Symptoms of Alcoholism
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 As
increasing numbers of individuals experience various symptoms of alcoholism, more and more people are asking
how they can better cope with or significantly reduce these alcoholism symptoms.
Concerning symptoms of alcoholism (also known as alcoholic symptoms and alcoholism symptoms by
some people), it is important to point out that spiritual, social, and psychological symptoms of alcoholism can be
just as painful and problematic as the better-known physical symptoms of alcoholism.
The Main Psychological Symptoms of
Alcoholism
When the topic of "symptoms of alcoholism" or "alcoholic
symptoms" is discussed, many people focus on the physical symptoms of alcoholism and exclude many of the
other alcoholism symptoms.
As a result, it is important to emphasize the point that other alcoholism symptoms such as social,
spiritual, and psychological symptoms of alcoholism exist and can be just as debilitating and agonizing as physical
alcoholism symptoms.
The psychological symptoms of alcoholism are as follows:
- Loss of control
- Sleep problems
- The collapse of the alibi system
- An increase in failed promises and resolutions to one's self and to others
- Anxiety
- Obsession with drinking
- Loss of interests
- Unreasonable resentments
- Loss of willpower
- Aggression
- Cloudy thinking
- Poor concentration
- Depression
- Stress
- Denial of the effects of alcohol
Social Symptoms of Alcoholism
 The
following represents the social symptoms of alcoholism:
- Financial insecurity
- Difficulties and arguments with family or friends
- Devaluation of personal relationships
- Unemployment
- Blaming problems on others and on things external to themselves
- Withdrawal from family and friends
- Difficulties performing at work or home
- Legal problems
- Serious relationship and work-related problems
- Withdrawal from social activities
| Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Physical Symptoms. In the United States, non-alcoholic
members of alcoholic families use 10 times as much sick leave as families where alcohol is not a
problem. 80% of these family members state that their ability to perform their work is impaired as
a result of living with an alcohol abuser or with an alcoholic. |
Spiritual Alcoholism Symptoms
 The spiritual symptoms of
alcoholism are as follows:
- Self-pity
- Discontentment
- Dysthymia (mild chronic depression)
- Self-centeredness
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Feeling useless
- Fearful
- Resentment
| Medical research indicates that 6 to 11% of elderly patients admitted to hospitals
exhibit emotional and physical symptoms of alcoholism, as do 20% of elderly patients in psychiatric
wards and 14% of elderly patients in emergency rooms. |
Physical Symptoms of Alcoholism
Alcoholism Physical Symptoms. It is clear that alcoholism physically affects people while they
are addicted and also when they want to recover from this disease and, unfortunately, experience alcohol withdrawal
symptoms.
One way to look at the physical symptoms of alcoholism is to focus on the typical alcoholic behaviors in the
various stages of alcoholism.
| Keep in mind that when alcoholics abruptly stop drinking, most of them experience
psychological and/or physical symptoms of alcoholism known as alcohol withdrawal symptoms. |
Alcoholism Physical Symptoms - First Stage
The following represents some of the physical symptoms of alcoholism and alcoholic behaviors in the first stage
of alcoholism:
- Increasing tolerance
- Gross Drinking Behavior - more frequent drinking of greater amounts
- A conscious effort to seek out more drinking opportunities
- Boasting and a "big shot" complex
- Lack of recognition by the person that he or she is in the early stages of a progressive illness
- An ability to drink great amounts of alcohol without any apparent impairment
| According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year in the
United States, between 1,300 and 8,000 babies are born with fetal alcohol syndrome
(FAS). Fetal alcohol syndrome is a combination of physical and mental birth defects that
affects about 6% of the babies born to women who are alcohol abusers or alcoholics. |
Physical Symptoms of Alcoholism - Second Stage
The following represents some of the alcoholism physical symptoms and alcoholic behaviors in the second stage of
alcoholism:
- Sporadic loss of control
- More frequent blackouts
- Drinking because of dependence rather than for stress relief
- Chronic hangovers
- Unsuccessful attempts to stop drinking
- Physical problems increase
- Increasing tolerance
- Sneaking extra drinks before social events
- Gulping the first few drinks to feel the "buzz" faster
| Alcoholism researchers have found that various environment factors can interact with
one's genetics. Examples include peer pressure or peer influence, the relative ease of
obtaining alcohol, where and how a person lives, a person's culture, and one's family and
friends. |
Alcoholism Physical Symptoms - Third Stage
The following represents some of the alcoholism physical symptoms and alcoholic behaviors in the third stage of
alcoholism:
- Neglect of necessities such as food
- The development of an alibi system - an elaborate system of excuses for their drinking
- Half-hearted attempts at seeking medical aid
- Aggressive and grandiose behavior
- Avoidance of family and friends
- Eye-openers
- Increased tremors
- Frequent violent or destructive behavior
- A decrease in alcohol tolerance
- Problems with the law (e.g, DUIs)
- The start of physical deterioration
- Loss of control has become a pattern
| If people know that they more likely than not will experience horrific alcoholism
physical symptoms such as the DTs or the shakes, why don't they get professional alcohol treatment
BEFORE they become addicted to alcohol? |
Physical Symptoms of Alcoholism - Fourth Stage
The following represents some of the physical symptoms of alcoholism and alcoholic behaviors in the
fourth stage of alcoholism:
- Moral deterioration
- Loss of tolerance for alcohol
- "The shakes"
- Benders, or lengthy intoxications
- The "DTs"
- Continual loss of control
- Unreasonable resentments and hostility toward others
- Auditory and visual hallucinations
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms exhibited by people who quit drinking alcohol after a pattern
of excessive and continuous consumption. These symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe and include
both psychological and behavioral aspects.
