Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Common Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Before you can encourage someone to seek treatment for alcohol abuse, you first have to identify whether or not there truly is a problem. Knowing the common signs of alcohol dependency can help you objectively assess the situation to decide whether or not treatment is necessary. Here are a few of the most common signs of alcohol abuse.

Neglecting Responsibilities

One of the first signs that someone may be struggling with an alcohol problem is if they start neglecting their everyday responsibilities. This could be something as simple as failing to call and check in when they said they would, or as complex as regularly missing work or failing to properly care for their children. Any changes in how a person handles their responsibilities could indicate that alcohol is gaining a foothold in their life.

Feeling Sick

Drinking is hard on a person's body. Someone who is abusing alcohol may wake up feeling hung over, sore or achy. They may find that their hands shake or that they feel unsteady or uncertain when they are sober. You may hear them complain more often about feeling run down, frequent headaches or other physical symptoms that are caused by drinking.

Avoiding Friends and Family

Someone who is struggling with alcohol usually avoids friends and family members. There is a great deal of shame and guilt associated with drinking. These feelings tend to come to the surface when someone with a drinking problem spends time with people they care about. Additionally, well-meaning friends or family members may want to talk about their drinking problem, which can make them feel threatened.

Knowing some of the key signs of alcohol abuse can help you spot a problem before it is too late. If you are worried that someone's drinking has gotten out of control, look for common signs like neglecting their responsibilities, frequently feeling sick or avoiding spending time with the people they are closest to.

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