Identifying an alcohol addiction is complicated because it can easily go unnoticed. Alcohol addiction is one of the most common substance abuse disorders because it is integrated into today’s world. Furthermore, it is a completely legal drug and is considered “soft.” Consequently, the perception of risk is extremely low. We constantly receive external impulses from a very early age. Alcohol advertisements, publicity for alcoholic beverages, meeting for a beer, or toasting with an alcoholic drink. It even becomes the protagonist at certain times, such as during nights out partying. Toasting with alcohol is part of the ritual of certain celebrations. There is even the famous saying that <<Toasting with water brings bad luck>>.
At CCAdicciones, we provide detoxification treatment so that an alcohol addict can stop drinking as safely as possible.
Signs to identify an alcohol addiction
If the onset of alcohol addiction is detected quickly, it is possible to act fast and intervene during the first signs that warn a person is overindulging in alcohol and will easily end up developing an addiction to this substance. We explain the first signs that will help identify an alcohol addiction.
Signs of alcoholism
- Tolerance increases. Erroneously, one might think that because a person needs to consume more alcohol to get drunk, they handle alcohol consumption better. However, it is quite the opposite. It means the individual is building a tolerance to alcohol, and to feel the same effects, they will need to drink more each time. Their body has become accustomed to that level of alcohol.
- Inability to stop. A clear factor that determines a person is addicted to alcohol is when they have difficulty stopping drinking once they start. They can never have just one beer or one drink; they must consume alcohol until they almost reach their limit. They are unable to control their behavior.
- Surrounding oneself with a circle that also drinks. Increasingly, the person sets aside people who do not drink or who reproach them for their rising alcohol consumption. One sign may be that their social circle of friends changes.
- An absolute normalization of alcohol consumption. The person drinks to excess and abuses alcoholic beverages. So much so that there are alcoholic drinks they do not even consider alcoholic due to their alcohol content, as is the case with beer. They do not detect that consuming an excessive amount of beer is also a symptom of alcoholism. They do not identify it as a danger because it has a lower alcohol content compared to other drinks.
- Productivity and performance decrease. At first, this may not be linked to an excess of alcohol, as being less productive can be due to multiple reasons. However, if work and/or academic performance diminishes, accompanied by physical and psychological deterioration, and other signs linked to addiction are recognized, it is another factor in identifying this disorder.
How does alcohol affect you?
Abusing alcohol causes damage to all systems of the human body. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages generates serious health problems for consumers. An excess of alcohol can lead to liver fibrosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, high blood pressure, gastritis, risk of heart attack, etc.
However, alcoholism goes even beyond physical illnesses. It has negative effects on the mental health of alcohol addicts because it triggers mental and behavioral problems: emotional instability, disinhibition, feelings of euphoria, motor incoordination, depression, anxiety, aggressiveness, irritability… At a social level, it causes serious problems within the family and friendship environment because it increases arguments, negatively affects communication between them, and leads to distancing… Alcoholism can even break bonds between addicts and family members or partners because they can no longer endure the situation.
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: delirium tremens
Quitting alcohol alone is extremely complicated. Making the decision to stop consuming is the first step, but the next must be to contact professionals. It is essential that the process of removing alcohol is done safely, with the maximum possible guarantees. In the case of this addiction, it is exceedingly important because abruptly stopping alcohol because one no longer wants to drink carries very high health risks.
An alcohol addict should not quit drinking drastically. If alcohol consumption is suddenly stopped from one day to the next, alcohol withdrawal syndrome will occur, known as delirium tremens. It usually appears between 4 and 72 hours of abstinence. It can be divided into three different phases. In the first phase, anxiety, tachycardia, dizziness, and insomnia appear… During the second phase, 24 hours after the first signs of withdrawal, the intensity of the symptoms increases. Very intense tremors, excessive sweating, and seizures also appear.
Finally, we have the third phase. An alteration of consciousness known as clouding of consciousness occurs. It is defined as a state in which the person suffers a temporary loss of understanding and the ability to reason or clearly perceive things. Visual hallucinations and delusions are common during this phase.
Alcoholism treatment
The first step to detoxify and be able to quit drinking for good is to recognize the problem and ask for help from professionals expert in the disease of addiction. CCAdicciones is a detoxification center specialized in the treatment of alcoholism. Our medical and therapeutic team will advise on the best treatment to follow according to the case and characteristics of each person, always adapting to the needs of each patient. We are an inpatient center located in Roda de Berà, but we have a network of contacts. We have more than 25 centers spread across Spain, all of them staffed by specialists who work daily to help people with addictions start a new life free from substances or addictive behaviors.
If you need more information to identify an alcohol addiction or to start treatment, do not hesitate to contact us.
