Alcohol is a widely accepted social beverage that is consumed for pleasure by both men and women. Though consumption of alcohol has significant effects on the body, mindful and responsible drinking helps you maintain a balance.
According to Soberlink Reviews (an expert in alcohol recovery), overconsumption of alcohol causes serious harm to one’s emotional and physical well being. This can lead to alcoholism or also known as alcohol addiction.
Alcoholism is a clinical term used by the American Health Society for the extreme abuse of alcohol. It is the high dependency of alcohol, where a person finds it difficult to function without alcohol. Unhealthy use of alcohol includes binge drinking, high dependency, a frequent pattern of drinking, etc.
Alcoholism can be caused due to a lot of factors, from psychological to social and also environmental. Peer pressure is the most common reason for teens to consume alcohol.
So many people do not recognize the damaging effects of alcohol as it is so common in society. Alcoholism has different stages and each stage has its symptoms. You can try gradually quitting alcohol with the help of alcohol addiction treatment.
But before that, there are some subtle signs to be aware of before slipping into alcoholism that one must keep an eye on.
Here are 5 Subtle Symptoms of Alcoholism
Unable to Control Intake of Alcohol
Are you finding it hard to say no or have control over your alcohol intake? Not being able to limit the quantity of alcohol can be an early indicator of alcohol dependency.
Alcoholism starts with the thought that one can handle some more alcohol but eventually leads to overconsumption.
Preoccupied with Thoughts about Alcohol
You are constantly thinking about the next time when you can drink. You feel that you find your life easier when you are intoxicated and cannot wait for the next time you can experience the high.
These thoughts are common in teenagers who are experiencing alcohol for the first time. Buth the same can be risky when it distracts you from the day to day activities. These thoughts get so strong that you eventually give in and start drinking again.
Unable to Quit
Though you have become aware of the undesirable effects drinking has in your life, you are unable to keep up with your decision of not consuming alcohol again. If you keep failing in your effort to stay sober, it is advisable to take help.
Talk to a friend or a professional and seek their advice on quitting. Abrupt quitting of alcohol can lead to withdrawal symptoms.
Relationship Conflicts Due to Alcohol
Abuse of alcohol can also take a toll on one’s emotional well being. This doesn’t just apply to the user but also their partners. Alcoholism causes a lot of strain in relationships, such as constant arguments, defensiveness, and fighting that is focused on alcohol usage.
If you are constantly defending your drinking habits or choosing to drink over your partner, there is a high chance you might have a problem.
Developing Higher Tolerance for Alcohol
When you started drinking you just needed two drinks for you to feel a buzz, but now it takes a bottle. Higher endurance of alcohol means that your body is habituated to the buzz, that you need to keep increasing the quantity to feel its effects.
Higher tolerance might also indicate that you consume alcohol more often. Make sure you can limit your alcohol intake and have control over the quantity.
What to Do About the Symptoms?
Intervention
If you know someone who has an alcohol use disorder and is unwilling to go for treatment, consider staging an intervention. Telling them that they might have a problem can seem scary but is necessary.
Treat them with love and respect and avoid pointing fingers and shaming. Focus on talking about their emotional and physical distress than judging the person.
Seek Medical Help
If you are aware that you are not able to limit the alcohol or stay sober. If you are having trouble in your interpersonal relationships because of your habit, consider taking professional help.
There are a lot of de-addiction centers that offer alcohol addiction treatment and can guide you to your well being. Seek therapy to address the reason that makes you drink and slowly quit the habit before it rules over your life.
If you or your loved one is going through a stage of alcoholism, it is important to realize that you are not alone and more importantly, this can be cured. Do not shy away from talking about it or seeking help.
