On a global scale, as many as 107,000,000 people are estimated to have some form of alcohol abuse. This can range from binge drinking to alcoholism and everything in between.
Signs of alcohol addiction can be difficult to spot, and even more difficult to deal with after the fact.
If you’ve been worried about the amount you or a loved one is drinking, here are some symptoms of alcohol addiction to keep an eye open for.
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1. Physical Fatigue
Alcohol is a depressant, which means that any amount of indulgence can lead to lower energy levels. When abused, that lowered energy level becomes a much more common and long-lasting symptom.
Physical fatigue is one of the most prevalent signs of alcohol abuse. It’s extremely common for alcoholics to battle some form of lethargy or lack of energy. This can be as a result of the negative effects of alcohol on the body as a whole, or alcohol remaining in the system for an extended period of time.
2. Irregular Sleep Schedule
Another common sign is an irregular or erratic sleep schedule. Due to lowered energy from alcohol abuse, sufferers often sleep for too long or too little at night.
This is also true during the day, leading to frequent and unscheduled naps. An irregular sleep schedule is one of the primary causes of physical fatigue, leading to a dangerous loop.
3. Forgetfulness
Long-term use of alcohol can have negative effects on someone’s memory. Many are familiar with the experience of forgetting a small span of time after overconsumption, but extended use can damage long and short-term memory.
This is more severe than simply forgetting scheduled AA meetings or where you’ve placed your AA chips, of course. Memory loss on this scale is caused by alcohol hindering the nerves in the hippocampus that control memory. Extended alcoholism can lead to dementia and more.
4. Malnutrition
Victims of alcohol abuse often also suffer from malnutrition. Due to the factors listed above, alcohol addiction frequently impacts the diet of the victim.
Because of this impacted diet, alcoholics are unable to get the proper vitamins and nutrients. This can lead to heightened blood pressure and a host of other severe issues.
5. Dependence
Finally, one of the most obvious signs is dependence. Alcohol abuse is often characterized by the victim struggling to go any length of time without consuming alcohol.
This dependence is almost a guarantee that there’s some form of alcohol addiction. While it may be in its infancy, dependence only ever worsens without being dealt with. If you find yourself feeling dependent on alcohol, take action immediately.
Signs of Alcohol Addiction
These five signs of alcohol addiction are some of the most prevalent and severe. However, this is by no means an exhaustive list of the symptoms of alcohol addiction.
If you find yourself noticing signs of alcohol abuse in yourself or in others, do your best to find help quickly. AA meetings are a common, popular, and effective outreach to consider.
- For more information regarding health, check out what the alcohol rehab facilities in Worcester, MA recommend and be sure to browse our blog.
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