Everybody likes to have a drink or two while at a party or after a long, tiring day.
But the need for a reality check arises when this habit changes from a drink or two and becomes something that you are physically and psychologically dependent on.
In the past few years, alcohol has become a substance that is abused by people of all ages.
If you find yourself or someone you love becoming too close to alcohol, then there is need to check for the following signs of alcoholism:
1. Loss of Control Over Drinking Habits
If you start to drink more alcohol than you intended to, or have trouble controlling how much you drink once you start, it’s a clear cut sign of the beginning of addiction.
It’s one thing to go out for drinks with friends or coworkers socially, but it reaches an entirely different level when it becomes necessary just to feel normal.
The line between having a drink and “needing” a drink can be a significant sign that a person is losing control of their drinking habits.
2. Increased Tolerance
Increased tolerance for alcohol is one symptom that many people continue to ignore for a long period of time.
The higher your tolerance increases for alcohol, the more you’ll need to get the same effect.
An increased tolerance can lead to alcohol addiction if it becomes severe.
People develop a tolerance to alcohol the same way as with drugs, whether they are prescription medications or recreational substances.
It takes more to feel the effects, and in the case of alcohol, drinking more on a regular basis can have a profound impact on the liver, brain, and other vital organs.
3. Alcohol Disrupts Normal Life
As soon as a person start feeling that cravings for alcohol are rising uncontrollably and they begin to affect personal and professional life, it can be taken as the first clue of addiction.
Continuing to drink even when it causes problems at work or in daily life is a clear sign of addiction.
Some people spend the entire day thinking about getting their next drink and they go out of their way to make sure they get one.
This might be a sign of alcohol abuse.
4. Broken Promises
Some people can go days or weeks without having a drink without a problem.
Others have to promise to themselves, family, or friends that they won’t have a drink.
If it gets to the point that a person has to make a “promise,” it is probably an issue.
When they can’t make good on the promise because they absolutely can’t go without having a drink, it is certainly an issue.
Broken promises of not drinking mean it’s time to seek help.
5. Giving Up Other Activities to Drink More
When normal drinking reaches the stage of dependence and a person is willing to give up other important activities, including spending time with loved ones or doing activities that were once fun and important, it is time to stop and assess the situation.
However, the most severe and critical warning is the arrival of withdrawal symptoms, which include:
- Shakes
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Several other physical problems
