Alcohol is a socially accepted drug, so it becomes more complicated to detect when there is an addiction problem. A drinking addict does not have to be drinking all day long to have an addiction, in fact, he or she would not even have to drink daily or drink in extreme amounts to develop alcoholism or to have a problem with alcohol, and need professional help to overcome it.
We must pay close attention to every detail or behavior modification and not be permissive with this issue, as attention span is vital. The following are the differences between addiction and abuse, the symptoms and effects of alcohol.
Drinking abuse and alcohol addiction, what is the difference?
In order to be able to help a person with alcoholism problems or to detect abusive consumption in oneself, it is very important to be clear about the differences between addiction and alcohol abuse.
Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a disease that can develop in a traumatic moment or gradually over several years. In both cases, the process is slow and hardly noticeable.
In contrast, when alcohol abuse occurs, there is still the ability to control consumption. Even so, alcohol abuse is also self-destructive and dangerous, as well as a high-risk factor for eventually developing an addiction to alcohol and other related diseases. Even if you are not yet addicted to alcohol, it is important to seek help in order not to abuse drinking and to prevent alcoholism.
Symptoms of alcoholism: How do I know if I am addicted to alcohol?
One Triora patient, Ted, describes his addiction this way: “I knew I couldn’t stop, I couldn’t cut the alcohol abuse. I just wanted to drink more, and I always wanted more….. Towards the end of my addiction, I would start drinking as soon as I woke up. Then I would feel better, and I would keep drinking, until I fell asleep again. That’s how my days were; thinking about how I could get some more alcohol…”.
One of the main symptoms of alcoholism is that the addict, being aware that alcohol consumption is causing increasing problems in all aspects of his or her life, continues to drink. Two other common behaviors in alcoholics are:
- The alcohol addict presents withdrawal symptoms when he/she tries to stop drinking: he/she needs to consume alcoholic beverages until he/she loses control. When consumption is sustained over time, he will seek to increase the dose progressively to achieve the desired state of intoxication; this is called the phenomenon of tolerance.
- For the alcohol addict, life revolves around drinking: he will spend a large part of the day drinking and the rest of the time recovering from the ravages that drinking causes in his organism. Thus, he will be affected in all areas of his life: he will not be able to perform his tasks at work, in his studies and his personal relationships will worsen significantly. Despite this, he will continue to drink, even though he is aware that he is putting his own health and that of others at risk.
Not all the symptoms have to be present at the same time to have a problem of alcoholism, but these signs will appear as the disease evolves depending on the previous triggering factors.
Consequences of alcoholism and alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse has a very negative impact on any future and professional career, on personal and family economy, on personal and professional relationships, but above all it is very detrimental to health. It is important to understand that prolonged alcohol consumption can lead to alcoholism, which is a chronic disease and can lead to serious problems such as liver cirrhosis or some cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
In addition, alcoholism and alcohol abuse also have a very negative impact on family, friends, loved ones and even society, as it can lead to violence and cause traffic accidents. Most countries in Europe have adopted policies, strategies and plans for the consequences of alcoholism.
How do I know if I have a drinking problem?
If after reading this text you have recognized these behaviors in someone close to you or in yourself, you can take this simple and quick test to find out if you should reduce or completely stop drinking alcohol. Remember that if you act in time with professional help from a specialist in Psychology you will have the ability to prevent serious consequences in your health or help a loved one in need.