What Are The Symptoms of Alcoholism?

Like any disease, there are signs or symptoms of alcoholism. Some of them is very easy to recognize whilst others are less obvious. Most of us can go out maybe once a week or just on special occasions and have a few drinks and it is no big deal. Anyone can be an alcoholic including teenagers. Alcoholism affects over 17 million Americans everyday. There is a difference between drinking or abusing alcohol and alcoholism. It is not how much a person drinks but how they let the drink affect and control their life. Alcoholism is a serious disease and if left untreated can be fatal. This disease cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Studies have shown that mental, social and genetics can influence the progression of this disease. Here are five signs to look for if you or a loved one may be an alcoholic.

First, the person may be in denial that they have a problem in the first place. They may even believe they are in control of their alcohol consumption. Recognizing that they have the problem is the first step to recovering.

Second, the person suffering from alcoholism may often crave an alcoholic beverage. They may go out of their way to get the alcohol fix that they want so badly. This can affect their personal or even their professional life.

Third, alcoholics usually have a high tolerance for alcoholic beverages. The tolerance would be greater than a normal person's tolerance for the alcohol. This can put the person at a great risk for health problems because they will have to drink more and more alcohol to get the high they need.

Fourth, the person may not be able to control how much alcohol they consume. Most of us who only drink occasionally usually know when we have had enough. When a person has alcoholism, they usually loose the ability to know when it is time to stop. This, like the constant craving, can cause serious health problems because the person will drink until they are either sick to their stomach or they pass out.

Fifth, the person may not only crave the alcohol but they may begin depending on it to function normally. Without the alcohol the person will experience withdrawal, they may have similar symptoms to other drug users going through withdrawals. They may feel nauseous and be sweaty and shaky.

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms or know that you are an alcoholic, I encourage you to seek immediate help. There are many treatments out there for alcoholism today. Going for help maybe hard from someone just admitting or realizing they have the disease. They should have a lot of support behind them when seeking help otherwise they could relapse. It is very important not only to see rehabilitation but to seek mental help as well, especially when the alcoholism affected a relationship or job. If you know people like relatives or friends who you suspect might have alcohol problems, apply the knowledge you gained from this article to confirm whether or not the symptoms of alcoholism are real.

T. Brooks Ellingsen is a publisher of alcoholism articles.