Warning Signs of Alcoholism and How to Recognise Them
Many signs help detect early alcohol abuse if you know where to look. Though many of these signs are easily recognisable, others may be a bit harder to spot. The severity of alcohol abuse also plays a massive role in what warning a person exhibits signs. Some people may try to hide their alcohol abuse by drinking in private and isolating themselves, while others are more obvious. This makes it more challenging for family members and friends to notice and get involved in trying to help their loved ones.
Common Symptoms Of Alcohol Abuse
If left untreated, alcohol abuse may quickly spiral out of control. When it starts negatively affecting a person’s life and harming them, it can be diagnosed as alcohol use disorder or AUD. Recognising these early signs of alcohol abuse and getting the right kind of treatment will make a massive difference in the recovery process for that person.
Though there is no specific formula to notice whether or not someone is an alcoholic, there are some common symptoms you can spot. One of these can turn into another, adding more and more problems down the line. Some of the more common signs include the following:
Experiencing blackouts or short-term memory loss
Changing the group of acquaintances time is spent with
Changing and worsening appearance
Feeling hungover when they’re not drunk
Becoming isolated from friends and family
Choosing to drink over responsibilities
Making excuses for drinking, such as dealing with stress, relaxing or feeling normal
Showing irritability and extreme mood swings
It doesn’t matter how small the drinking problem may appear; first, alcohol abuse symptoms must never be ignored. If you or a loved one struggles with alcoholism, help is needed in most cases. Call a treatment provider or a hotline to find a way to solve the issue.
A few tools are used to determine whether or not someone is suffering from alcoholism. One of those is the questionnaire known as CAGE, which helps measure how bad the drinking problem has become. If you answer positively to two or more of the questions, then you need professional medical help. The four questions used in CAGE are as follows:
Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
Have people annoyed you by criticising your drinking?
Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
Have you ever drunk first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get over a hangover?
Sometimes, medical professionals may also ask you questions from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM, attempting to diagnose if you are suffering from alcohol abuse. Answers to the questions should be based on the past year of your experienced alcohol use:
Have you been in trouble with the law due to alcohol-related problems?
Have you gotten into situations while drinking that increased your chances of harming yourself or others (i.e., drinking and driving)?
Have you felt an urge or craving to consume alcohol?
Have you experienced symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal?
Have you continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem?
Have there been situations where you ended up drinking much more than you intended?
Have you lost interest in other activities and hobbies since you started drinking?
Denial is one of the main psychological issues used by millions worldwide to avoid alcoholism treatment. Some people will rationalise these drinking behaviours, blaming other people for the circumstances of their drinking or downplaying their significance. They will become defensive when someone mentions their drinking problem. By refusing to recognise these issues, they are preventing themselves from enjoying a healthy life. Ensure you address the situation as soon as possible and seek treatment.
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