| Alcoholism Physical Symptoms. “Eye-openers” are common during the third stage of
alcoholism. Eye-openers are drinks that are taken whenever the person
awakens. Eye-openers are normally taken to lessen a hangover, calm the nerves, or to quiet the
feelings of remorse the drinker experiences after a period of time without a drink. |
Mild to Moderate Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
The following represents mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms that typically occur within 6 to 48 hours
after the last alcoholic drink:
- Insomnia, sleeping difficulties
- Vomiting
- Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids
- Eyes or pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils)
- Abnormal movements
- Nausea
- Sweating (especially on the face or the palms of the hands)
- Tremor of the hands
- Clammy skin
- Loss of appetite
- Headaches (especially those that pulsate)
- Rapid heart rate
- Looking pale, without color
| Alcoholism statistics in the United States remain staggering. There are
approximately 14 million people in the country who display alcoholism physical symptoms and
millions more who display symptoms of abuse, including binge drinking. Sadly, a reported 2.6
million binge drinkers in 2002 were between the ages of 12 and 17. |
Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
The following represents severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms that typically occur within 48 to 96 hours after the
last alcoholic drink:
- Muscle tremors
- Seizures
- Convulsions
- Delirium tremens (DTs)
- Black outs
- Visual hallucinations
- Severe autonomic nervous system overactivity
- Fever
| If alcoholics experience emotional and physical symptoms of alcoholism, why don't
they simply quit drinking? This is far easier said than done because of the painful and terribly
uncomfortable alcohol withdrawal symptoms alcoholics experience when they stop drinking. |
What To Do When Experiencing Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
The first concern when experiencing alcohol withdrawal should be who you should contact about the alcohol
withdrawal symptoms rather than "what helps for alcohol withdrawals?"
When experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, always see your healthcare provider or doctor
immediately so that he or she can evaluate the severity of your situation and recommend the most effective option
for treatment.
Symptoms of Alcoholism: Conclusion
The symptoms of alcoholism affect people when they drink, when they try to stop
drinking, when they go through the recovery process and, unfortunately, when they experience alcohol withdrawal
symptoms. When suffering from alcoholism withdrawal symptoms, keep the following in mind.
First, alcoholism leads to a series of damaging and painful social, physical, spiritual, and
psychological symptoms that will get progressively worse unless the person stops drinking.
Second, an essential step in the recovery process is acknowledging that drinking has become a
problem and having the desire and the will to quit drinking.
Third, once the alcoholic reaches this point, the next issue to resolve is how to best handle the
alcohol withdrawal symptoms that typically follow.
Fourth, the most rational and effective way to cope with and overcome alcohol withdrawal symptoms
is to immediately see a healthcare provider or a doctor so that he or she can evaluate the severity of the problem
and articulate the most effective form of treatment.
Alcoholism Physical Symptoms. There is a host of alcoholism physical symptoms that
manifest themselves when alcoholics progress through the four stages of alcoholism. As the disease continues,
regrettably, increasingly more severe physical symptoms of alcoholism become apparent.
The important point to be taken away from this discussion, however, is that alcoholics need to get
immediate alcohol treatment for their drinking problems if they are to stop drinking, remain sober, and start the
alcohol recovery process.
| The Department of Transportation (DOT) procedures established for mandatory alcohol
testing require the employment of a standardized breathalyzer. The categories of testing that
are allowed by the DOT are the following: post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and random. |
| The overriding plan of action when you know a friend or a family member who is
exhibiting emotional and physical symptoms of alcoholism is this: tell the problem drinker that you
care for him or her and suggest that he or she get professional alcohol treatment as soon as
possible. |
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