The answer to the question above may vary from one alcoholic to the next. The truth is that any time a person drinks alcohol, it causes changes in their brain, and some of those changes lead to alcoholic dependency. However, alcohol dependence is different from alcoholism. Alcoholism refers to a series of biological changes in the brain. Other biological changes may be the result of certain environmental factors or a combination of both.
Many people experience headaches, dizziness, problems with memory loss, and problems with focusing due to their drinking. Sometimes the symptoms are mild, and usually, they will fade as the body adjusts to the alcohol use. An alcohol dependence typically starts with casual drinking and over time becomes more frequent and more concentrated.
Anyone who experiences problems or concerns because of excessive drinking often has a problem with alcoholism. However, a problem with alcohol doesn’t necessarily make someone an alcoholic. Exploring the similarities between alcoholism and mental health issues can help individuals determine if they have an alcohol addiction.
One of the significant differences between alcoholism is the amount of time a person needs to overcome their addiction before becoming free. Most alcoholics need to consume a large amount of alcohol over a long period before being free of the addiction. People who abuse alcohol do not face this exact requirement—a chronic alcoholic drinks a few alcoholic beverages a day for most of their life.
Another difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse is the level of impact on the person’s life. weg vom Alkohol With alcoholism, a person’s life is generally disrupted as they struggle to stop drinking and replace alcohol use with healthy, everyday activities.
The symptoms of alcoholism and drug addiction are similar. Over time, an alcoholic may use drugs to self-medicate the pain of Withdrawal from alcohol use. They may also develop substance abuse problems due to the excessive control alcohol use creates in their lives. Drug addiction involves tolerance, frequency, and intensity. An alcoholic may have a certain amount of tolerance to alcohol. On the other hand, Withdrawal causes them to experience cravings and painful withdrawal symptoms until they can no longer drink.
There are also some common warning signs of alcohol abuse or alcoholism that individuals must watch out for. Alcohol abuse often includes a history of violence towards others or a history of attempting suicide due to drinking alcohol. Alcoholics also tend to sleep excessively. Someone with a problem with alcohol may show signs of irritability, muscle tension, loss of appetite, headaches, insomnia, and dizziness. If someone has trouble remembering things or acting differently after they drink, it could be a sign of alcohol abuse or alcoholism.
For anyone to recover from alcoholism or drug addiction, treatment must begin immediately. It can be a lifelong process. We must understand that alcoholism and drug abuse is treatable. We can learn coping strategies and life skills to help us fight off our temptation and maintain abstinence. Alcoholics Anonymous and twelve-step programs are two excellent ways to go about achieving sobriety.
An alcoholic will always have the temptation to consume alcohol. It is just a matter of choosing to resist that temptation. People suffering from alcoholism or drug abuse need the help of professionals to recognize the problem of drinking and the warning signs of alcoholism or drug abuse. In the end, we need people in our lives who love and support us who we know can help us make responsible decisions when it comes to alcohol use.
Excessive drinking can lead to a variety of health problems for an alcoholic. Many people who consume too much alcohol may increase the risks of having high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes, stroke, liver disease, and other serious health problems. Alcoholism is also linked to some cancers such as colon, bladder, and breast cancer. Excessive drinking may also lead to osteoporosis, stroke, liver failure, and unconscious. Excessive drinking can lead to heart failure, high cholesterol, poor circulation, depression, and more.
The symptoms of alcoholism include a hangover each morning that usually lasts for at least 12 hours, excessive thirst, frequent urination, emotional outbursts, insomnia, irritability, social Withdrawal, fatigue, emotional and physical cravings, anxiety, depression, and loss of appetite or weight. Excessive alcohol use is known to kill hundreds of thousands of people each year around the world. Excessive alcohol use and abuse have a devastating effect on the health, well-being, and happiness involved. You need to seek professional treatment immediately. Seeking treatment early will help prevent serious health problems later on in life.
