Article at a Glance:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Screening tests are available to help you assess your drinking habits and relationship with alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two types of excessive drinking: heavy drinking and binge drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are various types of alcoholics, and not everyone with an alcohol problem fits a stereotype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Symptoms of alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal may take a few hours or days to show and get worse over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treatment programs and online alcohol rehab<\/a> are available if you are facing an alcohol problem.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n These three screening tests are confidential and available for free to help you better understand your drinking habits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This test is an extremely short self-assessment. In spite of only being 4 questions long, it\u2019s been shown to identify\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are multiple variations available. Ours consists of 22 yes\/no questions that you can complete in a few minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This assessment was created by the World Health Organization and consists of 10 multiple-choice questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An alcoholic is known as someone who drinks alcohol beyond his or her ability to control it and is unable to stop consuming alcohol voluntarily. Most often this is coupled with being habitually intoxicated, daily drinking, and drinking larger quantities of alcohol than most. In general, an alcoholic<\/a> is someone who suffers from alcoholism<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcoholics Anonymous defines<\/a> this as \u201ca physical compulsion, coupled with a mental obsession to consume alcohol,\u201d<\/em><\/strong>in which cravings for alcohol are always catered to, even at times when they should not be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A clear cause of alcoholism has not yet been identified. Alcohol use disorder<\/a> has been identified as something that happens when a person drinks so much or so often that it changes the chemical makeup of their brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcoholism is classified as an addiction and with that, there is no single cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When consuming alcohol, dopamine levels are raised just as high as they would with other drugs. The brain categorizes this activity in the same way that a gratifying reward would be.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Over time, this is something people begin to crave and, therefore, depending on many factors, such as genes, environmental factors, psychological factors or stress levels, a person can be more susceptible to becoming an alcoholic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s start with casual drinking. Unless you have religious or personal restrictions, a few drinks with friends or a glass of wine with dinner is usually not an issue. The problem starts, though, when you begin abusing the substance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people use the terms \u201calcohol abuse\u201d and \u201calcoholism\u201d interchangeably. However, alcoholism refers to alcohol addiction or dependence, where the individual has a physical or psychological compulsion to drink alcohol. Alcohol abuse refers to a pattern of behavior where a person drinks excessively in spite of the negative consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related Topic: <\/strong>What happens when you drink alcohol everyday<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcohol misuse can impact every aspect of your life in ways you may not expect. After surveying over one thousand people who had chosen to stop using alcohol, a 2021 poll by The Recovery Village<\/a> found physical health (61%), mental health (52%) and relationships (47%) to be the most common negative impacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drinking also impacted people\u2019s careers, parental abilities, finances, hygiene, and legal status. When asked to rank these impacts, it didn\u2019t matter if you drank heavily or not, or tried to stop using alcohol or not: physical health, mental health and relationships still took the biggest hit in respondents\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among more than two thousand respondents reporting health complications directly related to their alcohol use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what is excessive drinking? There are two types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following are ten warning signs of alcoholism that might help you answer the question, \u201cAm I an alcoholic?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re the loved one of someone struggling with alcohol addiction, or you yourself are struggling, it\u2019s important to be aware of these signs and to know that you\u2019re not alone. Thousands of people from all walks of life battle alcoholism every day, and thousands make the decision to seek help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When most people imagine an alcoholic, they picture a stereotype that seems nothing like themselves. In reality, there are different types of people who are addicted to alcohol. Individuals struggling with alcohol addiction come from all backgrounds and all age groups. Do you recognize yourself in any of these?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Young Adult Subtype<\/strong><\/p>\n Individuals in the young adult subtype make up 31% of people addicted to alcohol in the U.S.<\/a> They drink less frequently than the other subtypes, but when they do drink, they\u2019re likely to overdo it and binge. They typically come from families with low rates of alcoholism.