SUN Lexington Outpatient Center: How To Identify The Signs Of Alcoholism

SUN Lexington Outpatient Center, based in Kentucky, recently published a blog post that covers some of the signs of alcoholism. The article aims to educate people about alcoholism and perhaps help them identify the condition in their loved ones.

The center explains that people who struggle with addiction often find it very difficult to get the help they need on their own. Often, alcohol dependency goes unnoticed until it escalates into a serious issue that the individual in question might have a hard time dealing with. Identifying the problem early — or being able to identify it at all — could help save lives. This applies both to the lives of those around a person as well as themselves (should they discover their own alcohol addiction by seeing the signs in themselves).

“Alcoholism, medically referred to as alcohol dependence, is what the American Psychological Association defines as a person who will ‘drink to excess, endangering both themselves and others,’” says the blog post. “In Kentucky alone, over 42% of adults claim to drink regularly, and 23% of adults binge drink regularly. In moderation, consuming alcohol is relatively harmless. Binge drinking is classified by the NIAAA (the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) as more than 5 drinks within 2 hours for men, or 4 drinks for women. One drink would be 1.5 ounces of spirits, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer, all of which can contain 0.5 ounces of alcohol.”

When consumed in excess, and with no control over when and how it is consumed, alcohol can have a serious effect on the drinker’s physical and mental health. It affects their cognitive function, their professional life, and their personal life. Often, people who struggle with alcohol addiction attempt to hide their addiction from others, but there are certain signs that they cannot hide.

One of the most obvious signs of alcohol dependency is needing alcohol. People who struggle with alcohol addiction are unable to stop drinking, often drinking throughout the day or even right after waking up. They also experience withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, tremors, sweating, hallucinations, or fever when they stop drinking. This then leads them to drink more in order to alleviate the symptoms, which then turns into a vicious cycle of continuous heavy drinking.

“A person in this situation often finds themselves in legal trouble,” says SUN Behavioral Lexington, which can be attributed to their drinking. Alcohol reduces inhibitions and increases impulsivity, leading people to engage in risky behaviors which can then develop into legal trouble. Driving under the influence, physical assault, and generally being involved in dangerous illegal activities when intoxicated are indicators of a drinking problem. People who are living with alcohol addiction also have a tendency to harm themselves and others. The cognitive impairment that comes with alcohol leads to frequent self-endangerment and the endangerment of others.

An individual’s mental health may also be affected by alcohol. Depression has been known to lead people to alcohol misuse as they seek to alleviate the symptoms. However, alcohol can cause or exacerbate the symptoms of depression. Alcohol withdrawal can also cause anxiety (due to the physical effects of withdrawal and how the person experiencing them might feel). Heavy alcohol use also causes memory loss as a result of the damage it causes to the centers of the brain responsible for controlling and storing memories. Lastly, alcohol use slows down brain function and neural activity. Over time, this can lead to mood swings, caused by the continual slowing down of brain activity.

Long-term alcohol use eventually presents a series of damaging effects on the body. Malnutrition, slurred speech, and liver damage are just some of the conditions caused by excessive alcohol consumption over long periods. These conditions are a clear sign of alcoholism, and it is worth looking into getting help for an individual who displays any visible signs of alcohol misuse.

When a person discovers a loved one or friend living with alcoholism, they can refer the affected party to a rehabilitation center, such as SUN Lexington Outpatient Center. SUN has made it their goal to ensure that everyone that walks through their doors leaves with a healthier relationship than the one they have with alcohol. Learn more about alcohol dependency and how SUN Behavioral Lexington can help by visiting their website.