Is Alcohol a Problem? 8 Signs of Addiction to Watch Out For
Alcohol is part of everyday life for many people. It is readily available in many places and on many occasions. Its consumption, though, can be a deceptive snare.
Even people with seemingly healthy and happy lives can fall into this trap. At times, they may find it hard to draw the line between how much alcohol is acceptable and what is too much. Subsequently, they may develop drinking habits that are excessive without ever realizing it. Why is that?
If they’re able to drink a lot without obvious symptoms, it may lead them to believe that they are still in control. They may be rendered completely blind to the idea that something is wrong because their judgment is warped by an overload of alcohol. Yet, in reality, their brain is malfunctioning and incapable of accurately evaluating their true condition.
Alcohol addiction is a menace. It exacts a heavy toll. It plays a role in verbal and physical abuse, car accidents and other injuries, assaults and murders, and a slew of health problems. Even if a person drinks too much when they’re alone, the effects of their abuse inevitably spill over into the lives of others.
So if you consume alcohol, do you evaluate yourself frequently for any signs of problems?
8 Signs That You May Have A Problem
1. Lying, hiding, and denying
Either you’re truly blind to the fact that you have a problem or you’re simply not willing to admit it. So to protect your drinking habits, you may become very secretive about it, hiding and lying about how much and how often you drink.
2. Drinking for emotional reasons
Emotional reasons include drinking to relax, to feel happy, to handle stress and anxiety, to counter feelings of depression and better your mood, or to make you feel like you fit in at social settings. But relying on alcohol to feel normal actually indicates that you’re probably using drinking to avoid deeper issues.
3. Neglecting relationships and responsibilities
Your drinking causes problems in all facets of your life, impacting your daily functioning. You begin having consistent problems at work/school, in your family, or with close friends. The most important people and things in your life are eventually no longer your priority.
4. Dismissing risks and consequences
You may drink in dangerous and risky situations, like before driving or against your doctor’s orders. And even when you experience negative consequences – loss of job, loss of friends and family, multiple DUIs – you continue with your habit, rather than make changes.
5. Increasing tolerance to alcohol
The ability and need to drink increasing amounts strongly indicates that you’re becoming addicted. Higher tolerance to alcohol is an alarming sign that your body is adapting to cope with your unhealthy intake.
6. Inability to control drinking
This can manifest itself in two ways. Either you (1) can’t stop drinking it all once you open a bottle, or (2) you can’t manage to quit your habit, even though you’ve realized you have a problem and have tried to stop.
7. Temporary memory loss
The inability to remember what happened when you’re drinking is due to an excessively high blood-alcohol level. It restrains brain functions and, in time, may lead to permanent and irreversible damage.
8. Physical changes
Shakiness or trembling, flushed facial skin, and feeling irritable, tired, or nauseous are some of the milder physical symptoms of alcohol addiction. Stronger ones include such things as the inability to sleep, loss of appetite, and even hallucinations and seizures. And you may also experience withdrawal reactions due to the lack of alcohol between consumption.
Alcohol abuse is not to be taken lightly. It’s a serious disease. Contemplate the above-mentioned eight signs. If you experience some of them, there is a strong possibility that your drinking has gone too far and that it is time to get help.
