Alcohol is deeply ingrained in many societies – often linked with social connection, celebration, and relaxation. In other societies, where it is taboo – it is still deeply ingrained as alcohol use can develop as an act of rebellion. By whichever way you arrive at alcohol use, when drinking shifts from enjoyment to an ever-present need, it signals something more serious – alcohol addiction.
Recognizing the signs of alcohol addiction early, in yourself or a loved one, is critical in seeking the care you need and deserve; in fact, early intervention significantly increases your recovery outcomes. In this article, we will explore the key indicators of alcohol addiction and what may be the right time to seek professional support.
Recognizing the Signs of Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction, officially diagnosed as alcohol use disorder (AUD), affects people across different factors like age, gender, background, and lifestyle. While it can look different for everyone, here are some of the commonly observed symptoms that indicate you or a loved one has a high likelihood of problematic drinking patterns:
You experience frequent, intense cravings to drink
When moderate drinking turns into regular alcohol use and then alcohol addiction, there is an ever-persistent need to drink. Longer exposures to alcohol slowly change the brain chemistry and functioning itself, where you feel like you cannot function normally without drinking. This is known as alcohol dependence.
You cannot control how much you drink.
Just what it says – you tend to drink more frequently and heavily than you originally intended. The more you drink, the more difficult it is for you to establish any boundaries around alcohol. Hence, the vicious cycle continues.
You spend a lot of time obtaining and using alcohol.
Alcohol use begins to take up a large portion of your time. Even as you are drinking, you might spend long periods of time thinking about when you are going to get your next drink, how you are going to get it, and how you are going to pay for it if you are struggling financially.
You prioritize drinking over everything else in life.
You will notice that alcohol has slowly seeped in and taken over your life in a way that you overlook your education, job, family, relationships, finances, and other activities you previously enjoyed.
For instance, if you are at college or university, your performance begins to drop, or if you hold a job, you find yourself being late for work or being absent from work more and more often.
You have become more socially withdrawn or feel isolated.
Alcohol use impacts relationships and life as it paves the way for secrecy, lying, and broken trust. As a result, you become more withdrawn from your loved ones who do not condone this behavior.
You might feel lonely and isolated, as your relationships are fractured owing to a lot of things, including financial struggles.
You deny your alcoholism.
Whenever your family or friends broach the topic of your problematic alcohol use, you find yourself becoming defensive and denying that you are struggling with alcohol use disorder.
You might dismiss it, blame it on external stressors, or even justify yourself by comparing yourself to those with even more problematic alcohol use patterns. In reality, neither is good.
Your tolerance for alcohol has gone up.
Do you find that you need to drink in larger quantities to achieve the same pleasurable effect as you once used to with lower quantities of alcohol? Then, it is an indication that your tolerance levels have gone up.
This simply means that your threshold for alcohol has increased, and your greater tolerance will lead to heavier drinking episodes.
You drink in dangerous circumstances.
If you are drinking in circumstances where you or others can seriously get hurt – for instance, driving, swimming, or operating heavy machinery – it is an indication that you are engaging in highly risky behaviors that can be dangerous to you and others around you.
You experience withdrawal symptoms if you reduce or stop drinking.
If you have ever tried to reduce or stop drinking, then you have experienced seriously discomforting symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, shaking, sleeplessness, fever, headaches, seizures, and so on. These are known as withdrawal symptoms. In severe cases, one can even experience withdrawal symptoms between one drinking episode and the next.
Unfortunately, you feel that the only way to reduce these withdrawal symptoms is to drink more alcohol. Once again, the vicious cycle is in motion.
You have tried to cut down or give up alcohol, but have been unsuccessful in doing so.
When you realize what alcohol is doing to you, your life, and your loved ones, then you might have tried to cut down on your alcohol use or give it up entirely. But cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and dependence have only led you down the path of relapse. This is why quitting alcohol on your own can be very challenging and even dangerous in cases of severe withdrawal symptoms.
Seek the Care You Need and Deserve for Your Alcohol Addiction
Coming to terms with the fact that you might be struggling with alcohol addiction can be very challenging. However, the fact is that this acknowledgment is courageous, as it paves the way for change.
While you may feel like alcohol addiction is a pernicious cycle that keeps repeating itself over and over again, and you do not have any control over this – the truth is that there is light at the end of this tunnel, and it is called recovery.
Recovery is when you tell alcohol that it is you who is in control of your life. Recovery is not just about giving up alcohol; it is about changing your outlook toward the life you have gotten used to.
Toward the same, it involves holistic care that is tailored to your needs and goals:
- Medical detox – to safely taper off the levels of alcohol from your body.
- Psychotherapy – to uncover and change the underlying patterns leading to alcohol use and develop productive coping mechanisms.
- Medication – to reduce cravings and prevent relapse.
- Peer support – to build a sense of community and belonging in your recovery.
- Sober living – to provide the structure and care you need to strengthen your recovery within the context of a broader sober community.
How to Help a Loved One With Alcohol Addiction?
Many who struggle with alcohol addiction are in denial of their problematic drinking. As a loved one, if you can spot these signs of alcohol addiction early, you are in a position to make all the difference in the world.
However, you need to approach your loved one with understanding and care – here are some tips you can follow:
Time your conversation right – speak to your loved one when they are sober and relaxed, and when you are relaxed, too.
Put the spotlight on alcohol use. Please remember, it is the alcoholism that is the enemy, so avoid confronting or shaming the person; instead, focus on how the alcoholism is affecting their life and the lives of those who love them.
Create an environment for two-way communication, where you both can speak and listen to each other. Try to ask your loved ones open-ended questions so that they can reflect on their alcohol use as well.
Speak to them of the benefits of seeking treatment. You cannot push your loved one to seek care, but you can speak to them of the benefits they stand to gain from it. Be encouraging, but do not be pushy.
Anticipate and prepare for resistance – denial, defensiveness, all these factors are going to be there. However, do not get frustrated. Keep encouraging them toward recovery, knowing that your conversations are going to make a difference.
Prioritize your safety and well-being. Alcohol use can be overwhelming for everyone, but this does not mean you lose yourself in picking up after your loved one. Prioritize your self-care. If conditions have become unsafe for you, remove yourself from the environment.
Take Your First Step Toward Recovery With Sober Living West Today!
Alcohol use disorder is a condition that can progressively get worse over a period of time. However, the good news is that you do not have to face it by yourself. At Sober Living West, we provide a structured, supportive environment designed to help you rebuild your health, restore relationships, and rediscover purpose.
Recognizing the signs of alcohol addiction early in yourself or a loved one is the first step to taking back control of your life and future – and we are here to walk alongside you every step of the way. Reach out to us at (310) 218-5158 to begin healing today!