Author: James Anderson
Alcohol’s Effects on the Body National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA
You won’t spend one weekend binge drinking and wake up on Monday with alcohol dependency. This is because it takes time for the effects of alcohol on the brain to make structural and chemical changes. Instead, a dependence develops in chronic drinkers who consume alcohol on a regular (usually daily) basis.
The syndrome was also considered to exist in degrees of severity rather than as a categorical absolute. Thus, the proper question is not ‘whether a person is dependent on alcohol’, but ‘how far along the path of dependence has a person progressed’. Physiological dependence on alcohol is added to an already existing psychological dependence on alcohol.
Whether you struggle with physical or psychological addiction or both, we help you learn the tools you need to overcome at Gateway. The first step towards overcoming a drinking problem is acknowledging the problem itself and asking for help. When you call our team of admissions counselors in Massachusetts, you’ll be met with compassion, understanding, and dedication to your recovery.
Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine your drinking habits or to seek help. Consider talking with someone who has had a problem with drinking but has stopped. Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal.
The CAGE questionnaire, the name of which is an acronym of its four questions, is a widely used method of screening for alcohol dependence. For more information about alcohol’s effects on the body, please visit the Interactive Body feature on NIAAA’s College Drinking Prevention website. For more information about alcohol and cancer, please visit the National Cancer Institute’s webpage “Alcohol and Cancer Risk” (last accessed October 21, 2021). We may receive advertising fees if you follow links to promoted online therapy websites. You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.
Physical Dependence On Alcohol
Excessive alcohol use and early alcohol withdrawal can both cause tremors, also known as “the shakes” or “alcohol shakes.” The shakes can affect any part of the body but are very common in the arms, hands, and fingers. Without treatment, a physical dependence can cause physical and psychological discomfort. Because denial is common, you may feel like you don’t have a problem with drinking. You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use.
Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking alcohol affects your body and behavior. Theories suggest that for certain people drinking has a different and stronger impact that can lead to alcohol use disorder. We will help manage the physical effects of addiction through medically supervised detoxification. As we help you wean off drugs or alcohol, we address painful withdrawal symptoms and ensure your safety throughout this challenging process. If you’re ready to get help, you’ll need to understand that not all addictions are the same.
Our team of top clinical & medical experts specializes in treating addiction coupled with mental illness, ensuring that each person receives individualized care. If you find yourself battling with alcohol cravings, and often giving into these cravings by picking up a drink, you may be well on your way to developing a physical dependency on alcohol. One size does not fit all and a treatment approach that may work for one person may not work for another. Treatment can be outpatient and/or inpatient and be provided by specialty programs, therapists, and health care providers. At-Risk Stage – Known as the pre-alcoholic stage, this is when you choose to drink socially or at home.
- To reach a comfortable state, a person increasingly needs alcohol and an increase in the amount of alcohol drunk.
- Physical dependence in many respects is energetic because it is caused by the consumption of high concentrations of an easily absorbed alcoholic product.
- One size does not fit all and a treatment approach that may work for one person may not work for another.
- Anxiety decreases, the level of self-confidence increases, and it becomes easier to communicate.
Physical dependence is characterized by withdrawal symptoms that appear when you stop drinking and are able to be alleviated after drinking alcohol. People who suffer from alcohol dependence may fear the anticipated symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, causing them to continue drinking rather than sober up. Dependence can only happen if you abuse alcohol excessively over an extended period of time.
What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder?
Health care professionals use criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), to assess whether a person has AUD and to determine the severity, if the disorder is present. Severity is based on the number of criteria a person meets based on their symptoms—mild (2–3 criteria), moderate (4–5 criteria), or severe (6 or more criteria). You may need a medically supervised alcohol detox if you are physically dependent on alcohol. This is due to the high risks the withdrawal effects may have on the body, which may even be fatal.
You may have felt the effects of alcohol after 1-2 drinks in the past, but now find yourself needing 4-5 drinks just to get a buzz. Drinking isn’t always harmful as long as you are doing so safely and in moderation. But how do you know if your drinking has gotten out of hand and if you are developing a physical dependency on alcohol? It all comes down to how often you drink, how much you drink, and how your body responds when you don’t drink.
Types of Addiction
However, many definitions of alcoholism exist, and only some are compatible with alcohol abuse. There are two major differences between alcohol dependence and alcoholism as generally accepted by the medical community. A person, who is not yet an alcoholic, begins to regularly consume alcohol, not noticing gradual changes, such as an increase in the required dose. Physical dependence on alcohol is a serious condition that can contribute to the development of alcohol addiction and other medical issues, but help is available. If you or a loved one thinks they are experiencing physical alcohol dependence, do not hesitate to contact a treatment provider to explore your treatment options.
We’ll assess your treatment needs, verify your insurance, and help you choose an alcohol rehab program that works for you. You know you are experiencing the shakes if you have trouble writing, drawing, or holding objects still–and if those shakes go away as soon as you start drinking more alcohol. To learn more about alcohol treatment options and search for quality care near you, please visit the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator. 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.