When is a person considered to be an alcoholic?

Alcoholism is one of the main addictive disorders present in our country, and currently it represents a a true public health problem, both due to the affectation it has on the person who suffers it and on their family environment And social.

This type of pathology is associated with a series of very characteristic symptoms and classic signs that can be used as guidelines to know if a person has alcoholism or not.

Of course, although many of these symptoms are usually recognized superficially by anyone, it is important to clarify that the diagnosis of alcohol use disorder can only be made by healthcare professionals.

• Related article: "Alcoholism: these are the effects of dependence on drink"

What is taken into account to know if a person has developed alcoholism?

Here you will find the signs and symptoms that psychology professionals establish as the main indicators of a case of alcoholism.

1. Dangerous use and consumption

The most visible characteristic of an alcohol addiction is the excessive use of this substance in a prolonged way in time

and even reaching levels that can endanger your health both physically and mentally.

A sudden change in the way you consume alcoholic beverages, as well as the person's relationship with alcohol both outside and inside the home can be a very useful indicator to identify that there is a problem of addiction to alcohol.

On the other hand, the consumption of alcohol does not have to lead the person to a state of clear intoxication for them to consider that there is an addiction (for example, there are profiles of people who need to drink a little constantly: the delta-type alcoholics).

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2. Affection in social relationships

Continued use of alcohol affects all areas of a person's life, and especially the way in which you relate to your closest environment, that is, to friends, family and loved ones.

This affectation usually translates into greater conflict with friends, with the partner or with the family of the person, who usually ends with progressive social isolation and a loss of the relationship in the short or long term term.

When you begin to notice specific effects on relationship skills or have interpersonal relationship problems that did not exist before, we may be talking about a case of alcoholism.

3. Abstinence syndrome

The withdrawal syndrome is another of the essential characteristics that people with alcohol use disorder present and it is based on a series of highly recognizable physical and psychological symptoms.

The main physical symptoms that occur in a person with withdrawal syndrome are: chills, excessive sweating, tremors, nausea, headache, rapid heart rate or dehydration.

On the other hand, the main psychological symptoms are usually anxiety, irritability, hallucinations, agitation, or delirium tremens.

• Related article: "Drug withdrawal syndrome: its types and symptoms"

4. Tolerance

The phenomenon of tolerance takes place in addiction to any type of addictive toxic substances and occurs when the person you need to increase the levels of ingested alcohol to achieve the same intoxication effects in the body, once consumption is already continued.

It is another of the unequivocal signs and warning signs that indicate a case of alcoholism and it is highly dangerous because promotes increased alcohol consumption in the affected person.

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5. Alteration in habits

Continued consumption of alcohol can also significantly alter a person's lifestyle, to the point of putting aside the activities one did normally to focus exclusively on the drink.

This usually means that the person with an alcohol addiction he begins to significantly modify the practice of daily activities that previously satisfied him, or that they are stopped directly.

In the same way, it usually happens that a person with alcoholism begins to develop related activities only in the consumption of alcohol, such as always being in the bar or drinking alcohol in any place or situation in which find.

6. Breach of obligations

This change in habits also translates into a complete disregard for any responsibility that the person in question may have before developing an addiction to alcohol.

People who have a case of alcoholism They tend to put aside work, family, personal or emotional obligations with their closest environmentas alcohol becomes the center of his new life.

• You may be interested in: "What is responsibility as a personality trait?"

7. Failed attempts to quit

Many people with alcohol addiction tend to go through different attempts to quit the addiction without obtaining positive results, a fact that causes them to spiral into frustration and discomfort that usually leads to a greater need to continue drinking.

This usually happens when the person decides to stop on their own or tries to moderate their consumption, something impossible when they have an addiction of this type.

That is why it is so necessary to request the services of a specialist, since only a professional specialized in addictive behaviors can help us overcome this problem.

• Related article: "The Marlatt and Gordon Relapse Prevention Model"

8. Health problems

Continued addiction to alcohol is linked to a wide variety of physical and psychological problems that daily endanger the state of health of the person.

Some of the main physical or psychological disorders associated with alcohol consumption and addiction are: heart disease, stroke, depression, digestive problems, cirrhosis and various types of cancer.

9. New social relationships in the addiction environment

As indicated, people with alcohol addiction often change old habits and activities that they previously carried out with total normality, and adopt new ways of relating to the environment.

As a result of the repeated consumption of alcohol, changes usually occur at the level of activities and also in the people with whom these activities are carried out, since a change of friendships is common and people who may have the same problem start to visit.

10. Exposing yourself to dangerous situations

Finally, another of the characteristics that usually indicate a case of alcoholism is the habitual exposure to dangerous or criminal situations without the person being aware that they are putting their life and that of others at risk.

Some examples of this phenomenon can be driving under the influence of alcohol, carrying out criminal activities or having unprotected sex with strangers.