness to more severe complications like seizures, making medical supervision crucial. Other signs could be trembling, appetite loss, or trouble sleeping.
#10. When Quitting Alcohol Feels Impossible
Do you find it challenging to stay away from alcohol? When you realize that you or your close one are addicted to drinking and find it hard to resist it. This sign clearly shows that a person needs the right therapy ASAP. This is a critical indicator of when to seek treatment for alcohol dependency.
It’s also important to recognize that alcohol’s impact extends beyond the individual drinker. For example, alcohol use during pregnancy can lead to severe and lifelong consequences for the child, known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
Treatment Options for Alcohol Abuse
Alcoholism can be a challenge to deal with, but it’s also not difficult to treat. A healthy environment, a luxury support system, advanced therapy, and the skills to remain sober is all you needed. Alongside professional treatment, many find lifelong support in peer groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which utilizes a popular 12-Step program.
It’s helpful to understand the general stages of alcohol recovery, which typically include detoxification, rehabilitation (therapy and counseling), and long-term maintenance to sustain sobriety. Each stage presents its own challenges and milestones.
Furthermore, being aware of alcohol relapse warning signs is vital for long-term success. These can include romanticizing past drinking days, isolating oneself, or stopping attendance at support group meetings. Recognizing these signs early allows for proactive intervention.
House of Zen provides a treatment option for those who are struggling with alcohol dependence. Our program is for both residential and outpatient people with different lifestyles. We believe in close bonds between “brothers” who can encourage the recovery process. Therefore, our treatment center focuses on connections to heal, hope, and love above all else.
If you or your loved one is suffering from a problem with alcohol, don’t feel insecure about contacting us now to start a life full of hope! Seeking professional help for alcohol addiction is a sign of strength, not weakness, and it is the first step towards a healthier future.
