Trying to identify the signs of alcoholism isn’t always a straightforward process, especially since drinking is woven into day-to-day living and socialising. You might be facing alcoholism if you find you can’t control your drinking, even when it’s clearly affecting your health, relationships, or career. Spotting these warning signs early can make a big difference before things get to a point you can’t get back from.
Understanding Alcoholism or Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the official medical term for ongoing, problematic drinking. Essentially, it’s when you just can’t cut down or quit, even if you really want to. The United Kingdom government considers alcohol misuse to be a major public health concern, and it’s the leading cause of ill health among those aged 15- 49, and its economic impact is estimated to be between £21 and £52 billion a year.
Like many other diseases, AUD can worsen if you ignore its signs. The sooner it’s recognised, the better the chances of recovery. Treatment can include therapy, medication, or sometimes inpatient rehab.
Alcoholism Versus Heavy Drinking
Heavy drinking means you’re going over the recommended limits. While this isn’t ideal, it’s not necessarily a sign of alcoholism. You might still be able to stop, get back to your routine, and not crave alcohol. As long as binge drinking doesn’t become a habit that you can’t control, then it’s not alcoholism.
Alcoholism, on the other hand, is about a loss of control. Maybe you promise yourself you’ll only have one or two drinks, but your compulsions invariably get the better of you. Alcohol starts to come before work, family, or even your health.
Warning Signs of Alcoholism
The signs of alcohol addiction can be subtle, showing themselves through changes in your body, mood, and daily habits. Maybe your drinking patterns shift, or you notice it’s harder and harder to get through the day without a drink.
Loss of Control Over Drinking
Not being able to limit how much or how often you drink alcohol is the most telltale sign you struggle with alcoholism. You’ll attempt to cut back or control your drinking, but these attempts will almost certainly fail without professional addiction treatment.
If you keep drinking even when it’s obviously causing negative consequences, such as fights at home, slip-ups at work, and health scares, it’s a sign that you may have become an alcoholic.
Increased Tolerance
When your body gets used to your drinking habits, you build up a tolerance. This means that the effects of alcohol are dulled. Drinks that used to get you drunk might barely register, and you may find yourself drinking more alcohol to get the desired effects.
Physical Dependence and Withdrawal
Physical dependence means your body needs alcohol to function. If you stop suddenly, withdrawal can hit in just a few hours.
Common withdrawal symptoms:
- Shakes or tremors
- Sweating for no reason
- Feeling anxious or on edge
- Nausea, maybe even vomiting
- Trouble sleeping
In extreme cases of alcoholism, withdrawal can turn into delirium tremens (DTs), which can include hallucinations, seizures, and confusion. DTs is a medical emergency, and you should seek help immediately.
Cravings and Compulsive Use
You might find yourself thinking about drinking constantly, or planning your schedule around when you can have your next drink. Compulsive use means you keep drinking even when you know about its negative effects.
You may have drinks before work, hide bottles, or avoid family members to keep drinking. You might promise yourself you’ll stop, but the cravings win out again and again. It’s a frustrating cycle, and it shows how strong the pull of alcohol can be.
Behavioural and Emotional Indicators
Alcohol misuse often manifests in daily habits and moods before any physical problems present themselves. Maybe you start making mistakes at work, isolating yourself from friends, or finding it harder to handle stress. Some of the behavioural signs and symptoms of alcoholism include:
Neglecting Responsibilities
When drinking becomes an addiction, responsibilities become less of a priority. Maybe you’re missing work deadlines, skipping classes, or ignoring chores or self-care because you’re either drinking or recovering.
Risky Behaviour
Drinking alcohol can lower your inhibitions. This can make you more prone to engaging in risky behaviours such as unsafe sex, getting into physical altercations with other people, or driving drunk.
Mood Changes and Irritability
Alcohol can affect your brain, so mood swings are common. You might feel relaxed after drinking, but anxious or irritable when you’re not. Some people may also become more belligerent when they’re drunk, which can lead to them lashing out at the people closest to them, often their friends or family, for no real reason.
Physical Symptoms and Health Consequences
Alcohol misuse doesn’t just affect your mind; it leaves a mark on your body, too. You might notice blackouts or memory gaps, and over the years, more dangerous health problems like liver or heart disease can appear.
Blackouts and Memory Loss
Heavy drinking can affect the part of your brain that makes new memories, leading to blackouts. Blackouts are risky because you could do things you’d never do sober, such as unsafe sex, fights, accidents, and not even remember them, which may stop you from seeking treatment or taking measures to protect yourself.
The NHS warns that alcohol also slows your reaction time and clouds your judgment. If blackouts are happening frequently, it’s a sign you’re taking neurological damage. Over time, this can lead to lasting memory problems or even alcohol-related dementia.
Visible Physical Changes
Your body can often display the signs of being dependent on alcohol. Your face looks red, or you notice broken capillaries. Hand tremors, bloodshot eyes, or unexplained bruises can appear as well. Your skin might dry, or you might look pale and tired.
Alcohol can affect your weight; some people gain weight from all the extra calories in alcohol, while others lose weight because they’re not eating properly, as their time and money are spent on alcohol. These physical signs usually point to much more dire problems internally.
Long-Term Health Effects
Years of alcohol use can seriously damage your organs. The liver is especially at risk when you use alcohol; fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis are common, and cirrhosis can leave permanent scars. Your cardiovascular health can be affected as well. Long-term misuse raises blood pressure and the chances of heart disease or stroke.
Other long-term effects of alcohol include pancreatitis, digestive trouble, an increased risk of cancers (mouth, breast, bowel, throat, and others), and a weaker immune system, which means that you’ll likely get sick more often and be slower to recover.
Cognitive decline is another concern. Years of heavy drinking can damage your brain, making it harder to think, focus, or remember things. These changes can sometimes be permanent, even if you stop drinking.
Don’t Ignore the Signs of Alcohol Addiction
The signs of alcoholism shouldn’t be ignored. When they are ignored, they can lead to long-term or permanent health consequences. But it’s not too late. With the right treatment, you can curb your excessive drinking and reverse or mitigate the damage the alcohol does.
