Alcoholism, also called problem drinking and alcohol dependency, is a progressive disease whereby the afflicted individual is compelled to consume alcohol, despite their desire to stop and the harmful effects of his or her drinking.
Left untreated, alcoholism tends to worsen over time. This poses the threat of grave physical danger, and often creates emotional damage for the victim and his or her loved ones. Fortunately, alcoholism, like other diseases, has signs and symptoms that can be identified and treated.
Instructions
Understanding Alcoholism and Recognizing the Warning Signs
1. Understand the causes of alcoholism.
A combination of psychological, social, and biological factors can cause alcoholism.
Individuals who have trouble coping with stressful situations may self-medicate with alcohol and become dependent upon it to relax.
Alcoholism also runs in families, and a propensity toward problem drinking can be genetically passed down through generations.
2. Recognize the physical signs and symptoms of alcoholism.
One common telltale sign of alcoholism is lack of coordination, slurred speech, and incoherency. These classic effects of alcohol inebriation are often displayed by alcoholics in situations where drinking would be inappropriate and at all hours of the day.
Rosacea, which is redness of the face and nose, is a common side effect of alcohol consumption. Chronic alcohol consumption can lead to long-term rosacea, which can be seen even when the victim has not been recently drinking.
Weight loss is another common side effect of chronic alcohol consumption. When large amounts of alcohol are frequently consumed, the victim's body is getting enough calories. In turn, the victim does not consume enough nutrient-rich foods. In addition, alcohol can damage the victim's digestive system, causing an inability to properly absorb vitamins and minerals.
3. Recognize the behavioral symptoms of alcoholism.
Over time, the victim's tolerance to alcohol increases. As such, an easily spotted behavioral symptom of alcoholism is the consumption of increasingly larger amounts of alcohol as the disease progresses.
Alcoholics also tend to withdraw from social functions where alcohol is unavailable or drinking would be unacceptable. Victims of alcoholism may also withdraw from others in order to hide the amount of alcohol that they consume.
Poor judgement and risk-taking behavior is often displayed by problem drinkers. Alcoholics are prone to violence, gambling, drug use, and a variety of other rash actions and decisions.
Due to the numerous damaging physical and emotional side effects of alcoholism, victims are often unable to meet work, family, and social obligations.
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