What Are the Signs of Alcholism?

Alcohol abuse affects approximately 43 percent of U.S. adults, who are related to someone who is an active or recovering alcoholic. A number of treatment options are available for those who are alcohol dependent, including medication, therapy, and self-help groups.

Relationships

• When drinking begins to take priority over anything else, including family, alcoholism may be to blame. Relationships suffer when the choice is made to drink rather than spend time with loved ones.

Jobs

• While some alcoholics are able to maintain a job, work performance suffers. Work relationships may also suffer due to irritability or poor quality of work.

Interests

• As alcohol becomes a priority, those things that once brought pleasure, such as sports or hobbies, no longer seem interesting.

Mental Symptoms

• Gulping alcoholic beverages and ordering doubles are representative of an alcoholic's compulsion to drink. Other mental symptoms include dangerous activities such as driving drunk and increased agitation leading to violence.

Physical Symptoms

• Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, shaking and sweating may occur when an alcoholic does not have access to alcohol. Physical symptoms can manifest themselves by memory loss, redness of the face and numbness of the hands and feet.