Early Signs of Alcoholism: Recognize the Warning Signs of Alcohol Addiction

Learn to Spot the Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism Early On

It’s not always easy to recognize the signs of alcoholism. The alcoholic whose life spirals out of control exists, but the early signs of alcoholism can be much subtler. The alcoholic may work hard to keep their problem hidden; they might only drink when alone, for instance, or set up elaborate systems to ensure they’re not drunk or hungover at work or family events. But eventually, their disorder will worsen and damage their life and the people they love. Knowing the early signs of alcoholism and seeking treatment for the condition can help you or someone you care about before it’s too late.

What Is Alcoholism?

No longer a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, alcoholism is now understood as one of several forms of alcohol use disorder. If someone is unable to control their drinking and it begins to harm their life or others’, they are considered to have alcohol use disorder.

Alcoholism occurs the same way most drug addictions do. The user consumes alcohol so frequently, their brain chemistry changes and the alcohol’s pleasurable feelings become stronger. It’s unknown what causes a person to drink so much that this change happens, but the consequences are clear.

Common Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder

A person coping with alcohol use disorder may look healthy. Common symptoms of the disorder are often behavioral rather than physical, which include:

• Sharp mood swings, especially involving irritability
• Temporary blackouts or short-term memory loss
• Making excuses for drinking and reacting defensively if questioned about it
• Ignoring work, family, and social commitments to drink or to recover from a hangover
• Drinking alone or secretly
• Neglecting personal appearance
• Hanging out with different friends, especially those who have alcohol or drug problems

Early Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse

The early signs of alcohol abuse can be challenging to spot. The alcoholic may not be at the blackout stage, and they may be as friendly and pleasant as ever. Perhaps they’ve simply started drinking more, and it doesn’t seem to be a problem. But you should know that ignoring even these mild symptoms can cause them to spiral into a severe disorder.

Questions to Help You Recognize Alcoholism

Addiction researchers have several diagnostic tools to help determine if someone has an alcohol use disorder. The most used resources include:

The CAGE Questionnaire

The CAGE Questionnaire consists of four questions that can be answered in about a minute. The questions include:

• Do you think you should cut down on your drinking?
• Do people annoy you when they criticize your drinking?
• Have you ever felt guilty about your habit?
• Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning as an eye-opener to steady your nerves or get over a hangover?

The AUDIT Tool

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tool (AUDIT) investigates the past year of alcohol use:

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

You may have an alcohol problem if you answer yes to two or more questions on CAGE or T-ACE or eight or more on the AUDIT.

Getting Treatment for Alcohol Addiction at Muse Treatment Center

If you or a loved one does exhibit these signs and symptoms, it’s vitally important to seek treatment as quickly as possible. The Muse Treatment Center specializing in addiction treatment for alcoholism. To learn more and or if your spot the symptoms of alcoholism, contact Muse Treatment right away at 800-426-1818.