How To Identify an Alcoholic?
The signs and symptoms of an alcoholic can vary with the individual and may be hard to recognize if you’re not educated on what symptoms to look out for. In addition, alcoholism has various psychological, physical, and social effects that can drastically reduce people’s quality of living.
Many of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse are similar, and once identified, one may be able to help a friend or a family member. Here are some signs to look out for on how to know you are living with an alcoholic:
What Are The Psychological Signs Of An Alcoholic?
- Dependency: One cannot stop drinking for a long period.
- Obsession: A person with alcoholism may come obsessed with drinking and spending all their energy finding ways and means of drinking.
- Rewarding or way to deal with problems: A person will find any excuse to drink, from rewarding themselves for getting through the workweek or because they fought with their spouse.
- Binge Drinking: One may drink large amounts in short periods.
What Are The Physical Signs Of An Alcoholic?
- Withdrawal symptoms: When a person drinks frequently, the body builds up a dependency on alcohol. When that amount of alcohol isn’t at the level the body is dependent on, one might experience physical symptoms. These may include sweating, seizures, diarrhea, trembling, constipation, and mood swings.
- Weight and Appetite changes: Depending on the drinking style, one might eat more or less, therefore, gain or lose a significant about of weight.
- Sleep patterns: Insomnia is a common symptom of alcoholism.
- Change of appearance: A person who may have kept a groomed appearance may stop making an effort and lack personal hygiene.
- Dilated or pinned pupils and bloodshot eyes
What Are The Social Signs Of An Alcoholic?
Alcoholism can impact the way an individual socializes with and relates to other people.
- Hobbies and activities: A person addicted to alcohol might change their social habits and activities. They are not active in their regular social lives, such as attending movies or dinner with friends, not going to the gym, or engaging in their normal hobbies. Also, one may turn down such invitations to events if alcohol is not being served or required to be confined in an establishment for long periods.
- Financial problems: An alcoholic will start spending all their money on alcohol, even sacrifices money for needed bills or food to ensure they have what they need.
- Isolating: A person with an addiction to alcohol most likely prefers to drink in solitude and secrecy.
- Denial: If a person who is an alcoholic is confronted, they most likely don’t recognize the severity and will deny ever havening a problem.
- Legal Issues: Because alcohol impairs judgment, legal issues will most likely follow an alcoholic.
Are You An Alcoholic?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) has some questions to go through and answer honestly about a person in question whether or not they have an alcohol abuse problem:
- For example, does the person drink in larger amounts or for longer than intended?
- Do they want to cut down or stop drinking but can’t?
- Do they spend a lot of time getting, drinking, or recovering from drinking?
- Do they have cravings and urges to drink?
- Are they unable to manage responsibilities at work, home, or school because of drinking?
- Do they continue to drink, even when it causes problems in relationships?
- Do they give up important social, recreational, or work-related activities because of drinking?
- Do they keep drinking again and again, even when it puts them in danger?
- Do they continue to drink, even knowing that a physical or mental problem could have been caused or made worse by drinking?
- Do they drink more just to get drunk?
- Have they developed withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by drinking more?
If the answer to some or all of these questions is yes, your friend or loved one might be an alcoholic.
Alcoholism Help at Agape Treatment Center
When that friend or loved one is ready to get clean and take their lives back, that’s where Agape Treatment Center steps in. Agape Treatment Center is a comfortable and evidence-based drug and alcohol inpatient detox in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Agape has A Behavioral Healthcare Program focused on a twelve-step rehabilitation program created solely to save lives from the grip of chemical dependency, substance abuse, mental health disorders, co-occurring disorders, and alcoholism. Remember, nobody had to stay addicted.
Stephanie Catalano is an accomplished Clinical Director at Agape Behavioral Healthcare. With a Master of Social Work degree, LCSW license, and extensive training in Rapid Resolution Therapy under her belt, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Her unique combination of education and experience allows her to provide exceptional care to clients and lead her team with confidence. Stephanie’s joy comes from witnessing the moments when her patients creatively connect the dots and bravely move toward reclaiming their power. Her purpose is to help individuals understand their past so they can create a future full of hope, growth, and success. Stephanie attributes a large portion of her success to the supportive culture and strong sense of community fostered by the Agape team.
