Alcoholism is the commonly used term to refer to the mental health illness of alcohol dependence. The condition of alcoholism has been around for a long time, and there is currently no cure for the disorder--only continued treatment. People with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism are more likely to become alcoholics if things in their life trigger the disease. A dependence on alcohol can be detrimental to a person's success in all areas of her life.
Compulsion
A person who suffers from alcoholism will feel compelled to drink, notes the MayoClinic.com. This person's desire to drink will be so strong that he will continue to drink alcohol despite the negative affects his drinking behaviors are having on his work performance, academic performance and relationships.
Need to Drink More
As with any addiction, an addiction to alcohol will leave a person having to increase the amount of alcohol she consumes and the regularity at which she drinks. As a person's brain chemicals change due to the increasing levels of alcohol she consumes, her tolerance increases, and she requires larger amounts of alcohol to feel the effects. According to Help Guide, a person's tolerance of alcohol is a first major warning sign of alcoholism.
Withdrawal
Another classic symptom of alcoholism is the experience of withdrawal symptoms. The signs of withdrawal include anxiety, depression, irritability, shaking, sweating, nausea, insomnia, headache, fatigue and loss of appetite, notes Help Guide. These signs of withdrawal occur because a person's body has become dependent on the presence of alcohol, and when enough alcohol is not present, the body cannot function properly.
Loss of Control
One symptoms of alcoholism, that is not present for people who only experience alcohol abuse, is the loss of control over how much they drink. A person with alcoholism will be unable to stop drinking once she has started. Many times, she will drink until she cannot physically drink any more, such as when she passes out due to high levels of intoxication.
Secret
Alcoholism is often a secret of the person. They often drink in large amounts before hanging out with people, carry a beverage that appears to be a soft drink, but which is actually mixed with alcohol, or consume their alcohol from things others rarely think of, such as vanilla extract. These people may appear intoxicated or smell of alcohol, but they will quickly deny any use.
Memories
Alcoholism can induce the experience of black-outs, note MayoClinic.com. When a person consumes too much alcohol, as alcoholics often do, they will have trouble remembering things that have happened to them or conversations they have had.
