Alcohol is one of the most abused substances worldwide, and there are several negative consequences of abusing it. To avoid the consequences that come with alcohol use disorder (AUD), it’s important to spot the early signs and symptoms of the condition.
What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder?
Here are some of the signs that someone is struggling with AUD. Spotting the signs of problematic drinking habits early can help mitigate the negative effects that come with drinking alcohol. It’s also a way to help alcoholics seek help to prevent certain complications.
No Control
The most common sign of alcoholism is the loss of control over drinking alcohol. People with AUD may continue to drink despite the negative consequences that come with it. They may also have difficulty controlling the amount of alcohol they drink at a time.
Loss of control over drinking may also look like continuously failing attempts to quit alcohol. They’ll continue to consume alcohol even if they always tell themselves that they’re going to stop drinking. It’s a frustrating and demoralising cycle that can be difficult to break.
Mood Changes
When people become addicted to alcohol, their moods will often be affected. They may start being more aggressive towards others, or they may also feel more depressed or anxious as they start becoming more alcohol-dependent.
Mood changes may also be a result of not drinking anymore. When alcoholics quit drinking, they can become more irritable. Sudden changes in a person’s mood should never be ignored, as they can be a sign of AUD and other deeper emotional struggles.
Using Alcohol to Escape
Alcohol affects how your brain works, and it’s why many people turn to alcohol to escape negative emotions. They may use alcohol as a temporary escape from stress, anxiety, or even boredom. However, this harmful drinking pattern can quickly turn to dependence.
Using alcohol to escape may provide short-term relief, but it has long-term consequences. It doesn’t address the root cause of emotional distress. Once the effects of alcohol wear off, the negative emotions can worsen, and those who use alcohol to cope may start drinking more to escape what they’re feeling.
Neglecting Responsibilities
Another sign of AUD is neglecting responsibilities to continue drinking alcohol. This may look like frequent absences or tardiness because they suffer from hangovers. It can also look like missing important family events or ignoring household responsibilities because of drinking too much.
Financial Problems
Financial problems are also a sign that someone is abusing alcohol. As they spend more money on alcohol, they may start to encounter serious financial issues. Some people may start borrowing money or even taking out loans to fund their drinking habits. When they can’t do so, they may turn to stealing money from friends and family to sustain their alcohol consumption.
Relationship Problems
People struggling with AUD may act erratically, and this results in relationship problems. Excessive drinking can lead to a loss of trust and other communication issues.
When this happens, loved ones may feel like they’re being betrayed. They may also feel extremely burdened by the other person’s behaviour, so they start distancing themselves from the person struggling with AUD.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Alcohol withdrawal happens when someone addicted to alcohol experiences unpleasant symptoms as a result of quitting drinking. As people start to drink more, they can develop a tolerance wherein they would need more alcohol to achieve the same effects.
However, tolerance can lead to dependence. When someone drastically minimises their alcohol intake, they are likely to experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as mood swings, tremors, alcohol cravings, and more. These symptoms may be potentially life-threatening, so it’s important to go through a medical detox to manage them properly.
Physical Changes
Many people tend to neglect their hygiene when they are addicted to alcohol. As such, these can manifest physically. People struggling with AUD may often appear unkempt, with messy clothes and a dirty appearance. These physical changes may gradually appear and worsen over time.
Another physical change that may go hand-in-hand with alcoholism is weight loss or weight gain. Drinking can impact a person’s appetite, where they may feel like eating too much or not eating anything.
Long-Term Effects of Alcoholism
Alcohol will have serious long-term effects, especially if someone continuously engages in drinking large amounts of alcohol all the time. Here’s an overview of the different long-term effects of alcoholism.
Physical Effects
Drinking too much all the time will strain your organs and your body. Over time, this will take a physical toll on their bodies. One of the most common long-term physical effects of drinking is liver and kidney damage.
These two organs are responsible for processing alcohol, and drinking too can cause inflammation, scarring, and eventual failure. Common alcohol-related conditions include fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and kidney dysfunction.
