Ten Warning Signs of Alcoholism
Warning signs are not only to be looked for in family members, but one ’s self.
Because denial is a big part of alcoholism, if any of the following signs is present, the best thing to do is seek help immediately:
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Seclusion is a typical teenage behavior. However, if it occurs with other symptoms on the list, then there may be cause for worry.
Seclusion. The alcoholic will slowly begin pulling away from family members and spending more time alone, often in their rooms.
- Not being honest about how much they are drinking. It’s only the start of the lying, but they often grossly underestimate how much they have had to drink.
- Drinking to calm nerves. If someone reaches for a beer can or liquor bottle every time they perceive stress, it just may be a warning sign.
- Drinking to “get them going” in the morning. Most addicts, including alcoholics will need a dose of their preferred drug first thing when they wake up. This is a big warning sign.
- Missing school or work. This happens on a gradual basis as well. It can happen even to people who have never missed a day before but now suddenly are staying home more and more.
- Lowered inhibitions. One of the effects of alcohol is that it lowers inhibitions. The alcoholic may start doing things they normally would not do were it not for the alcohol.
- Becoming more argumentative or violent. This happens quite often with alcoholism. Even people who start out have “happy drunks” eventually become more hostile away and at home.
- Pushing the envelope. Alcoholics will often begin doing extremely risky things while intoxicated. This includes their manner of driving.
- Increased tolerance level. Alcoholics build up a tolerance just as some people do with drugs. They need more and more to get the same effect they used to get with less alcohol.
- Blackouts. When people start saying “I can’t remember what happened last night” then it may be a blackout. Blackouts are very common among alcoholics and they can also be very dangerous.
* It is important not to make assumptions just because one of the above signs is present.
For example, seclusion is a typical teenage behavior. However, if it occurs with other symptoms on the list, then there may be cause for worry. It is not only the alcoholic that goes into denial. Often, family and friends do too because they don’t want to think the worse of their loved one.
The only way to see alcoholism is to admit that there are signs.
