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It can be a challenge to figure out how you can help a loved one who is struggling with an alcohol use disorder. By learning more about alcohol use and abuse, identifying the signs of alcoholism, and how alcohol addiction treatment can help your loved one overcome their addiction, you will be better equipped to talk to your loved one, offer them support, and make a plan for the next steps. When you’re are ready to discover the many benefits of alcohol addiction treatment, reach out to NuLife Recovery Massachusetts online or call us at 888.568.2057 today.
Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Use Disorders
Drinking alcohol becomes a problem the moment it starts to affect a person’s life to the point where they can no longer control their alcohol use. If a loved one continues to drink despite knowing that their alcohol consumption is having negative impacts on their own life as well as their friends and family, that could be one of the signs of alcohol addiction.
Alcoholism is a chronic condition that is treatable with professional, compassionate care. The symptoms of alcohol abuse, if left untreated, can develop in association with certain cognitive changes and physiological adaptations that can make it additionally difficult for a person to stop drinking—even if they wanted to stop. Alcohol addiction treatment could then be necessary to break the cycle of addiction and recover to live a clean and sober life.
Five of the Most Common Signs of Alcoholism
If your loved one is struggling with a drinking problem, it is likely that they are trying to hide it from you, but there are signs of alcohol abuse you can spot fairly easily if you know what to look for. They may not want to admit that they have a problem nor do they probably want you or anyone else stepping in to help. It is important, therefore, that you can identify the signs of alcohol addiction and know the next steps to get them the help they need and deserve.
1. Mood Swings
One of the symptoms of alcohol abuse is erratic and irrational swings of emotion. Your loved one may be experiencing an excess amount of stress that is causing them to rely on alcohol as a way of coping. Some of the stress alcoholics regularly suffer from include:
- Mental
- Emotional
- Physical
- Spiritual
The resulting mood swings could be one of the signs of alcoholism.
2. Missing Commitments
An individual with an addiction to alcohol may often be frequently absent from work or school, missing commitments on a daily or weekly basis. In addition to failing to live up to their responsibilities, you may observe your loved one making poor decisions and struggling with their relationships as normal life takes a backseat to alcohol.
Among the common signs of alcohol abuse, this is the one that can initiate a dangerous descent into an isolated life. As they skip normal activities, isolation may seem like the only way forward to your loved one. They will choose to hide themselves and hide their alcohol abuse to avoid embarrassment. You can show support for your loved one and let them know that they are not alone and that there is help available.
3. Increased Tolerance
One of the negative side effects of alcohol abuse is the development of a tolerance to it. If the normal number of drinks is no longer having a noticeable impact on your loved one, it means their drinking has built up a tolerance requiring more and more alcohol to achieve the desired impact. This is a dangerous point to reach in any addiction. In alcohol addiction treatment, our clients receive professional, compassionate care and begin their path toward a sober life in recovery.
4. Skipping Events That Don’t Involve Alcohol
If your loved one isn’t drinking and begins to experience withdrawal symptoms, they will likely be trying their best to avoid attending events and being in social situations that do not involve drinking alcohol. This is because withdrawal is difficult and uncomfortable. For an individual with an alcohol use disorder, it may seem less painful to continue consuming alcohol than to suffer withdrawal. This is one of the symptoms of alcohol abuse you can spot easily. Some of the withdrawal symptoms to look for in your loved one, in the moments they do not have access to alcohol, include:
- Nausea
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Insomnia
- Hallucinations
5. Failed Attempts to Quit
Alcoholism can also be spotted by a series of failed attempts at quitting. Maybe it is because the withdrawal symptoms above were too severe or unpleasant, or simply because they tried to quit without the professional help of alcohol addiction treatment, but if they have tried but failed to quit drinking, your loved one may be addicted to alcohol.
Learn More About Alcohol Addiction Treatment at NuLife Behavioral Health Massachusetts
If you or a loved one is struggling with an alcohol use disorder, contact us today. Reach out using our secure online form or call us at 888.568.2057 to learn how our alcohol addiction treatment program can be where your new life of sobriety begins.
