Alcohol dependence, better referred to as alcoholism, is an issue that many people battle with. Some people are willing to accept that they do, in fact, have a drinking problem, but a greater percentage either doesn’t know or dismiss the matter so easily claiming that they are in control. What’s the big deal? You can just gulp down some coffee in the morning and be fine, right?
Whichever the case, nothing good ever comes out of alcoholism, which is why you need to be wary of the signs.
SIGNS YOU MIGHT HAVE A DRINKING PROBLEM
Quantity is not the only measure of the level of alcoholism. There are other factors, which are in play here. You should be concerned once you realize you’re exhibiting some, or perhaps all of the signs. The signs you might have a drinking problem include:
Blackouts
Blacking out is one sure conclusion that you have been spending way too much time at the bar. Blackouts are seasons of complete memory loss once you have had way too much to drink, simply because your body can’t handle the amount of alcohol intake.
Once you blackout due to too much intoxication, you do not have any recollection of what you might have done till your body recovers from the damage. Research has shown that some instances of people blacking out due to alcoholism are proof that your liver might be damaged due to continued drinking.
The liver is the part of the body, whose function is to detoxify the body of any toxic element that might be present. Alcohol intake slowly destroys the liver; hence it cannot carry out the detoxification process as efficiently as it is meant to. If your drinking habits remain constant, then your episodes of blacking out are imminent.
Symptoms of withdrawal
It is basic biology that if you change or stop a constant and progressive habit, for example, drinking, then you are sure to experience the withdrawal effects in the aftermath. This mostly happens when you drink too much beyond your limit on a continuous basis.
When you become completely hooked in drinking alcohol, the times you aren’t drinking become episodes of battling the effects of staying too long without it. At this point it should be clear that you have a serious drinking problem; your body cannot function at all without alcohol.
Some of the withdrawal symptoms you are likely to experience include constant body shakiness, stomach illnesses, headaches, uncontrollable sweating, and anxiety.
Reduced efficiency
Another way to know you have picked up a drinking problem is a declined level of efficiency, at work, or at school. It doesn’t start out right away, but once the drinking catches up with you, you are totally unable to concentrate on the important things in your life.
You start going to work late, miss out on a few days, then you completely fall off the wagon and your work-life turns to jeopardy. The same case happens to your school life. Continuous alcohol intake impairs judgment and reasoning capability, so you are unable to keep your priorities in check.
The only thing that makes sense at this point is more alcohol and a happy time.
Alcohol Fixation
This is perhaps the most direct sign you might have a drinking problem. Your whole life spins out of hand and the only thing that remains is a constant fixation on alcohol. Every time you wake up in the morning there is a lingering desire and appetite to drink. The alcohol recovery timeline varies.
Every time you are at work, you can’t get anything done. Instead, your concentration is diverted and your only worry is when you will get off work so that you can have another drink; and when you do finally get the opportunity to gulp down some more, you can’t stop yourself from going over the edge.
Remember
You don’t have to lose your efficiency at work or the potential of success for you to have a drinking problem. New research has shown that even the most driven and most successful people might have a drinking problem too, the type referred to as a functional alcoholic (high-functioning alcoholic).
This new type of alcoholic is actually more prone to alcoholism. The only way to battle your drinking is to be honest with others, and most importantly, yourself.
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