Psychological Effects
Alcohol has effects on brain chemistry, which leads to significant psychological and emotional consequences. It can result in cognitive decline and affect a person’s ability to think clearly. The disorder can eventually result in memory problems and difficulty concentrating.
The psychological effects of alcoholism also extend to someone’s mental health. Even if some drink to escape from negative emotions and life, alcohol can lead to persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
Behavioural Effects
An alcoholic may constantly engage in risky behaviour because of the substance’s effects on the brain. When someone constantly drinks, they are more likely to get into trouble and suffer the consequences of their manic behaviour.
The behavioural effects also mean that those who depend on an alcoholic for emotional, financial, and physical support may suffer as well. Since alcoholism can lead to neglect and relationship problems, friends and family members may often feel abandoned or frustrated.
Risk Factors for Alcohol Abuse
Many factors play a part in the probability of struggling with alcoholism. Here are some of those risk factors:
- Genetics: Many studies show that having a family history of drinking can increase the risk of struggling with alcohol addiction.
- Mental Health Disorders: The presence of certain mental health disorders can increase the probability of addiction since these people may turn to alcohol to cope with the symptoms of their disorder.
- Alcohol Exposure: Early alcohol exposure may build the impression that drinking is okay. People exposed to alcohol at a young age may start drinking early, which can later develop into dependence.
- Social Pressure: Some people may have been pressured to drink because of their friends and social circles. Although they initially didn’t want to drink, the repeated exposure and pressure of social drinking may make it difficult for them to say no to alcohol.
What Is Considered Heavy Drinking?
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking is when someone’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels go up to 0.08%. For males, heavy drinking means drinking five or more drinks within two hours. This means drinking four or more drinks within the same time frame for females.
It’s always recommended to drink less than this amount or pace your drinking so that you don’t end up drinking too much at a time.
Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
Fortunately, there are different addiction treatment options for alcoholism. Those who wish to
- Detox: Detox is typically the first step of alcohol treatment since it helps the patient stabilise before the next steps of treatment. This step consists of managing different withdrawal symptoms that happen when someone stops drinking.
- Rehab: Rehab is a structured treatment where someone will receive professional care to address AUD. It consists of therapy sessions, group counselling, and other emotional programmes.
- Therapy: Therapy can help alcoholics learn more about the underlying causes of their condition. Working with a therapist can help challenge harmful thought patterns related to drinking and develop healthy coping mechanisms to overcome them.
- Support Groups: Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, will provide recovering alcoholics a safe and non-judgemental space to share their experiences with addiction. They also encourage those with AUD to continue their healing journey.
How to Help People with Alcohol Dependence
It can be difficult to approach the topic of helping someone with a drinking problem. Some people may deny that they’re struggling with it, and others may hesitate to get help. However, with the proper approach and support, there is a higher possibility that alcoholics will be open to receiving professional help for their condition.
The best way to help someone struggling with this disorder is to approach the issue with empathy and compassion. Let the person you’re trying to help know that you care about their well-being. Avoid being too confrontational, and choose the right time and place to address the issue.
If the problem gets too overwhelming, taking a step back is also okay. Taking time to care for yourself is important since the emotional burden of helping someone can be exhausting. Always set boundaries, and don’t make excuses for their bad behaviour. You can also join support groups, such as Al-Anon, to connect with others who are going through the same problem.
Find Help with Orchid Thailand
Alcoholism isn’t a problem you overcome overnight. It’s an issue that needs to be approached with care and empathy so that the person struggling with it receives the proper care and treatment. It can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel when struggling with alcohol abuse, but healing is always possible.
At Orchid Thailand, we provide professional treatment for those struggling with alcohol use disorder. Our team is always here to welcome you and answer any questions you may have about recovery.
Don’t hesitate to contact us anytime. We’re more than happy to help you find the proper support you need to live a healthier and more fulfilling life.
