Common Signs & Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

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There are many different sign and symptoms of alcohol abuse that can be noticeable. The first thing that many people get confused with is the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that causes harm to the person’s health, relationships and other personal life issues. When a person is suffering from alcoholism they have turned the pattern of drinking into an addiction. This is where they will start to crave alcohol and will not know their limits or when to stop drinking.

Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Typically when a person is abusing alcohol they will start to have problems in other areas of their lives. This may include problems at work or school because their alcohol problem has caused them to arrive late or not arrive at all. When a person is abusing alcohol they usually don’t think normal and will participate in more risky situations such as driving a car or operating heavy machinery while drinking. It is common for a person who has drank large amounts of alcohol to not remember what happened when they drank the night before. Health related problems are another issue because they may either start to occur or get worse as the drinking progresses. The most common health problem that is alcohol related is liver disease which is also known medically as cirrhosis.

Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse can cause a variety of symptoms to occur. Some of the symptoms may be more severe for some users than others. The most common symptoms include memory loss, irritability, depression, mood swings, needing alcohol to relax, headaches, nausea and flushed skin. Typically, when a person is abusing alcohol, they will want to keep it a secret. They will drink alone, early in the morning or hide the alcohol in other bottles and find more creative ways to hide their habit. When alcohol abuse turns into an addiction, they may drink more frequently and care less if their drinking is seen.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse In Children and Teens

The signs of alcohol abuse can vary depending on the age of the person. Alcohol abuse signs and symptoms can be quite different from a child or teen than to an adult. Typically, a child or teen will try alcohol to fit in with a group of friends or a certain group. After trying it for the first time they may actually like the feeling they get and this can cause them to repeat the usage. Another reason why a teen or a child would want to drink alcohol is because they want a feeling of freedom or to feel like an adult. Children and teens that come from a household with other drinkers are more likely to have an alcohol abuse problem in their life.

Signs that your child or teen may be abusing alcohol:

• Grades at school are getting worse

• Hanging out with a new crowd of friends

• Getting into legal problems or altercations at school

• Poor self-esteem

• Depression and emotional outburst

• Problems at home

Alcohol abuse can cause your teen more serious problems such as increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, car crashes, suicide, violence and drowning. There are some cases where a child or a teen will want to try other drugs while drinking alcohol. This can lead to more severe and dangerous situations and addiction problems.

Get Help

If you or a loved one are showing the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse, it is time to seek treatment. There are different types of treatment that are offered to help you overcome your problem and get you back to living clean and sober. Talk with a trained professional to find out what type of treatment will be best for you. We are here to help you, all you need to do is take the first step and call us. Call 800-481-6965 (Who Answers?) .