Signs of Alcoholism- Maintaining Perspective

Identifying the early signs of alcoholism is so important. If you let your drinking get out of control it is incredibly difficult to rein it in. The earlier treatment is sought the better. As alcoholism progresses so it becomes harder to extricate yourself or the person you care about.

I was lucky(ish) My drinking and drugging went on for twenty years but I had people looking out for me, however, if they, and I, had known the early signs of alcoholism maybe I wouldn't have had to go through some of the situations I got myself into.

I have known people who have died from drugs and alcohol and they were good people. Maybe if they or their families had known what to look for when it came to their substance abuse then perhaps, they might have got help earlier. Who am I to say.

I Know this lens is called signs of alcoholism but first a caveat.... almost everybody, at one time or another, displays at least one sign of alcoholism be it drinking alone, calling sick into work because of a stinking hangover or lieing to your partner about how much you had to drink the previous night.

So don't go thinking you've got a drinking problem because you like the odd drink.

The time to worry is when you you show a number of the signs of alcohol dependency. If you have a runny nose you don't immediately assume you have the flu and so it is with alcoholism.

So what are these signs that one should be on the look out for in yourself or others

Good news, bad news, indifferent news- anything is a reason to drink. The problem drinker will do anything for a drink.

Anywhere that can be used to conceal alcohol is used.

The reason being that the drink addict wants to be able to access drink whenever and wherever he/she wants

The alcoholic will try to be on their own. This is so they can drink as much as they want and without anyone criticizing how much they are drinking.

It is also an opportunity for the alcoholic to be alone in their thoughts - a common trait of the alcoholic personality.

As time goes on the alcoholic dependent will drink earlier and earlier in the day.

The reason being that they need to in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms and to assuage the guilty feelings they have about drinking so much.

When questioned about their drinking, the alcoholic (or soon to be alcoholic) will become defensive.

This defensiveness may take the form of angry denial, avoidance of the topic or, in rare cases, physical violence.

Denial is a common symptom of alcoholism. Usually the sufferer will vehemently deny that he/she has a problem with alcohol. The startling thing is they really believe they don't, despite all evidence to the contrary.

Yes, you read right. The problem drinker will drink before they go out, tank up (for want of a better expression). They want to get a head start so that they don't guzzle their drinks when they get to the party, pub or wherever it is they are going.

They have to reach a plateau of 'drunkenness' so as to appear normal to those they are with.

The alcoholic will disappear for hours, days even on a drinking binge.

Searching for an everlasting high and not wanting to come down. Because they know what the repercussions will be. Feelings of remorse, guilt, self-loathing and all the other negative feelings that reside in the soul of a drink addict.

Personal hygiene might suffer or they might start not eating properly.

Hobbies, friends etc. may well start to become less important.

As alcohol takes a hold of them, the alcoholic becomes uninterested in everything around them. Drinking, and obtaining drink, become their sole aims.

There are many more signs that someone might have a drinking problem, If you are interested in learning more, then take a look at my site The Alcoholism Guide.

But, as I said above, it is important not to judge somebody's drinking too harshly.

Many have denied they have had a drink just to appease a relative, going on a bender is not that uncommon (whereas doing it regularly most definitely is),and looking messy one day because you had a hard night does not mean that alcohol has you in its vice-like grip.

So a word of caution, yes do be aware of the signs of alcoholism, but also be aware that we all have too much to drink on occasion. Jumping to conclusions is not healthy for anyone. Tread carefully.