How to Recognize When a Loved One Has Alcoholism

Alcohol detox center

Alcoholism is a serious, chronic, potentially life-threatening disease. If continued, alcohol abuse can lead to such awful conditions as anemia, cardiovascular disease, cancer, cirrhosis, depression, seizures, gout, dementia, high blood pressure, nerve damage, and pancreatitis, which is why family practice doctors advise families to check alcoholics into alcohol detox centers as soon as possible.

Of course, that’s easier said than done. Many alcoholics and their families have trouble even recognizing that there is a problem, let alone admitting it’s severe. If you suspect that a family member may have a problem and may need the help of an alcohol detox center, then check to see if there are any of the following warning signs.

They’re Abusing Alcohol.

Alcohol detox centers consider the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physiological disability to be an abuse. If the person isn’t meeting responsibilities because of alcohol, using alcohol when there’s serious risk involved like driving drunk, getting into legal trouble because of alcohol, or insisting on using alcohol despite personal or social difficulties, then unfortunately they’re abusing alcohol.

They’ve Become Dependent on Alcohol.

Alcohol abuse can quickly lead to dependency, which alcohol detox centers define as the habitual use of alcohol leading to a psychological/physical impairment. Dependency often manifests when three or more of the following are demonstrated in one year’s time:

  • Needing to drink more to meet the needs of a craving.
  • Feeling withdrawal symptoms after a period of sobriety.
  • Drinking or using another substance to avoid feeling withdrawal effects.
  • Drinking for longer periods and/or more frequently.
  • Not being able to reduce the amount and the frequency at which one is drinking.
  • Shirking responsibilities because of being too drunk or hungover.
  • Continuing to drink despite the knowledge that it’s affecting them physically and psychologically.

Their Problem Has Become Severe.

Alcohol detox centers say that the more problems a person has in their life as a result of drinking, the more severe the alcoholism is. Be on the lookout for such symptoms as memory loss, depression, mood swings, irritability, increasing use of alcohols, unwellness when sober, flushed skin, trembling hands, and drinking alone.

Deciding that a loved one needs to go to an alcohol detox center is never easy. If you have any questions about alcohol detox centers, feel free to ask in the comments. Visit here for more information.

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