For people who may not know much about alcoholism, there is a lot to learn. Even I am learning more and more as I do more research. I’d like to first start with the warning signs. This list comes from alcorehab.org. I have done a good deal of research, and this website is a fantastic source if you want to know more.
WARNING SIGNS:
- Having regular blackouts
- Not being able to stop drinking due to alcohol relapse triggers such as:(events, people, places, social interactions that make a recovering addict feel the need to drink and take one)
- Developing alcohol tolerance and increasing the dose regularly
- Careless about responsibilities and duties
- Having a drink under a high amount of stress
- Making alcohol central element in life
- Not recognizing drinking has become a problem
- Telling lies about one’s drinking habits
- Drinking too much in a short period of time (binge drinking)
- Drinking in a potentially dangerous circumstance
- Losing interests in hobbies
- Weak performance at school or work
- Developing serious withdrawal symptoms if one stops drinking
Not everyone will have all of these warning signs, and for me, I could think of more warning signs that aren’t listed. And if you’ve been affected by alcoholism, I’m sure you could think of a few more too. Every addict and story are different.
PHYSICAL SIGNS:
- Excessive weight loss OR gain as a result of drinking too much
- Dry Skin
- Premature signs of aging
- Alcohol breath
- Flushed skin, particularly in the face
- Forgetting to bathe or clean regularly
- Jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eye whites
- Developing bruises and injuries as a result of alcohol abuse
- Damaged capillaries in facial skin (blood vessels)
- Fragile hair and nails
Some of the physical signs can also be signs of many other things. I do think it is good to know both the warning signs and physical, though.
If you believe you or someone you love is dealing with alcoholism, it’s never easy, but there are a lot of people you can talk with. Call and speak to your doctor and see if they know any reputable local rehabs or groups. There are helplines, and sites like alcorehab.org give you helpful ways on how to make the next step.
Again every person is different. So one thing may work for one person, but not work for another. It’s a journey, just know you DON’T have to do it alone.
There is also a lot of support you can get for yourself, as a family member or loved one of an alcoholic. That will be another thing I would like to talk about, ways to find coping skills for yourself.
I hope this has helped some of you. We don’t always know what to look for, and It’s good to be aware. It’s good to know some of these warning signs.
I know this post was less personal than my others, but not only do I want to tell my story, I want to help others be informed as well. It’s important to me to help spread awareness, and part of that is supporting others in knowing what to look for and how to deal with it. I plan on sharing more in the future about what I have learned from research I’ve done from not only alcorehab.org but a few other places as well.
As always I’d love to hear from you guys. Ask questions. Together we are stronger.