Understanding the Symptoms and Effects of Alcoholism

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism describes alcohol addiction as “a chronic relapsing disorder associated with compulsive alcohol drinking.” The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, combines alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence into the single category of alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol dependence develops over time. It may start with an occasional drink, but something happens that causes some people to drink heavily and develop alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol abuse leads to alcohol dependency, in which alcohol becomes a necessity and the individual will do whatever it takes to get it. Alcoholics lose their ability to control drinking, and when they can’t get alcohol, they end up in a destructive and fragile emotional state.

Alcohol addiction develops because of the powerful impact of the substance on the brain. Alcohol can repress negative feelings for a brief period, allowing a person to forget unpleasant experiences. As a result, some people rely on alcohol as a stress reducer. Still, negative emotions become too much between drinking, causing them to get into a cycle of drinking repeatedly to relieve emotional pain.

When an alcoholic attempts to stop alcohol use, they often experience withdrawal symptoms, including agitation, anxiety, headaches, hallucinations, irritability, insomnia, nausea, nervousness and tremors. Drinking takes on a new meaning. It no longer provides the pleasures of getting high; instead, it becomes a means of avoiding the unpleasant mental and physical state that comes with depriving the body and brain of alcohol.

With continued alcohol use, brain function changes, creating a need for more sustained drinking to bring relief. As a result, people become addicted, and trying to quit can lead to a series of relapses.

People may start drinking at any age, especially when they have easy access to alcohol. Social drinking can lead to alcohol use disorder. Teens might be at risk for alcohol abuse when they binge drink. Environmental factors can foster underage drinking and alcohol use disorder. Young people with families or peers who drink regularly may be at a higher risk for alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Heredity or family history can play a role in susceptibility to alcoholism. Research shows that individuals with family members who struggle with drinking are at higher risk for alcohol misuse. It’s not unusual for people dealing with emotional trauma and mental health issues to become addicted to alcohol because they drink to feel better.

Individuals dealing with alcohol use disorder have an uncontrollable need to drink. The goal is getting alcohol, and once they have it, they can’t control how much they drink. When they’re not drinking, some people who abuse alcohol can function like nondrinkers, which allows them to hide the drinking problem. They may feel confident that their drinking isn’t a problem. Loved ones may not suspect problems since the person who drinks seems in control. Knowing the warning signs and symptoms of alcohol misuse can help individuals and families seek help for loved ones before drinking spirals out of control.

People often binge with the intention of getting drunk. Young people may see binge drinking as harmless fun. They may also drink as a response to peer pressure. For men, having five or more drinks in a row and for women, having four or more drinks in a row at least once over the past two weeks is considered binge drinking. Not everyone who binge drinks develops alcohol use disorder, but it can increase the risk of alcohol abuse.

Headaches, fatigue and nausea after drinking are signs of a hangover. People experiencing hangovers may feel too sick to go to work or school. Excessive alcohol use also leads to poor judgment and behaviors like driving while impaired or fighting. Getting into legal trouble because of drinking is one sign a person is drinking too much.

Teens at risk for alcohol addiction may start to find new friends who also drink. Bloodshot eyes, disheveled appearance, extreme mood swings, irritability and difficulty remembering are signs of drinking too much. Young people may also experience problems at school, such as tardiness, absenteeism and failing grades. Alcohol can be a gateway drug to other forms of drug abuse in teens.

When a young person drinks, their grades may start to drop. Young people who don’t get help for problem drinking are at risk for brain damage because teen brains are still developing. There are regions in the brain responsible for specific functions, and heavy alcohol use can interfere with brain function.

Teens who participate in underage drinking often make bad decisions because alcohol affects the part of the brain responsible for judgment and inhibiting impulsive behavior. Drinking reduces the ability to weigh risks. Alcohol use can also affect the brain area that controls memory and learning, resulting in poor retention of new information, which impacts performance in school. Persistent drinking can lead to permanent brain damage.

If you think someone you care about has gone from moderate drinking to drinking too much, the following signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse can confirm that trouble is ahead if drinking continues.

Alcohol addiction brings headaches and heartaches to alcoholics and the people around them. Individuals who abuse alcohol face all sorts of problems, including poor health, safety risks, workplace problems and damaged relationships.

Individuals who struggle with substance abuse need help to get off the path that destroys lives. Most find it difficult to quit without intervention due to the relapsing nature of alcoholism. Families of alcoholics beaten down by years of pleading with the alcoholic to stop drinking, as well as physical and emotional abuse, also need help healing from alcohol-related problems. Alcohol treatment centers help individuals recover from excessive drinking.

Alcohol treatment options that focus on individual accountability for the alcoholic, counseling, medication, therapy and support groups for all affected persons can help alcoholics and those who care about them. These options are aligned with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse’s recommendations. If they also have mental health disorders, individuals with severe alcohol use disorder can benefit from working with a mental health professional as well.

Going through a substance abuse recovery program is only the beginning. Alcoholism is a disease for which there is no cure, and the possibility of relapse is real. Once the alcoholic and their loved ones go through the process that can lead to sobriety, the work must continue. Following through with aftercare recommendations and taking advantage of community support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous are keys to staying on the path to recovery.