Blackouts & Other Signs of Alcoholism

Blackouts are among the most terrifying symptoms of alcoholism. Entire segments of time simply disappear, leaving you with no memory of what you said or did. If you experience blackouts in connection with your alcohol consumption, you should acknowledge that you have a problem and seek help immediately. But blackouts aren't the only signs of alcoholism; knowing what they are and how they affect your life can be the first step on the road to recovery.

Cravings

• Alcoholics often have an overwhelming need to drink, and when they start drinking, they have an extremely difficult time cutting themselves off.

Secrecy

• Alcoholics may drink alone and take steps to hide evidence of their drinking, such as hiding the bottles in a hard-to-find place.

Tolerance

• It often takes an increasingly larger amount of liquor for an alcoholic to feel intoxicated, and/or he may drink simply to feel "normal."

Withdrawal

• If an alcoholic stops drinking, he may suffer from withdrawal symptoms such as vomiting, shivering or breaking into a cold sweat.

Reverberations

• Alcoholism often has an effect on other parts of the alcoholic's life. Work performance may suffer, troubles at home may increase, and friends or family members may drift away.