Alcoholism Symptoms
Alcoholism is a disease characterized by the compulsive drinking of alcoholic beverages. It is a chronic, life-long disease which is progressive and sometimes fatal. A person who suffers from alcoholism is preoccupied with the drug alcohol and continues to use alcohol in spite of adverse consequences.
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The Facts
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Alcoholics frequently deny that they have a problem with alcohol. They may drink alone and try to hide the amount that they are drinking. They lose interest in people and activities that used to bring them pleasure. They build a tolerance to alcohol, resulting in a need for more and more alcohol to feel its effects.
Considerations
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Drinking socially is widely accepted. Since drinking is so common in our society, recognizing that you or a loved one is having a problem with alcohol can be challenging. When alcohol becomes your focus, you have slipped into alcohol abuse. You may find that you only want to attend social functions where alcohol is served or that having a drink after work is more important than getting home to your family. Increased dependence on alcohol leads to alcoholism, or physical dependence on the drug alcohol.
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Physical Signs and Symptoms
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Physical signs of alcoholism include drinking to the point of slurred speech, clumsiness or dizziness. You may experience blackouts, where you can't remember what happened during a drinking episode. Other symptoms include upset stomach, weight loss, redness in the face or numbness of hands and feet.
Mental Signs and Symptoms
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Craving is one of the clearest signs of alcoholism, meaning you have a very strong or uncontrollable urge to drink. You exhibit loss of control of your drinking. Once you start, you can't stop. Drinking may lead you into dangerous situations, such as drunk driving or walking alone in unsafe environments. You may have difficulty sleeping and lose control of your emotions.
Progression
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Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to serious complications. You may have liver damage, eventually progressing to cirrhosis of the liver. By drinking heavily, you are at increased risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke. You may have stomach problems or nutritional deficiencies. You may also have cognitive problems, such as difficulty remembering.
Treatment
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There is no cure for alcoholism, but it can be treated. Treatment for alcoholism usually depends on total abstinence. Residential treatment facilities can treat both the physical and mental aspects of the disease. Outpatient treatment options include medication, counseling and support groups. Recovery will be a lifelong process.
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References
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