Signs You or a Loved One May Be Struggling With Alcohol Addiction

Knowing whether your loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction can be challenging. Some individuals hide their addiction well, while others may not acknowledge they have a problem. It can be difficult to determine, beyond a gut feeling, whether a problem exists. Therefore, alcohol addiction signs can be helpful.

Various signs of alcohol addiction can appear differently in people, and not everyone fits into a stereotype. Some people appear normal (functioning alcoholics) while struggling with alcoholism, whereas with others, the effects are more pronounced. However, if your loved one is showing many of these signs, then an addiction may be present.

How can you tell if someone is an alcoholic?

Alcoholism can be a life-threatening, chronic condition. It is marked by the person’s inability to control their alcohol consumption. Overt signs may include having a tolerance to alcohol, continuing to drink despite negative ramifications, and showing withdrawal alcoholism symptoms when quitting.

Additional alcohol addiction signs include neglecting/avoiding responsibilities (such as family and work obligations) and having relationship problems. If this sounds like someone you know, there may be an alcohol addiction. Seeking help from a clinic can be a crucial first step toward recovery.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

An AUD involves a person’s inability to cease drinking despite its damaging effects on their life. Whether they experience health issues or are fired from a job, alcohol abuse resonates throughout a person’s life.

However, it cannot be said that the person lacks self-control. AUDs are brain disorders, and without treatment, a person’s quality of life can decrease. They may have health problems, or the disorder can lead to death.

Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder

If you’re concerned that someone has a drinking problem, it’s important to consider offering support. Likely, their behaviour is already impacting your life, or you are concerned about their well-being. However, how can you be sure an AUD exists or that this is due to alcohol addiction behaviour?

1. Impacts on social life

Social drinking means something different for those with AUD. If there is an event with drinking, they are the first to arrive, and events must have alcohol for them to attend. Family responsibilities may become irrelevant if there is no alcohol involved.

2. Defensive about drinking

When confronted, those with AUD become defensive, irate, and angry. They will minimize how much they consume or make excuses for drinking.

3. Stress management

Many people with AUD drink to alleviate stress. When they become stressed or frustrated with life, they drink. Some may have previously engaged in healthier forms of stress management, but now use alcohol to escape hardship.

4. Personality change

This person may exhibit significant changes when drinking. Reserved people can become boisterous and may begin to offer information openly. These changes can be harmful if they demonstrate violent behaviours and aggression when drinking.

5. Lack of limits

The person doesn’t know how to cease drinking. They may try to decrease their drinking and place limitations on it. However, they cannot maintain boundaries.

6. Drink all the time

While most people are busy with daily activities, a person with AUD is thinking about drinking or doing it. They may also secretly consume alcohol while on the job or in class. Some brush their teeth several times throughout the day to mask alcohol smells.

7. Impulsivity

The individual engages in risky behaviours while drunk. They continually drive while intoxicated and loudly proclaim they are okay. Some may engage in bar fights, which they would not do if they were sober.

8. Withdrawal

If someone with AUD ceases drinking, they can experience severe withdrawal. Withdrawal may include sweating, a fast heartbeat, or nausea. Alcoholism symptoms, like convulsions or hallucinations, may require medical help. Yet, despite the severity, they still crave alcohol to fix the issue.

Alcohol Addiction Signs for the Functioning Alcoholic

Functional alcoholism takes place when a person can consume alcohol without overt signs emerging. Often, they are married, can hold down a job, and are educated. With this type of alcoholic, their addiction comes as a surprise to those who know them.

High-functioning alcoholics dedicate themselves to keeping their drinking hidden from friends, family, and colleagues. If someone shows concern, the person denies it. They use denial to protect their career and reputation, or to prevent them from looking out of control or weak. Functional alcoholics often provide excuses or gaslight to defend their habits.

Additionally, they may have a high tolerance for alcohol’s effects. Their physiological capabilities permit them to consume excessive amounts of alcohol while not showing signs of intoxication. However, this mass consumption will impact their health, despite unclear signs.

Signs of a Functioning Alcoholic

With functional alcoholism, there are indicators to prove that there may be a drinking problem. These indicators, which include physical signs of alcohol addiction, are as follows:

1. They lie about alcohol consumption while having a “secret stash” of alcohol.
2. Use alcohol as a reward or as stress management (to unwind).
3. Use alcohol to increase confidence levels at work.
4. Have blackouts or memory lapses.
5. Deny that a drinking problem exists. They can become angry or deflect when challenged.
6. Say they have a high alcohol tolerance.
7. Neglect proper nutrition or skip meals to drink alcohol.
8. Isolate when drinking.
9. Their life is organized around having a drink.
10. Forget special events and dates.
11. Consume alcohol in the morning.
12. Project an image of being in control and relying on the enabling tactics of others.
13. Use limitations on drinking, like having a drink after work or on weekends.
14. Require alcohol to manage co-occurring mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
15. Drive while intoxicated (over the legal limit/impaired) or commit risky behaviours.

While the effects may not be immediately evident, a functional alcoholic will eventually experience the damage caused by excessive drinking. Their work can start to suffer, they may experience declining health, and they may have DUI charges. However, with these tips, you can identify potential issues before they become too serious.

New Dawn Medical Can Help With Alcoholism Symptoms

If your loved one is willing to take the first steps toward alcohol addiction treatment, our team of experts can safely help them along their journey. At New Dawn Medical, our alcohol treatment programs offer same-day treatment and assessment. These programs are also available at each one of our locations.

We provide several different methods of dealing with AUD and alcohol addiction signs. They are all medically supervised to help you manage your recovery and help guide you to long-term success.

You can call us at 647-625-8799 or toll-free at 1-833-456-DAWN. You can also email us at info@newdawnmed.com for more information on help for alcohol addiction.