Alcoholism Signs And Symptoms

How do you know if you have an alcohol problem? Are you worried that you may be an alcoholic? Sometimes it helps to look at the typical symptoms of an alcoholic.

Alcoholism or alcohol dependence creeps up on you and before you know it will find yourself getting deeper and deeper into an addiction whirlpool that will be very hard to swim out of. Lets look at the most typical symptoms of an alcoholic according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

  • No interest in social, occupational or recreation activities
  • Unintended excessive consumption of alcohol
  • Loss of control of physical and mental faculties while drinking.
  • Unsuccessful in effort to reduce alcohol intake.
  • Looks for ways to spend more and more time in alcohol related activities.
  • Severe withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, anxiety, nausea, loss of memory
  • Need to drink an increased quantity of alcohol in order to feel the same effect.
  • Continued use of alcohol even though knowing it is dangerous to health.

John Hopkins University came out with a quiz that helps you determine if you have a drinking problem or not.

  • Have you lost time from work due to drinking?
  • Is your home life unhappy because of your drinking?
  • Is shyness around people the reason you drink?
  • Is your reputation being affected due to your drinking?
  • Has drinking ever made you feel remorseful?
  • Has drinking been the cause of financial difficulties?
  • Does drinking make you mix with inferior companions and environments?
  • Are you careless of your family’s welfare because of drinking?
  • Has drinking reduced or decreased your ambitions?
  • Do you long for a drink at a specific time daily?
  • Do you feel like drinking the next morning?
  • Is sleeping an issue because of your drinking?
  • Has drinking decreased your efficiency?
  • Is your job or business taking on a hit or in trouble due to your drinking?
  • Do you drink to forget your current troubles or worries?
  • Do you drink alone?
  • Has your drinking ever resulted in a loss of memory?
  • Has you been treated by a health care professional for drinking?
  • Does drinking help you to build up self-confidence?
  • Have you ever hospitalized or institutionalized due to drinking?

According to Johns Hopkins University Hospital, office of health care if you answered yes to three questions from the above set of questions then you could be considered as an alcohol dependent person and is a sign that your alcohol consumption could be potentially harmful. You should consider undergoing an evaluation by a health care professional with respect to your alcohol consumption.

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