What Are the Signs of Alcoholism?

Evidence shows that the rate of alcoholism is constantly rising in the United States of America and globally. Deaths related to alcohol-use are estimated to be between 5.3 – 6.0% globally. Alcoholism is also known as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) or alcohol misuse. It refers to the inability to stop or reduce your drinking despite harmful or potential consequences. Alcoholism is usually a long-term challenge with multiple episodes of alcohol abuse; therefore, it can be a challenging addiction to overcome. In this article, you will learn about the causes of alcoholism, how to prevent it, and how to get treatment for alcoholism.

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Causes of Alcoholism

Alcoholism has no single cause; multiple factors can predispose you to alcoholism. Here are some of them.

Family History of Addiction

Usually, persons with a relative or sibling with an addiction are at a higher risk of developing alcoholism. This association is unclear, but experts suggest it may be associated with genetic factors and family dynamics that could encourage unhealthy drinking patterns, especially in children.

Past Trauma

A person that has also experienced a distressing episode, such as the loss of a loved one or physical assault, may develop an unhealthy drinking pattern to cope with the emotional effects of the traumatic event.

Social and Cultural Factors

If you have a community of friends who consume alcohol excessively, you may acquire this habit just by being within their circle. How alcohol use is presented within society, primarily through entertainment media, may also encourage people to use alcohol in an unhealthy manner.

What are the Signs of Alcoholism?

If you wonder if your level of alcohol consumption is unhealthy, here are some prominent signs of alcoholism you should be looking for. These signs of alcoholism can also determine the severity of alcoholism. Fewer alcoholism signs mean mild alcoholism, while more would mean a more severe case of alcoholism.

Inability to Reduce or Control Level of Intake

The most prominent and perhaps, defining alcoholism symptom is losing control over your intake level. When you realize that you can no longer voluntarily determine your consumption level, you need to see an expert.

Increased Level of Consumption

This increase in the amount of alcohol consumed is mainly due to an increased tolerance for alcohol. One of the significant alcoholism symptoms is that you need to consume more than you previously did to get the same euphoric effect. Therefore, people with alcohol use disorder tend to drink more due to this tolerance effect.

Neglect of Responsibility

Another cardinal sign of alcoholism is disregarding responsibilities and roles necessary for one’s well-being. For instance, an alcoholic may neglect their paid job to spend time over a drink or be absent from work because they are recovering from a hangover. This can lead to devastating consequences such as loss of employment, divorce, or estrangement from loved ones.

Prioritizing Alcohol Consumption

One of the alcoholism symptoms is that undue priority is given to alcohol consumption. If you find yourself skipping essential activities and events to find time to get a drink, chances are high that you have developed an unhealthy drinking pattern.

Taking Alcohol Under Risky Circumstances

Alcoholism signs may also include disregarding rules and regulations that regulate alcohol use. Persons who live with alcoholism often take alcohol in risky situations, such as when driving or while on essential duties at their workplace.

Adverse Health Effects of Alcoholism

Alcoholism poses significant health challenges; some of these are short-term. However, some can be chronic and may demand critical health interventions. Some of these health impacts include

Heightened Risk of Cancer

The evidence on the health effect of heavy alcohol intake shows that it increases the chances of breast, colon, and mouth cancer.

Psychiatric Complications

While a mental health condition may be the predisposing factor for indulging in alcohol intake, long-term alcohol use can also lead to mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety.

Cardiovascular Complications

Alcoholism can also lead to chronic health challenges such as increased blood pressure and other heart diseases. These challenges could also lead to other health complications like stroke and diabetes.

Increased Susceptibility to Disease

Increased alcohol intake also weakens the immune system, increasing the chances of illness and infection. The body would be unable to ward off diseases that it would normally.

Other adverse health effects of alcoholism, in extreme cases, include brain damage, congenital disabilities in pregnant mothers, and dementia in older adults.

Getting Help for Alcoholism in Colorado

Even though alcoholism is a long-term chronic condition, there are treatment approaches that can help people with alcohol use disorder get off their addiction. These treatment approaches include detoxification, psychotherapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing. Treatment techniques that utilize medications to recover from addiction are also used to treat alcoholism.

At Healing Pines Recovery, we offer top-rated Colorado alcohol rehab for men living with addiction. We provide state-of-the-art addiction recovery services such as psychotherapy, residential inpatient treatment, medication-assisted treatment, individual therapy, family therapy, etc. To explore our custom-made services, contact us today as we help you in your journey to health and wholesomeness.