How to Beat Alcoholism
how to stop drinking
Signs of Being an Alcoholic
Signs of Being an Alcoholic
Early Signs of Alcoholism
If you are concerned that you or someone you care about might have a problem with alcohol addiction, there are some early signs of alcoholism that can help you identify shared patterns and traits that many alcoholics exhibit at the start.
Alcoholism is a progressive disease, which means that it slowly develops over time rather than happening quickly. Because of the slow progression of alcohol addiction, identifying warning signs in the earliest stages can improve the chances of catching the disease early and reversing it, before it becomes more difficult to treat in its advanced, later stages.
The following list of early signs of alcoholism offers general patterns and behaviors that many people suffering from initial alcohol abuse have in common. Individuals can vary and even just a few of these traits should alert you to the fact that you, a friend or a loved one are in the early stage of the disease. Getting help now will increase the likelihood of being able to fight and reverse this disease, before it becomes worse. Signs of early stages of alcohol abuse are as follows:
Changes In Tolerance Levels
When a person becomes more tolerant to alcohol, they require more alcoholic beverages to achieve the desired effects they receive from drinking hard liquor, beer or wine. If more and more drinks are required to feel alcohol's effect, this is an early sign that dependence on alcohol is rising. People find themselves going to the liquor store more often than usual, or purchasing larger quantities at one time because the number of beverages consumed is increasing due to the physiological need for more alcohol. Being frequently intoxicated or establishing heavy drinking patterns is indeed a concern that the disease is advancing.
Engaging In Behaviors That Can Jeopardize Well Being Of Self And Others
People with early signs of alcoholism begin taking risks that would not have been considered in the past. As alcohol dependence increases, the need to consume liquor also rises. This need for alcohol throughout the day, or needing to consume more when out socializing, may result in a person engaging in risky behaviors such as driving drunk or drinking on the job. This jeopardizes the safety of the alcohol dependent person as well as others and could result in job loss or even imprisonment if an accident would occur while intoxicated.
Consuming Alcohol When All Alone
Another common behavior that is witnessed in earlier stages of alcohol dependence is when individuals begin drinking by themselves. What might have been a purely social behavior in the past has now become a daily ritual that is done in the privacy of his or her home.
Daily Life Becomes Planned Around Alcohol Consumption
One significant symptom of the early signs of alcoholism is when an individual begins to plan his or her day around drinking. This sign reflects a true addiction has developed and it can present itself in a variety of ways. One telltale sign is when a person begins trying to hide the addiction from others, such as having a few alcoholic beverages in private before meeting with friends or loved ones, so he or she won't appear to have a drinking problem. Another way that dependence can impact daily life is when a person begins to withdraw socially and pass on going out with others, which allows time to consume alcohol in private without having to worry about friends or family noticing or interfering with the addiction. Yet another example is when he or she begins planning ways to sneak alcohol throughout the day without being noticed. This could include a flask in a purse or briefcase, perfume and breath mints to hide the odor of alcohol or even switching to a more odorless liquor like vodka to drink during times when it is unacceptable to be consuming alcohol. In all of these examples, early signs of alcoholism are becoming more advanced because the addicted man or woman has developed strategies to allow drinking throughout the day without being noticed by others.
When Friends And Family Become Concerned
Sometimes those dependent on alcohol aren't aware of the progression of the disease at the start, but family and friends begin to take notice that an individual is drinking larger quantities, more frequently. When other people begin discussing the possibility that they believe there is a problem, this is a sign that alcohol dependence is most likely becoming a real concern for an individual. Some people addicted to alcohol begin lying at this stage of the disease in an effort to minimize and downgrade the concerns of those around them.
When Individuals Question Themselves If They Have A Problem
Another sign that signifies early warning signs of alcoholism is when drinkers begin to question themselves, recognizing that their relationship to alcohol is changing or advancing. When people begin wondering if they have a problem, most often alcohol's addictive properties have begun to effect their lives on some level.
Physical And Mental Changes
As early signs of alcoholism take hold, there are physical and mental symptoms that become apparent. Changes in mood are one example, where alcohol can cause a person to become angry, violent or even euphoric when intoxicated, though these moods were never commonplace when sober. Blackouts may begin to occur, where large portions of memories from the previous evening are absent when waking up the next morning. Physical problems such as tremors, headaches or nausea in the absence of alcohol reflect the presence of withdrawal symptoms, which signifies that the body is becoming physically dependent on alcohol.
Problems Begin To Occur, Yet Drinking Continues
No matter how hard one might try to hide his or her early signs of alcoholism, as the disease progresses, problems will begin to occur in one's life. Some common troubles that can begin to appear concern important areas such as work, relationships and finances. When serious problems occur yet the individual continues drinking, alcohol addiction is moving out of earlier stages while carrying consequences that can impact his or her life forever.
Recognizing that alcoholism is a progressive disease, treating and reversing the condition before it has advanced or caused life-altering consequences is of extreme importance.