Alcoholism signs -- are there ten warning signs of alcoholism? Yes! Understanding alcoholism signs can help you determine whether there is alcohol abuse or dependency. Consuming a drink or two per day for healthy men and a drink a day for healthy non-pregnant women is generally considered acceptable consumption without health risks. However, as the amount of drinking per occasion or per week increases, one or more of the ten warning signs of alcoholism can develop as a result. Alcohol dependency is the most severe alcohol disorder. Two alcoholism signs associated with dependency are tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance is the need for increasing amounts of alcohol consumption to become intoxicated. Withdrawal symptoms occur when alcohol intake is reduced or discontinued. Alcohol abusers are drinkers that may drink heavily at various times. Alcoholism signs for alcohol abusers can be related problems such as drinking and driving, violent episodes, or missing work or school. In the USA alone, as many as 14 million adults are chronic heavy drinkers that abuse alcohol or are alcoholics. What is considered 'heavy drinking'? According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, drinking more than the amounts shown below would be considered heavy drinking: For healthy men under age 65, consuming no more than four drinks a day nor more than fourteen drinks a week. For healthy women under age 65 or healthy men over age 65, consuming no more than three drinks a day nor more than twelve drinks a week. What are ten warning signs of alcoholism? Here are alcoholism signs listed (in no particular order): 1. Drinking Alone 2. Making Excuses, Finding Excuses to Drink 3. Daily or Frequent Drinking Needed to Function 4. Inability to Reduce or Stop Alcohol Intake 5. Violent Episodes Associated with Drinking 6. Drinking Secretly 7. Becoming Angry When Confronted About Drinking 8. Poorer Eating Habits 9. Failure to Care for Physical Appearance 10. Trembling in the Morning Alcoholism signs can also include the inability to remember portions of the events of the previous evening or feeling anxious in a social situation where alcohol is not available. As you may know, it can be called 'problem drinking' when it becomes 'drinking that causes problems'. Does heavy chronic drinking have health consequences? You bet it does. Chronic heavy drinking can result in serious damage to the liver, heart, brain and other vital organs. Such severe physical damage may irreversable and result in serious illnesses or even early death. If the above ten warning signs of alcoholism help create interest in exploring possible alcohol addiction and finding help, the good news is that help is available. Consider contacting your physician, counselor or other qualified professional. Another time-tested source of help would be Alcoholics Anonymous. AA has local groups that meet regularly throughout the USA and other countries around the world. No matter how many alcoholism signs may exist, it is never too late to begin recovery from alcohol addiction. Obviously, the sooner recovery begins, the better. Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing |
