Alcohol Addiction Signs

What are the alcohol addiction signs? Addiction is defined as an uncontrollable urge for a substance. The user thinks they cannot do without the buzz from the substance. An alcohol addiction is as serious a drug addiction since alcohol is a drug itself. Though it may not have the same impact as heroin or cocaine, it can be equally detrimental in other ways. The following are common alcohol addiction signs.

Denial – One of the first usual alcohol addiction signs is trying to prove you do not have a problem. Have you ever tried going without a drink for a few days just to show your family or friends you do not have a problem? Has anyone tried to confront you about your behaviors but you denied anything is wrong? You may think they are trying to control you but in reality the reason they confront you is because you have an addiction that has become apparent to them, and they want to help you.

Tolerance for Alcohol – Another one of the alcohol addiction signs is tolerance. After you have started drinking regularly, you eventually build a tolerance. Think about the quantity you drank when you started drinking. How long did it take you to get a buzz? Compare how much you drink now to then. You may discover you need more alcohol to get the same buzz. You could experience withdrawal symptoms if you go without a drink for long periods of time. Some withdrawal symptoms are:

Tiredness Headaches

Trembling Sleeplessness

When you have an addiction, only a drink can remedy these symptoms.

Constantly Thinking About Alcohol – Are you constantly thinking about your next drink and finding it hard to focus on other things? Do you purposefully place yourself in situations where there is alcohol? Is the next drink the only thing you think about and has it become more important than anything else? If this is consuming a great deal of your time, you may have an addiction. At this stage, it gets harder to stop. You could find yourself with no job or even in trouble with the law because of your drinking.

Isolation – Are you isolating yourself from people because you want to drink or for any reason pertaining to drinking alcohol? Drinking usually starts socially and then it evolves into something more in the case of a progressive addiction. It then becomes a means of stress relief, coping with life and as the recreational activity of choice. You will likely find yourself avoiding social events. If you are basing your activities around alcohol, you have an issue.

Finances – Is almost your whole paycheck going toward alcohol? Do you find yourself short on cash each week? When you have an addiction, you stop caring about how much money you save when there is a need to buy booze. Buying alcohol becomes almost as important as buying food or paying bills, and quite often it will eventually take precedence, becoming one’s top priority when there is a developing addiction.

Harming Someone Else – Have your hurt another person mentally or physically? When you are under the influence of alcohol, you may not be aware of what you say or do. You may not recall you even did anything. While causing mental harm is serious, physical harm can also lead to serious legal and family trouble. Occasionally, alcohol is referred to as liquid courage but it is really liquid coward. Though you could get into a fight with a person that deserves a punch, you could harm an innocent bystander. Ask other family members and friends about your behavior and how it has impacted them. This will be very revealing.

Write it Down – Putting things on paper is a good way to identify an addiction to alcohol. You must be truthful when you do this. Try to recall the beginning of your alcohol addiction and establish a pattern. How old were you when you started drinking? When did you begin increasing the frequency or amount consumed? Is there a history of alcohol addiction in your family? If your family has a history of alcohol addiction, your chances are higher for one.

Check your current state of health. Are you a healthy weight? Are your eyes bloodshot? Is your appearance sloppy? Write down any psychical signs that may be because of alcohol use. Also try and list everything you have spent on alcohol over the past few years. You could discover you spent hundreds or even thousands. Write down any changes in friends or social activities that have occurred because of alcohol. Did your drinking cause you to lose friends or miss any important events?

Getting Help – If you know for certain you have an addiction, you have options to get help. The most widely recognized method is a 12-step program like Alcoholics Anonymous. You can find a program by looking in your telephone directory or online. A 12-step program is good for treating mild addictions and staying sober. More serious addictions will likely need the help of a rehabilitation center. This means you must live at the center for a period of time and undergo counseling.

Knowing the alcohol addiction signs can help you identify problems in yourself or someone else. No one has to face an addiction alone. The first step to recovery is admitting a problem exists. Then for it to be a success one needs to accept that they need help. Alcohol is a serious addiction that can be overcome with the right treatment program.

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