What are the Signs of Alcoholism?

Alcohol addiction begins with subtle signs, and by the time you realize that you are addicted to the substance, it is generally too late. This is the reason why it is essential to keep a close track of your consumption pattern to protect yourself from falling prey to the vicious cycle of alcoholism. 

But how do you keep track of your consumption pattern? Well, you can take an “Am I an alcoholic? Quiz online to identify if alcohol consumption is starting to impact the quality of your life. Moreover, you can refer to the article below that discusses some of the common signs of alcoholism and offers tips on battling it. 

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Signs of Alcoholism

Recognizing the signs of alcohol misuse is crucial to battling your addiction. Here are some of the common ones that you mustn’t miss: 

You are Constantly Craving Alcohol

Alcohol addiction mostly starts with a few drinks occasionally, and soon after, you realize that you are craving it all the time. Alcohol alters the chemical composition of your brain, impacting the neurotransmitter system, which contributes to high alcohol tolerance and dependency. As a result, the addict starts craving alcohol at odd hours and almost all the time. 

It Is Impacting Your Relationships

The family members of the addict go through a tough time due to the financial and emotional hardships that come with substance abuse.  Alcoholics most often neglect their responsibilities and spend the majority of their time thinking about alcohol or consuming it. So, if your consumption pattern is impacting your relationship with your family and friends, it is a clear sign that alcohol consumption has taken control over your life. 

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You Have No Control Over Your Consumption Pattern

How many times have you decided to cut down on alcohol because of the physical and mental symptoms that you are facing but have unsuccessfully fallen back to the same pattern? If the number of instances is more than you can count on your fingertips, it is a red flag. This pattern is a clear sign of alcoholism, and in such situations, professional help becomes imperative. 

You Have Built a High Tolerance

When you continuously consume alcohol, in the long run, your body starts building a high tolerance to the substance. So now, you will need a higher quantity of alcohol to experience the same effect that you had previously experienced with lower amounts. This is an early sign of alcohol addiction that people fail to recognize, and if you are experiencing it, you must act promptly. 

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How to Battle Alcohol Addiction?

Practicing complete restraint from alcohol consumption is a common route that people struggling with addiction take to overcome it. However, they often fail in their efforts due to a lack of commitment, accountability, or supervision. This is the reason why enrolling in a rehab program or signing up for medical supervision is crucial. 

Here are some of the common routes taken by the medical experts to support individuals struggling with substance abuse: 

Behavioral therapy: This is one of the most common routes that medical supervisors take to help individuals who are battling alcoholism. In this approach, the counselor focuses on changing the addicts drinking behavior and encourages them to implement positive changes in their lives. 

Medication: Although medications don’t help you get over an alcohol addiction, they do assist in handling the withdrawal symptoms that are a common side effect of complete alcohol restrain. FDA-approved drugs such as naltrexone and acamprosate are commonly used to handle the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. 

Support groups: Most addicts fall back to their old patterns due to a lack of emotional support. Hence, enrolling in support groups where the addict is provided a safe space to share their experiences and receive support helps accelerate their recovery journey. 

Alcohol addiction mostly starts with subtle symptoms but slowly and gradually starts impacting every aspect of one's life. This is the reason why if you think that you are addicted to the substance, you must pay close attention to the early symptoms to safeguard yourself from falling into the vicious circle of alcohol dependency. 

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