Author: James Anderson

12 Warning Signs of an Alcohol Problem Explained With Pictures

About 50% of these individuals are from families with multigenerational alcoholism, and almost all have experienced clinical depression. While the exact causes of alcoholism are not known, a number of factors can play a role. The condition is likely the result of a combination of genetic, social, psychological, and environmental factors. Maybe you’ve been concerned enough that you’ve already thought about or actually tried to cut down on your drinking — and it didn’t happen.

1. Although you realize it’s harming you, a physical or emotional dependence on alcohol can make quitting hard.
2. Options may include a combination of psychiatric support, medication, or alcohol misuse support groups.
3. Learn more about the potential risks of chronic heavy drinking.
4. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
5. About 62% of functional alcoholics work full time, and 26% possess a college degree or higher.

Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain. A heavy drinking binge may even cause a life-threatening coma or death. This is of particular concern when you’re taking certain medications that also depress the brain’s function. Your doctor can see how well your liver is functioning by testing the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT).

Spending lots of time drinking or dealing with its effects

About 62% of functional alcoholics work full time, and 26% possess a college degree or higher. This subtype makes up 19.5% of people addicted to alcohol in the U.S. Treatment for alcoholism often involves a combination of therapy, medication, and support. Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition involving frequent or heavy alcohol use. People with alcohol use disorder can’t stop drinking, even when it causes problems, emotional distress or physical harm to themselves or others. Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or causes other alcohol-related problems.

Dr. Kevin Wandler of Advanced Recovery Systems describes how tolerance and withdrawal symptoms are indicators of alcohol dependence. Heavy drinking in and of itself doesn’t make someone an alcoholic. In fact, an estimated 40 million adults in America drink too much, and most — 90 percent — are not alcoholics. AUD involves the continued use of alcohol despite the adverse effects it may have on a person’s life.

If your loved one needs help

Other early signs of alcoholism include blackout drinking or a drastic change in demeanor while drinking, such as consistently becoming angry or violent. Don’t feel bad, but do consider cutting back on drinking — or quitting altogether. The more things you said “yes” to, the more important it is that you take action or seek help from a health professional. You care about your loved ones, but you can’t imagine your life without alcohol. Your drinking has led to trouble with your family or friends, or made problems worse, yet you continue to drink.

If you drink more alcohol than that, consider cutting back or quitting. In some people, the initial reaction may feel like an increase in energy. But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions. Alcoholics often have defective red blood cells that die prematurely, which can cause a lower-than-normal red blood cell count. Gastrointestinal bleeding, a symptom some alcoholics experience, can also cause anemia, as can iron deficiency.

Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. In the DSM-5, alcohol use disorder is further classified into categories of mild, moderate, and severe. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The sooner you recognize there may be a problem and talk to your healthcare provider, the better your recovery chances.

What Is An Alcoholic?

Medical professionals can provide information about treatment, prescribe medication, and refer them to specialists. Another sign of AUD is someone drinking alcohol even though it may affect an existing health condition. People with AUD may continue to drink alcohol despite it causing them to feel anxious or depressed or to experience a memory blackout. Anyone who is considering stopping drinking alcohol should speak with a healthcare professional.

More on Substance Abuse and Addiction

If you suddenly stop drinking, your brain has to adjust again, causing these withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol use disorder (sometimes called alcoholism) is a medical condition. It involves heavy or frequent alcohol drinking even when it causes problems, emotional distress or physical harm. A combination of medications, behavioral therapy and support can help you or a loved one recover. Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem.

Alcohol masks unhappy emotions, so those feelings may come back when you quit drinking, making it harder to stick to your goal. If you try to abstain, but then obsess over alcohol or switch to another drug or behavior, that’s a red flag. We’re not talking about just the time with a glass (or can, or bottle) in your hand. There’s also getting the alcohol, feeling sick after you drink, and recovering from the effects later. Keep track of all your activities in a daily diary or schedule planner for a few weeks, and take an honest look at how it adds up.

They drink less frequently than the other subtypes, but when they do drink, they’re likely to overdo it and binge. They typically come from families with low rates of alcoholism. Alcohol misuse can impact every aspect of your life in ways you may not expect. An alcoholic is known as someone who drinks alcohol beyond his or her ability to control it and is unable to stop consuming alcohol voluntarily. Most often this is coupled with being habitually intoxicated, daily drinking, and drinking larger quantities of alcohol than most. In general, an alcoholic is someone who suffers from alcoholism.