The 10 warning signs of alcoholism

Alcohol addiction is a real public health problem in many countries, costing the lives of millions of people all over the world. the world and is also linked to various phenomena that constitute a social problem, such as traffic accidents or violence domestic.

This addiction appears in increasingly younger people in Spain, which represents an even greater threat to the health of citizens.

However, the normalization of alcohol consumption means that in many cases there are problems to identify the beginnings of addiction to this substance. Therefore, in this article we will see what they are the main warning signs of alcoholism.

• Related article: "These are the 9 effects that alcohol has on the brain in the short and long term"

What are the main warning signs in people with alcoholism?

Alcohol abuse is one of the most common addictive behaviors in the world, since is based on the consumption of an easily obtainable drug in almost all countries, and whose consumption is legal and highly standardized in most cultures.

Like most addictions, it is a very harmful disorder for the person suffering from it, which progressively increases its effects destructive in the affected and that can become lethal if not treated in time through the support of the professionals of the Health.

In this sense, let's see a list of the most common warning signs that can help detect the development of an alcohol addiction in oneself, in friends or in family members. Of course, they do not have to occur all at once and, in some cases, the existence of only one of them does not imply that there is an addition; the definitive diagnosis can only be made by professionals.

1. Humor changes

Frequent mood swings in the affected person, especially irritability, bad mood, and changes in mood, are usually a useful signal to detect pathologies such as addiction, since it is linked to the "monkey" after several hours of not consuming.

If this situation is prolonged in time, the person with alcoholism also tends to develop a behavior aggressive towards the people around him, especially in those moments when he does not have access to the alcohol.

• You may be interested in: "Emotional instability: what is it and in what signs can it be detected?"

2. Change in drinking habits

Another of the red flags that can show an addiction to alcohol is the change of habits and customs regarding the times when alcohol is consumed, such as, for example, drinking at times when you did not drink before, either very early in the morning or very late at night.

Likewise, change the hours of each day to have time to drink, drink alone or hang out with certain friendships just to drink can also be clear signs that we are facing a case of alcoholism.

• Related article: "10 psychologically healthy daily habits, and how to apply them to your life"

3. Control available alcohol

People with alcoholism often have an obsessive control over the alcohol reserves in their own home. In the same way, when preparing for a trip, they also tend to check in advance if they will have alcohol at their destination.

The obsession with the availability or not of alcohol at all times, as well as the symptoms of annoyance or Anger when it is not available are also quite clear signs of a possible case of alcoholism.

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4. Hiding alcohol at home

In this same regard to the obsession with available alcohol, people with alcoholism also tend to hide alcohol reserves in various parts of their home / s to consume it later.

This custom has a double function; on the one hand, ensuring future alcohol reserves in one's home, and on the other, hiding the addiction problem they suffer from from other family members.

• Related article: "The 14 most important types of addictions"

5. Self-deception

There are many ways that people with alcoholism deceive themselves, and all of them are a good indicator that there is a real problem of indiscriminate alcohol consumption.

Permanent self-justifications on one's own excesses, consider that if one is not very drunk "it does not count as having consumed alcohol" or deny that one has a problem pointing out that other people have a more established addiction, are some of the most classics.

• You may be interested in: "Why do we deceive ourselves? The usefulness of this psychological phenomenon "

6. Alteration in relationships

Alcoholism brings with it a global deterioration in the life of the person who suffers it, and This wear and tear occurs both at a personal and physiological level and at the level of interpersonal relationships..

Both the friendships of those who suffer from alcoholism and their family and partner relationships are often affected in many ways, either due to changes in the person's mood or situations of violence and aggressiveness, or even due to the incompatibility of styles of life.

7. Agitated state without clear external triggers

One of the essential characteristics of alcohol addiction is withdrawal syndrome, characterized by a series of internal and external physical symptoms present in the person in case of not having access to an alcoholic drink for a certain time that goes beyond what usually happens between consumption and consummation.

Some of these physical reactions characteristic of withdrawal syndrome are excessive sweating, nausea, tremors, or chills.

8. Labor problems

In addition to affecting the personal environment of the affected person, alcoholism also usually has a direct impact on their professional or work environment.

Lack of performance or productivity, loss of concentration and relationships with co-workers are some of the signs that you have an addiction problem.

• Related article: "Psychology of work and organizations: a profession with a future"

9. Increased tolerance

Alcohol addiction also leads to an increased tolerance to that substance; that means the affected person needs an increasing dose for the same intoxicating effect.

Needing more and more to drink progressively is another good way to detect whether or not a person has a problem with alcoholism.

10. School failure (in the case of the youngest)

In the case of alcoholism in adolescents or minors, a very common indicator that there may be a case of alcoholism is the significant decline in academic performance.

It is important to note that school or academic failure can be both a precipitating factor to consuming alcohol from a young age as well as a red flag that should be taken into account on its own herself.

Looking for therapeutic support for addictions?

If you want to start a therapy process to overcome alcohol addiction or any other pathology related to drug addiction, get in touch with us.

On Llaurant la Llum we specialize in addictive disorder intervention, both in outpatient support and through admissions in our fully equipped residential module. You will find us in Picassent, Valencia.