| The differance between heavy drinking and alcoholism | | | | Alcoholism doe not go away by itself so it is extremely |
| is based not on the amount that is being drunk but on | | | | important for friends and family members who |
| the way, the drinking is affecting the life of the drinker. | | | | recognize any combination of these symptoms or |
| There are Seven Key Signs of Alcohol Dependence | | | | signs to encourage the person to seek treatment. In |
| 1) The person develops a tolerance for alcohol. This | | | | the long-term alcoholism can cause cirrhosis and |
| means that it takes more and more alcohol to feel the | | | | cancer of the liver, heart and central nervous system |
| same level of intoxication. | | | | damage, memory loss, impotence and a high risk of |
| 2) The person has withdrawal symptoms. This means | | | | over dosing. |
| that they feel sick when there is no alcohol in their | | | | Alcoholism Facts |
| body. These symptoms include nausea, sweating, | | | | People who abuse alcohol may not want to admit that |
| shakiness, and anxiety. | | | | they have a problem because they are ashamed or |
| 3) The person often drinks more than he does or she | | | | embarrassed or maybe even they do not want to |
| had originally intended to drink. | | | | change their lifestyle. |
| 4) The person attempts to cut down or to stop | | | | Alcoholism can affect anyone and does not |
| drinking but all attempts on their own are failures and | | | | discriminate based on race, age, or circumstances. It is |
| they just continue to drink more and more. | | | | a treatable disease, but the person seeking treatment |
| 5) The person spends a lot of time and effort making | | | | must be willing to give it up entirely. The treatment |
| sure he or she can get alcohol. | | | | community for alcoholism typically supports a zero |
| 6) The person gives up opportunities for social, | | | | tolerance complete abstinence-based approach to |
| recreational, and professional activities because of their | | | | treatment. |
| drinking. | | | | Research has shown that very few alcoholics can |
| 7) The person continues to drink despite having | | | | simply cut down on their drinking and be able to know |
| physical and psychological problems because of the | | | | when they have had enough and can stop. Once that |
| drinking. | | | | tolerance is built up, the body craves the feeling of |
| Signs Of Alcoholism | | | | intoxication and the only way to rid the body of those |
| For the purposes of diagnosis among professional | | | | cravings is through total abstinence. |
| diagnosticians, if a person has three of these seven | | | | Treatment For Alcoholism |
| signs then they are considered alcohol dependent. | | | | Alcoholism, most importantly, is a treatable disease. It |
| There are some other "less formal" type signs that | | | | cannot always be controlled but there are large |
| can be used to determine if someone is drinking too | | | | success rates with treatment. The alcoholic must |
| much. | | | | remember that they will still have the disease even if |
| 1) The person begins to miss work or is less | | | | they are no longer drinking and they will always be |
| successful at work. | | | | considered to be "recovering". |
| 2) The person seems angry or sad a lot. | | | | Group therapy and psychotherapy |
| 3) The person hits or physically abuses members of | | | | The form of group therapy that appears to be of the |
| the family. | | | | most benefit to people is the |
| 4) The person emotionally abuses members of the | | | | "mutual-help-group-counselling" approach that is often |
| family. | | | | put on by a variety of helpful organizations, either by |
| 5) The person has blackouts (cannot remember what | | | | themselves or in combination with others. These |
| he or she did while drunk). | | | | include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Women For |
| 6) The person has hangovers (feels really sick the day | | | | Sobriety, Rational Recovery, Smart Recovery and |
| after drinking). | | | | LifeRing Secular Recovery. |