Alcoholism is a disease that can destroy lives and families and even be fatal. Every year, many die from alcohol-related accidents, and there is also a strong link between alcoholism and domestic violence and child abuse. Even if the alcoholic appears to be functioning well in his day to day life, it is a serious problem that must be addressed. According to Psychology Today, the first step is for the alcoholic and those around him to understand what the signs of this disease are and how to recognize them.
Increased Drinking
One clear sign of alcoholism is the need to consume more and more alcohol to reach the same desired effect. It starts to take more alcohol to create the feeling that the alcoholic is craving. This is dangerous for many reasons, including that the body can only safely consume a certain amount of alcohol, as well as the fact that the more intoxicated a person becomes, the more of a danger he can be.
Drinking Preoccupies Life
There is a point in an alcoholic's life where drinking becomes the whole focus. A person may still work and appear functional; however, more and more of his time becomes focused on drinking, even in his thoughts. This includes planning when he can drink again, thinking about what he will drink, planning his day around drinking, and missing time with family in order to drink.
Unable to Quit Drinking
It is not uncommon for someone with a drinking problem to try and quit drinking. Many alcoholics know they drink more than they should, and that it is a problem. They do try and quit, often many times; however, all attempts to quit are unsuccessful. Additionally, an alcoholic may also experience withdrawal symptoms when she tries to quit, prompting her to go back to drinking to stop these negative side effects. The inability to quit drinking is the definition of an alcoholic and a addiction.
Drinking Causes Problems
It is often possible to see when a person's drinking becomes a problem because it disrupts his life and typical functioning. For example, a person may get into legal trouble, lose his job or get a divorce as a result of his drinking. Time with family and friends is lost, he becomes isolated, often making his drinking problem worse. When these events happen and a person still does not stop drinking, it is a clear sign of alcoholism.
