8 Signs of Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol dependence is not always easy to diagnose because alcohol is an integral part of traditions and its abuse remains taboo. However, there are some signs to be taken seriously.

The difficulty of stopping at a single drink

In addition to the urge to drink, the subject addicted to alcohol needs a higher consumption to be able to feel the effects because the body gets used to the psychoactive substance.

Setting consumption levels becomes difficult, and one drink necessarily leads to another…

Irritability

Alcohol has a disinhibition effect. Under alcohol, we ()act faster and more impulsively. Simple annoyances can then turn into real confrontations with a lot of aggressiveness.

Irritability also manifests itself more or less intensely in the case of non-consumption. This is the withdrawal syndrome: the body and the brain, accustomed to receiving a dose of alcohol regularly, react when they do not have any.

Difficulty managing daily life

The quotient is increasingly difficult to manage when an alcohol addiction sets in. Between work, shopping, cleaning, and children, alcohol prevents you from doing things right.

A vicious circle quickly sets in: to be able to manage everyday life, alcohol is overconsumed for its euphoric or stimulating effects.

Feeling the symptoms of withdrawal

Cravings is a term used to describe a set of signs that testify to the lack that an addict feels when he is withdrawn from a psychoactive substance.

Symptoms include physical discomfort with sweating, aches, and pains in the arms and legs, abdominal pain, nausea, insomnia, agitation, severe anxiety, tremors, and irritability.

Lack of concentration and memory

It appears that individuals who drink a lot are less and less good on memory tests.

Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of memory problems in general and affects both short-term and long-term memory.

Concentration and analytical capacity are also diminished.

Hiding to drink

The subject addicted to alcohol will hide to drink because he feels guilt about his consumption. A certain shame sets in, with a more or less established awareness of the problem.

Hiding reserves is constant and typical of the alcoholic who is afraid of not having enough “provisions”. Its behavior is similar to that of people who have lived through war and who have a tendency to store “just in case”…

Recurrent disputes with close friends

When the alcoholic is not aware of his excessive consumption, it is often the close entourage who points it out.

This creates tensions and arguments that are increasingly frequent and virulent. The subject addicted to alcohol is often in denial and/or cannot help drinking. The entourage feels powerless, accuses, and does not understand. External help is then recommended.

The gradual abandonment of other sources of pleasure and interest

The alcoholic patient spends more and more time consuming, acquiring, and recovering from the effects of alcohol.

Little by little, he lost interest in the activities and hobbies that had given him pleasure until then. Only alcohol now gives him pleasure. Management at this stage is essential.

Image Credit: Photo by Elina Sazonova frompexels.com

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