Recognising the red flags of alcohol addiction

When we are in the depths of something difficult, adequately reflecting can often be very hard. This means that sometimes, we do not see the extent of a problem ourselves until things have really started to spiral. This is very true for addiction. With alcohol addiction, our relationships with drinking deepen and become more complex over time. But this change is gradual; it does not happen overnight. So, how do we recognise when we need alcohol intervention? At what point should we think about how to stop drinking?

Alcohol addiction: What actually is it?

When we are thinking about addiction, it can be helpful to consider it as a type of disorder. Alcohol addiction is sometimes referred to as Alcohol Use Disorder or AUD. Thinking of alcoholism like this helps us in two ways:

1. It informs us of the signs and symptoms of addiction,
2. It helps acknowledge that addiction can be treated with appropriate alcohol addiction treatment

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) define alcohol addiction as:

‘a chronic relapsing disorder associated with compulsive alcohol drinking, the loss of control over intake, and the emergence of a negative emotional state when alcohol is no longer available.’

If we are thinking of alcohol addiction as a medical condition, then it follows that there would be a range of causes, symptoms and forms of alcohol to help manage it. There are a range of signs that can indicate the presence of an alcohol addiction. These could be subtle or blatant, short-term or chronic. Regardless of how they manifest, it is important to understand what alcohol addiction can look like in order to safeguard ourselves against the likelihood of it going undetected.

Researchers suggest that there are four types of drinkers:

1. Social drinkers
2. Conforming drinkers
3. Enhancement drinkers
4. Coping drinkers

Social drinking is linked to moderate levels of alcohol consumption and, therefore, low risk of addiction. Conforming drinkers may have alcohol during specific occasions to ‘fit in’ with those around them. Enhancement drinkers may use alcohol as a way of boosting confidence; this kind of drinking can be linked with risky alcohol use. The final style, coping drinkers, uses alcohol as a way to manage life. These are the individuals who could benefit from urgent alcohol rehab.

What drinking patterns can tell us about alcoholism

Some people drink daily. Some people may drink once a week or only on special occasions. Other people may choose not to drink at all. Like anything else, drinking patterns are different from person to person. The difference with addiction is that these patterns may not feel like a choice. When addiction develops, an agency with regard to alcohol feels lost. Instead of simply deciding when you would or would not like to drink, you may find yourself feeling as though you are restructuring your life around your drinking patterns.

Frequency of drinking

Moderate alcohol consumption (for all adults) is pitched at 14 units a week. This is equivalent to around 6 pints of beer or 10 small glasses of wine. In England, 5% of all females drink daily. In males, the number rises to 8%.

What is important to understand, though, is that not everyone who drinks daily has an addiction. Whilst it does carry risk, some people may drink each drink without signs of dependency.
Addiction is present when drinking feels necessary. If you feel that you can’t get through the day without the promise of a drink, then there is a likelihood that you would benefit from alcohol help. More frequent drinking is thought to be more risky than duration, with ‘higher consumption over a few years’ being linked to increased risk of specific cancers.

Binge drinking

Binge drinking is when you drink large amounts of alcohol in one sitting. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that for women, 4 or more drinks in 2-3 hours is classed as binge drinking. For men, this is 5 or more drinks in the same time period.
In 2018,

• 5% of men in England drink over 50 units a week
• 3% of women in England drank over 35 units a week

This would suggest engagement in binge drinking several times a week. If your alcohol consumption is aligned with (or precedes) these amounts, you are likely engaging in binge drinking, which can be a strong indicator of alcohol addiction.

Timing

Another key drinking pattern found in those with alcohol addictions is the consumption of alcohol at unexpected or ‘socially unacceptable’ times of the day, such as in the morning.

Wanting (and struggling) to quit

If you have found yourself wanting to reduce your consumption and have found that you are unable to, then this is a strong red flag of alcohol addiction. This is because in the absence of addiction, if we want to reduce our intake, then this is something that can generally be achieved.

