No matter how hopeless alcohol use disorder may seem, treatment can help. If you think you might have a problem with alcohol, call SAMHSA or talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you cope, make a treatment plan, prescribe medications and refer you to support programs. Unwashed hair, body odour and stained clothing are some of the more noticeable signs of alcoholism. A person struggling with an alcohol addiction may experience sudden and noticeable weight fluctuations. While not everyone who drinks is addicted to alcohol, it is a highly addictive substance that can cause a physical or psychological dependency over a period of time.
AUD is a massive problem in modern society, with millions of patients diagnosed yearly. At this stage, drinking becomes everything in your life, even at the expense of your livelihood, your health and your relationships. Attempts to stop drinking can result in tremors or hallucinations, but therapy, detox, and rehab can help you get your life back. If someone you know meets at least two of the following criteria, they may have an alcohol use disorder and need help.
Do I Have an Alcohol Problem?
Cirrhosis of the liverOur liver filters out harmful substances, cleans our blood, stores energy and aids in digestion. Too much alcohol can be toxic to liver cells, causing dehydration and https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/10-major-physical-signs-of-alcoholism-to-watch-out-for/ permanent scarring—which ultimately affects the blood flow. With excessive alcohol consumption, this important organ can’t metabolize Vitamin D, which could develop into a deficiency.
For example, any alcohol consumption by a pregnant person can be considered alcohol misuse, as well as drinking under the legal age of 21. Drinking alcohol too much or too often, or being unable to control alcohol consumption, can be a sign of alcohol misuse and, in some cases, alcohol use disorder (AUD). Other early signs of alcoholism include blackout drinking or a drastic change in demeanor while drinking, such as consistently becoming angry or violent. Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition involving frequent or heavy alcohol use.
Easy access to alcohol
People with alcohol use disorder can’t stop drinking, even when it causes problems, emotional distress or physical harm to themselves or others. Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital https://ecosoberhouse.com/ centers of your brain. A heavy drinking binge may even cause a life-threatening coma or death. This is of particular concern when you’re taking certain medications that also depress the brain’s function.
- Cirrhosis is when normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, which causes the liver to lose its ability to function well.
- Alternatively, the individual may replace food with alcohol and instead lose weight, often appearing gaunt and undernourished.
- Severe abdominal pain and persistent diarrhea, as a result, is not fixable.
- Because alcoholism rewires the brain and affects a person’s mood, thinking and behaviors, it’s classified as a mental illness.
- In darker-skinned people, it may be more noticeable in the whites of the eye.
- If you think you or a loved one may have alcohol use disorder, knowing the symptoms and behaviors of this condition can help you know if you may need to consider reaching out for help.