Alcoholism addiction is a condition wherein a person drinks too much alcohol on a daily basis until he becomes psychologically or physically addicted to it. It is a very dangerous addiction and can be hard to understand. Nearly 5% of the American population is addicted to alcohol. Alcoholism addiction destroys lives on a daily basis. It is not just a condition that affects the abuser, it affects family and friends, and even fellow co-workers acquaintances and the community at large.
Alcoholism and abuse of alcohol fall under two different categories. Alcohol abuse usually involves poor behaviors that a person who drinks partakes in. These behaviors can include driving while intoxicated and drinking large amounts of alcohol and performing other activities that may be dangerous for them or others in the community.
Alcohol abusers may not have the physical addiction to the alcohol but they will still exhibit bad behavior while drinking. A person who has alcoholism addiction will display all of these characteristics but also have a physical need for the alcohol to be able to function on a daily basis. Accepting that there is a true problem is hard for most of these people but the sooner they receive the help they need, the better off they will be.
Signs of Alcoholism Addiction
In our society, there are more and more people suffering from alcoholism addiction and many families have suffered from the affects. Alcoholism addiction can be debilitating and there are certain signs that you can look for to know if your loved one has fallen victim to the addiction. These signs include the following:
* Need - The alcoholic does literally need to drink to function.
* Tolerance - Alcohol needs to be consumed in higher doses for the alcoholic to be able to feel its affects.
* Dependence - To avoid withdrawal symptoms the alcoholic must drink. Signs of withdrawal include nausea, shaking, sweating, and anxiety.
The brain of a person suffering from alcoholic addiction undergoes certain chemical changes that will not allow that person to quit drinking on his own. The required vitamins and minerals become depleted and the ability to make decisions or even feel empathy for others becomes greatly diminished. Eventually the brain may become affected and cognitive function can be lost.
There are many body functions that become diminished and the person who has a strong alcoholism addiction may even lose all function and coma is a reality for some of these people. Seeking help is the only way to avoid the worse case scenario.
alcoholism