Alcohol Addiction Symptoms

Be it a big celebration or a small get together with friends, consuming alcohol in some form or other is deeply woven into our culture. One might not even realize that the habit of drinking occasionally, may turn into an addiction. Alcoholism is one of those habits that sneaks up on you and then it spirals out of control causing havoc in your life and those around you. But for those who are already in the grip of this addiction, all is not lost. Knowing the alcohol addiction symptoms and getting help on time can help one come out of the clutches of alcoholism.

What is Alcoholism

The step to identifying an alcoholic is to understand what is alcoholism. To be characterized as one who is suffering from alcohol addiction, one must show the following defining symptoms of alcohol addiction:

• Craving: Craving refers to a strong and continual need to drink.
• Tolerance: The individual becomes increasingly immune to the amount of alcohol he drinks. He progressively moves on to higher amounts of alcohol to satisfy his cravings.
• Physical Dependence: A person experiences physical symptoms like anxiety, nausea and sweating if he refrains from drinking for long (these are known as withdrawal symptoms).
• Loss of Control: As one graduates to higher levels of alcohol consumption, he finds it difficult to control his drinking habit.

These changes in one's behavior widely encompass the other more explicit alcohol addiction signs that will be discussed in greater detail in sections to follow. However, since we are trying to understand what alcoholism is about, it becomes important to realize that, although quite often, both are used interchangeably, alcohol abuse is different from alcoholism. While alcoholism is more about physical dependence on alcohol, one is supposed to be a victim of alcohol abuse when he risks legal complications, physical injury, relationship problems and missing commitments at home, school or office, due to his drinking habits. The confusion between the two terms arises mainly due to the fact that there is a very thin line between alcohol abuse and alcoholism. An alcohol addict most often shows signs of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol Addiction Symptoms

Physical
Common addiction symptoms of physical nature are:

• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Red eyes and puffy face
• Slurred speech
• Excess sleep or insomnia
• Upset stomach
• Abdominal pain
• Rapid heartbeat
• Pale appearance
• Loss of appetite

Some of these physical symptoms are indications of larger problems that may affect important organs of the body like the heart, liver and kidneys in the long run.

Psychological

Some addiction symptoms can be categorized as being psychological in nature. They are:

• Anxiety
• Increased emotional outbursts
• Nervousness
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Difficulty in thinking in clear terms
• Memory lapse
• Lack of interest in activities that they once enjoyed

Behavioral

Other than these physical or psychological symptoms, there are certain behavioral patterns that are seen in those who are addicted to alcohol. Such individuals would refrain from commitments. They would avoid places where they wouldn't get a chance to drink. Alcohol addicts may skip school, work or other responsibilities so that they could drink. Even though an addict tries to quit the habit, he doesn't seem to be able to that. The worse fact is that when questioned about their addiction, they tend to become defensive or volatile. All these changes in a person would take toll on his relationships. But he still won't be able to kick the habit.

Withdrawal

One of the pronounced stages of alcohol addiction is when an individual suffers from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. This refers to those symptoms that an addict experiences when he doesn't drink for long. These symptoms include:

• Depression
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Trembling of limbs
• Headache

Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Some view alcohol addiction as a medical condition. If the addiction is viewed in such a light, then medications may be prescribed to treat alcohol addiction. The various alcoholism treatment medications aim at dealing with cravings for alcohol and to reduce withdrawal symptoms. Antabuse, temposil, acamprosate, benzodiazepines, valium and librium are some of the drugs used for alcohol treatment. Other than drugs, there are different treatments for alcoholism including alcohol detoxification. There are also a number of alcohol rehab programs and centers that help alcohol addicts to come off their addiction. However, once the person has come off the addiction, it is no guarantee that he would not tread the path again. These people need to be monitored closely, especially by their family members as a little stress may make them slip back to being their old selves.

If you have seen any of the alcohol addiction symptoms in your loved ones, it is best to get acting right away. Sitting over the matter, expecting the individual to take charge of his life usually doesn't work. Timely intervention can be of great help in the direction of addiction recovery.