Symptoms of alcoholism

In the modern world, addictions and dependencies are becoming a common phenomenon. The body's addiction to a psychoactive substance or a performed activity can affect anyone, regardless of age, social and financial status, and gender. Being addicted is associated with a disorder of mental and somatic functions, which results in a constant need to take the substance to which the body has become addicted. Among many addictions, the most common is alcoholism. Alcohol addiction is currently recognized by the World Health Organization as a disease, which indicates the seriousness of the problem. It is worth learning how alcoholism manifests itself and how to treat alcoholism.

Alcoholism – what is worth knowing about alcoholism?

Alcoholism is an insidious type of addiction that develops very slowly. Initially, consuming small amounts of substances containing alcohol does not indicate the seriousness of the problem, however, reaching for a glass more and more often usually ends in a strong addiction. What is alcoholism? It is a strong psychological and physical addiction to substances that contain alcohol. An addicted person is able to control their condition and no longer has the tools to stop drinking it. In the initial phase of the disease, an alcoholic does not notice their problem, and as the addiction develops, they try to deny it. The effect of such actions is the development of aggressive behaviors and exclusion from family and social life, as well as health effects, which in extreme cases end in death or the occurrence of serious damage to health.

Alcoholism develops very slowly, which is why specialists have distinguished several phases of addiction progression:

• The initial phase – the alcoholic notices that taking strong alcoholic beverages leads to relaxation and starts looking for opportunities to drink alcohol more often,
• Warning phase – the addicted person consumes increasingly larger amounts of alcohol, which leads to the formation of so-called memory gaps and changes in behavior. The alcoholic also begins to drink alcohol in solitude and in hiding.  
• Critical phase – alcohol consumption becomes the main need of the addicted person. During withdrawal from the substance, there is a withdrawal symptomsthat the alcoholic is unable to cope with,
• Chronic phase – the alcoholic is constantly under the influence of high-proof substances. The effects of alcohol on the body become visible and damage occurs to the most important organs for health, such as the liver or pancreas. If the alcoholic does not receive help in the chronic phase, substance abuse very often ends in death.

Visible symptoms of alcohol addiction should be an indication for referring the sick person to addiction treatment, which will allow him to cope with the problem. In some cases, it is necessary to apply for a court order for compulsory use of therapy.

How to recognize an alcoholic? - symptoms of alcoholism

Many people ask themselves, How to recognize an alcoholic? The answer to this question is very important and can help you recognize addiction in yourself or someone close to you in the early stages of its development. Symptoms of alcoholism are associated with the appearance of symptoms of a psychological and somatic nature, and these include:

• frequent, strange, uncontrollable mood swings and changes,
• the appearance of anxiety-like states,
• irritability and nervousness,
• outbursts of aggression, anger, physical and mental violence on the part of the addicted person,
• indifference, apathy, loneliness, depression,
• disturbances of concentration and psychomotor coordination,
• isolation from society,
• memory gaps and disorders.

It is also worth paying attention to signs of alcoholism on the face. As the addiction progresses, the appearance of the addict changes, their face becomes swollen and very red. Significant alcohol abuse can be associated with permanent memory damage, as well as dementia.

What is the treatment for alcoholism?

Recovery from alcoholism is a long-term, complex process that requires the total involvement of the sick person. The basis of treatment is the alcoholic's awareness of the problem, due to the ability of sick people to deny addiction. Many alcoholics are unable to admit to falling into addiction, which significantly prolongs the recovery period. Such a state is associated with the possibility of developing additional diseases, which are classified as the effects of alcohol abuse.

One of the most effective methods of treating alcohol addiction is to use therapies that offer NFZ addiction treatment centers in Warsaw and many other Polish cities. Psychotherapy allows for a permanent change in alcohol habits, as well as the way of thinking and one's own beliefs, which gives a chance to deal with alcoholism. It is worth remembering that an alcoholic remains for the rest of one's life, so learning the mechanisms that protect against falling back into addiction is very important.