Test Your Knowledge

There are many signs and symptoms associated with alcoholism. These may include:

• Compulsion. Feeling a strong need to drink.
  
  
• Blackouts. Periods of time after drinking that cannot be remembered.
  
  
• Tolerance. Requiring increasingly larger amounts of alcohol to experience the same effect.
  
  
• Physical withdrawal symptoms. These may include nausea as well as shaking, sweating, confusion and hallucinations (delirium tremens) while not drinking. Delirium tremens (also known as “the DTs”) is the most serious symptom of acute alcohol withdrawal.
  
  
• Legal, relationship, financial problems.
  
  
• Anhedonia. Loss of interest in once pleasurable activities.
  
  
• Unusual drinking habits. These may include drinking alone or in secret, gulping drinks or making a ritual of having drinks before, during and after dinner.
  
  
• Irritability. Feeling irritable when drinking patterns are disrupted.

Research also suggests that people with alcoholism may have difficulty interpreting the emotions of others.

Many people who abuse alcohol experience many of the same symptoms as those who have alcoholism. However, a main difference is that people who abuse alcohol do not experience compulsion to drink or physical withdrawal symptoms when they do not drink.

Although it tends to take years for adults to develop alcoholism, young teenagers can become addicted to alcohol more quickly. Some signs and symptoms of problems with alcohol in teenagers include:

• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies
• Bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, scent of alcohol on breath or memory loss
• Difficulties in relationships or changes in friendships
• Declining school attendance, performance or other problems at school
• Mood swings and defensive behavior

Many people with alcoholism also experience denial (the refusal to recognize truth or reality). This results in failure to recognize a problem with alcohol, even though signs and symptoms are present. Many people with alcoholism seek help only at the insistence of friends, family members, coworkers or others.

People are encouraged to consult a physician about alcohol use if they:

• Feel that drinking is a problem
• Feel guilty about drinking
• Cannot control drinking
• Drink shortly after waking up
• Need increasing amounts of alcohol before feeling its effects