Signs And Symptoms Of Alcohol Abuse

Signs and Symptoms

Experts make a difference among alcohol abuse and alcoholism (also known as alcohol dependence). Alcohol abusers have some ability to limit on their drinking, unlike alcoholism. But their alcohol intake is also harmful and risky to themselves, and it can develop into alcoholism.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse include:

According to National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one’s health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work including:

Repeatedly Neglecting Responsibilities: Alcohol abuse can lead to repeatedly neglecting responsibilities at home, work, or school. For example, neglecting the children, performing poorly at work,

For example, getting arrested for fights, drunk and disorderly conduct, domestic disputes, driving under the influence.

Continued Drinking despite Relationship Problems: Alcohol is causing or making problems worse in your relationships with your friends, family or spouse, and you continue to drink. For example, fighting with your family because they don’t like how you act when you drink or going out and drinking with your buddies even though you know your wife will be very upset.

Drinking to De-Stress: Many drinking problems start when people use alcohol to relieve stress. Because alcohol is a sedative drug, over time, you will need more alcohol to have the same effect what doctors refer to as tolerance. A clear sign of this is getting drunk often after a very stressful day or reaching for a bottle after you have an argument with your boss, a friend or your spouse more frequently.

Signs and symptoms of alcoholism:

According to National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, alcoholism involves all the symptoms of alcohol abuse, but also involves another element: physical dependence- tolerance and

Tolerance:

Tolerance means that, over time, you need more alcohol to feel the same effect. Do you drink more than you used to? Do you drink more than other people without showing obvious signs of intoxication?

2. Withdrawal:

As the effect of the alcohol wears off you may experience withdrawal symptoms: you may experience all or some of these symptoms that include anxiety or jumpiness; shakiness or trembling; sweating, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, depression, irritability, fatigue or loss of appetite and headaches. Do you drink to steady the nerves, stop the shakes in the morning? Drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms is a sign of alcoholism and addiction.

In severe cases, withdrawal from alcohol can be life-threatening and involve hallucinations, confusion, seizures, fever, and agitation. These symptoms can be dangerous and should be managed by a physician specifically trained and experienced in dealing with alcoholism and addiction.

3. Loss of Control:

Drinking more than you wanted to, for longer than you intended, or despite telling yourself that you wouldn’t do it this time.

4. Desire to Stop- But Can’t:

You have a persistent desire to cut down or stop your alcohol use, but all efforts to stop and stay stopped, have been