This does not mean that those struggling with drinking have a lack of ‘willpower.’ One research team suggests that the defining factor of addiction is those who are ‘strong-willed but not successful’ in recovering from substance use independently. What it means is that a substance disorder may be present, and individuals may need professional help to learn how to stop using alcohol safely. This may lead to the need for appropriate forms of alcoholism treatment, such as alcohol detox treatment and specific therapies.

Losing control

Addiction can feel like you are freefalling; you’re aware that you are plummeting, but it feels as if there is no rope to grab onto to slow the descent. When this happens, we can feel as though our grip on our lives is too loose, and everything around us is starting to come apart.
This can be especially true for three specific areas:

1. Relationships
2. Work
3. Personal commitments

Relationships

Studies into the effects of addiction on relationships indicate increased levels of stress, conflict and even abuse in relationships where one spouse has a problem with substances. This can lead to estrangement, marital dissatisfaction, and in some cases, separation.

It is not only romantic relationships that are affected. One study concluded that ‘the feeling of loneliness is stronger in drug abusers rather than non-drug abusers,’ indicating that addiction can lead to profound social withdrawal. This can lead to people struggling with alcoholism having ‘no contact’ with friends and family members.

Work

Addiction can take up a lot of energy and time. That means that focus and motivation for other activities – such as work – can be reduced. This could lead to absences at work, calling in sick, being late, or low attainment in the workplace. This can lead to unemployment, which is risky, as data suggests that ‘unemployed people showed a significantly higher frequency in their use of alcohol than employed people.’

Personal commitments

As individuals, we have a range of commitments outside of our work and relationships. These can include:

• caring responsibilities
• financial commitments
• personal care
• house management

 

The chronic impact of addiction can also reduce our ability to engage with these tasks. This can lead to social withdrawal and feelings of guilt, which can catalyse an increased likelihood of drinking alone.

Physical effects of alcohol addiction

Addiction can be felt in the body as well as the mind. When we drink alcohol, it enters our bloodstream. That means that it can travel throughout our body through the ingestion and digestion processes and our cardiovascular systems. There are a range of ways that alcoholism can impact us physically, including:

• frequent hangovers
• headaches
• sickness
• stomach pains
• dry, sore, red of, bloodshot eyes
• reduced coordination
• lethargy
• difficulty sleeping
• changes in appetite
• skin sores
• bruises on the skin
• damage to the renal system (especially liver function)
• strain on the heart
• strong cravings
• risk of overdose
• increased risk of developing specific cancers

Emotional effects of alcohol addiction

Alcohol addiction’s impact on our mental health is palpable. Alcohol is a depressant, which means that when we drink any alcoholic drink, our central nervous system is impacted. As dependency develops during long-term use, the psychological effects of addiction can become more extreme.

This can include:

• worsening of symptoms associated with dual diagnosis (preexisting mental health conditions)
• developing of anxiety disorders
• developing of depression
• instances of paranoia
• disorientation and lack of focus
• cognitive impairment
• reduced memory
• feeling on edge, agitated or quick to anger
• feeling guilty or embarrassed

Building tolerance, developing withdrawals

The physical, social, psychological and personal effects of alcohol addiction are potent. Addiction can tangibly change your life – and not often for the better.
All of this can lead to great distress. When you are enduring this in the long term, it can lead to you seeking solace to subdue these negative feelings. Unfortunately, however, most individuals with an alcohol addiction will turn to drinking to do so. This then feeds the cycle of addiction, meaning the web of alcoholism begins to wind even tighter.

Treatment of alcoholism

This does not mean that there is not a way to break out of the bind of alcohol addiction. At UKAT, we offer a range of award-winning support at our alcohol detox centres. Committed to offering bespoke treatment, we provide both luxury and affordable alcohol rehab options to ensure the cost of rehab does not get in the way of you accessing treatment when you need it the most. If the red flags of addiction are present in your life, we are ready to help you take the steps you need towards recovery.