<\/p>\n Young Antisocial Subtype<\/strong><\/p>\n Roughly 54% of this subtype have a psychiatric diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), a condition that\u2019s characterized by at least three of the following:<\/p>\n Many of this type also have other substance addictions<\/a>, anxiety problems, bipolar disorder and major depression.<\/p>\n Functional Subtype<\/strong><\/p>\n The high-functioning alcoholic<\/a> is perhaps the furthest from the alcoholic stereotype, leading many to be in denial about their addiction. They\u2019re often successful, with families and stable jobs. About 62% of functional alcoholics work full time, and 26% possess a college degree or higher. This subtype makes up 19.5% of people addicted to alcohol in the U.S.<\/a><\/p>\n Intermediate Familial Subtype<\/strong><\/p>\n Individuals in the intermediate familial subtype are, on average, age 38 and are usually employed. About 50% of these individuals are from families with multigenerational alcoholism, and almost all have experienced clinical depression.<\/p>\n Chronic Severe Subtype<\/strong><\/p>\n This is the rarest subtype, making up only 9% of people addicted to alcohol in the United States. Most individuals in this subtype are middle-aged and started drinking early. Of the five subtypes, they rate highest for other psychiatric disorders and abuse of other substances. Roughly 80% are from families that struggle with multigenerational alcoholism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n Alcoholism is the physical or mental dependence on alcohol. If you find yourself regularly thinking about your next drink, or if you\u2019ve tried to cut back on drinking and never quite succeeded, you may have an alcohol addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcoholism begins with dependence. Alcohol is a drug, and as you drink more, the body adjusts to its effects and learns to compensate. Eventually, as dependence develops, stopping alcohol can lead to withdrawal symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It may take a few hours or days for these symptoms to show, and they may get worse in the days following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some cases, the individual may experience delirium tremens<\/a> \u2014 the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal. This can cause agitation, fever, hallucinations, confusion and seizures. For this reason, people who drink heavily and are looking to end their addiction should seek medical assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcoholism is a disease<\/a> that can affect both children and adults, but it doesn\u2019t affect everyone the same way. For some people, just one drink can result in intoxication, while for others, many more drinks are necessary to create the same effect. A \u201cdrink\u201d is classified as 12 oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine or 1.5 oz. of distilled spirits, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). In terms of the effects on the body and brain, excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of various health issues for any user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the harm associated with alcohol consumption, the effects are reversible most of the time. Identifying problematic drinking early and getting into treatment can reverse many of the mental, emotional and physical side effects of heavy drinking. However, at a certain point, the damage is too severe. For example, liver failure and cirrhosis are complications of heavy drinking that are permanent. Permanent health damage should not deter a person from seeking treatment since SUD treatment can still improve a person\u2019s quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Discovering you aren\u2019t just a casual drinker and are facing an alcohol problem can be shocking. But we\u2019re here for you. Get the facts about\u00a0alcohol addiction here<\/a>. And when you\u2019re ready, learn about alcohol detox<\/a> or other\u00a0treatment programs<\/a>\u00a0or get started with\u00a0online rehab<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n Outpatient addiction treatment at The Recovery Village can help you gain independence in recovery, build trust and develop new skills\u2026 Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Inpatient rehab treatment is an intensive addiction treatment program that combines psychiatric and medical treatment in a live-in facility. Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Our online services allow us to match you with a licensed professional who will meet with you regularly and guide\u2026 Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\nAm I An Alcoholic Quiz<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
CAGE Alcohol Assessment Quiz<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat Is An Alcoholic?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Causes Alcoholism?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s the Difference Between Casual Drinking and Alcohol Abuse?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNegative Impact of Alcohol Abuse (2021 Poll Data)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
10 Warning Signs You\u2019re an Alcoholic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When the Stereotype Doesn\u2019t Fit: Types of Alcoholics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Signs of Alcoholism & Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Are the Effects of Alcoholism Reversible?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Getting Help For Alcoholism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Outpatient Rehab<\/h3>\n
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\nInpatient Rehab<\/h3>\n
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\nOnline Rehab<\/h3>\n
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