The Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence
The Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence
People who have an alcohol dependency have a strong desire to drink. In some cases, this desire can be so strong that it is difficult to control and addicted individuals may feel powerless to stop themselves drinking or to control how much they drink.
For those with alcohol dependency there are also physical issues to consider. If someone has been drinking large quantities of alcohol regularly for a significant period of time, they may begin to experience physical withdrawal symptoms if they don’t drink for a while. Withdrawal symptoms can be very unpleasant and can include:
Nausea
Sweats
General feeling of being unwell
Tremors
Convulsions
To combat these symptoms, some people are prone to then drinking more regularly – they “depend” on alcohol to keep these symptoms at bay.
If a person decides to stop drinking, withdrawal symptoms can last for up to a week. However, cravings usually continue after this. Once someone has developed an alcohol dependency exhibiting these symptoms, suddenly stopping drinking altogether can be dangerous as convulsions and other reactions can occur. It is safer to stop drinking under medical supervision or in an alcohol rehab clinic. You should always contact a medical professional before detoxing.
The severity of a person’s dependence on alcohol depends on a variety of factors, such as how long they’ve been drinking heavily, how heavily they have actually been drinking and individual personal health issues.
Seeking alcoholism treatment
You may need to seek alcoholism treatment if:
You feel the need to drink alcohol every day
You regularly drink alone
You often set out to drink a set amount but almost always drink too much
You drink to stop the shakes (trembling)
You drink when you wake up
You almost always crave alcohol
You seek out and choose events based on whether there will be alcohol
You neglect your work, relationships or hobbies because of drinking
If you recognise one or more of these behaviours in yourself, it may be time to seek professional help and to consider alcoholism treatment options such as an alcohol rehab centre or rehab clinic. You can also visit your GP or other addiction/alcohol support service in your area and they will talk you through your options.
Seek help
If you think you may be an alcoholic, it’s important to seek help. Drinking too much can affect your health and wellbeing as well as damaging your relationships and negatively affecting other people around you.
Long-term problems which can be associated with heavy drinking include: damage to the liver and heart; high blood pressure; stomach irritations; infertility and psychological damage.
Abbeycare Foundation is a large residential alcohol treatment clinic based in the tranquil Scottish countryside. It is the only alcohol-specific private addiction centre in the UK.
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