What are the Warning Signs of Alcoholism? Top 6 Explained

Some of the signs of alcoholism are easy to spot, while others are much easier to miss. Depending on the severity of alcohol abuse, a person may do very well at hiding their illness for years.

Mild alcohol abuse in young people may just be seen as typical college behavior. However, there are warning signs, and knowing these can make it easier to spot trouble. Seeking treatment sooner rather than later can be crucial in preventing dangerous outcomes.

Here are the top six warning signs of alcohol abuse:

1. Being unable to stop drinking.
   • You may tell yourself that you’re only going to have one or two drinks, but you always find yourself unable to stop.
2. Drinking to the point of blacking out.
   • Not only do you drink more than what you had planned, but you often experience blackouts, or can’t remember what happened while you were drinking.
3. Drinking in the morning.
   • You often feel the need to have a drink in the morning or before work in order to calm your nerves and get ready for the day.
4. You conceal your drinking.
   • If you feel the need to drink by yourself, that is a big red flag. Do you feel ashamed, or do you fear others making comments? If so, it’s time to examine your alcohol use.
5. Making excuses for your drinking.
   • If you need to make excuses for how much, or how often you drink, you may have a problem.
6. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
   • If you are feeling hungover when you’re not under the influence, or if you experience other withdrawal symptoms, this means that your body is becoming dependent on alcohol. These warning signs of alcoholism are easy to confuse with a cold or other sickness.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Once your body becomes physically dependent, you begin to experience various symptoms when alcohol is no longer in your body.

This is one reason why it can be so hard to stop drinking. Some of these withdrawal symptoms are:

• Headaches
• Irregular heartbeat
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Confusion
• Seizures

Other Signs of Alcoholism 

If you suspect that you may be abusing alcohol or that you may have alcohol use disorder, some diagnostic tools may be able to help.

One of the screening tools that is used to help determine whether someone has alcoholism is a questionnaire known as CAGE.

Read the following four questions and answer with a yes, or no.

1. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get over a hangover?

If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, you may have a problem with alcohol.

Another diagnostic tool used by medical professionals comes from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). When answering the following questions, think about the past year.

1. Have you continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem?
2. Have there been situations where you ended up drinking much more than you intended?
3. Have you lost interest in other activities and hobbies since you started drinking?
4. Have you experienced symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal?
5. Have you felt an urge or craving to consume alcohol?
6. Have you gotten into situations while drinking that may have increased your chances of harming yourself or others (i.e., drinking and driving)?
7. Have you been in trouble with the law due to alcohol-related problems?

Concluding Thoughts 

If you suspect that you or someone you love has a problem with alcohol, seek help immediately. At Daybreak Treatment Solutions, we can help you to get your life back on track. It’s not too late! Call to speak to one of our professionals and let us show you how we can help.

DayBreak is NOT just another drug rehab center – it is a treatment solution founded on the core principles of change. Relapse no longer needs to be a part of your story, call us when you are ready for a life rediscovered…844-447-3239