Category: Alcoholism

Did you know that around 6.2 percent of the population has an alcohol disorder? Many ask themselves in the course of drinking, ‘Am I an Alcoholic?’

We’ve written this article as a helpful resource, and we feel its especially needed, since of those people who have a drinking problem, only 6.7 percent have sought treatment or help for their disorder in the past year!

While there are a variety of reasons why so few people seek treatment, one of the most common reasons is that some people don’t fully realize that they have a problem.

The statement “I’m an alcoholic” can be difficult to muster. But once you do, you’ll have taken your first important step on your road to recovery.

But, how exactly do you know if you’re an alcoholic or if you’ve just been partying a little too hard lately?

Check out this guide to learn the top signs that you’re drinking more than you should be.

What is Alcoholism?

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about alcoholism, so let’s start by discussing what exactly the disorder is.

If you suffer from alcoholism, then you suffer from the most serious form of a drinking problem. Those who are alcoholics put drinking above all other obligations, including family, work, and relationships.

In some cases, alcoholics build up a strong physical tolerance, which makes it very hard for them to withdraw from the substance without some adverse effects.

It’s also important to note that alcoholism is different from harmful drinking. While harmful drinking can be detrimental to your health, it’s usually an occasional pattern that doesn’t overtake your entire life.

However, harmful drinking can develop into alcoholism, so it’s still important to be aware.

Warning Signs of Alcoholism

Now that you have an idea of what alcoholism is, let’s take a look at some of the top warning signs that you’re drinking too much.

1. You Drink More Than Planned

Have you noticed lately that when you go out for a drink with friends, it always turns into 5 or more? Or, maybe when you pour yourself a glass of wine at home, you always end up drinking the whole bottle and then some?

While overdrinking happens to all of us from time to time, you need to watch yourself if it’s become a regular pattern for you. Typically, this is an early sign of alcoholism.

2. You Spend A Lot of Time Drinking

When we say a lot of time, we’re not talking about how long you spend nursing a glass of wine.

Instead, we’re talking about how much time drinking takes up your schedule. If you add up the amount of time you spend getting the alcohol, drinking, and recovering from your hangover, you may find that alcohol is eating up a good chunk of your schedule.

For the next few weeks, keep track of how much time drinking eats up in your daily schedule.

3. Your Tolerance Has Increased

If you notice that it takes more and more alcohol to get a buzz going, then there may be a problem.

Unless you see significant changes to your health or weight, your tolerance should remain at about the same level.

If you notice your tolerance has gone up, that’s a sign that your brain has adapted to the alcohol over time and become less sensitive to its effects.

4. You Crave Alcohol

We’ve all dealt with cravings before, but craving alcohol is a whole nother issue.

You may find that there are times you want a drink so badly that you can’t think about anything else.

This urge may be triggered by your environment, certain people, or your emotional state.

If you have a drinking problem, your brain will react differently to these triggers than someone who drinks socially. Basically, your brain will make you believe that you can’t practically go on without a drink in your hand.

5. You’ve Given Up Other Activities

Have you slowly been giving up all of your other hobbies so that you have more time for drinking?

Take some time to think about how you use your free time now as opposed to who you used to use it. Has your drinking edged these activities out of your schedule? Or has your hangover prevented you from doing them?

If so, you may have a problem.

6. You Keep Dropping the Ball

We’ve all had times where we’ve missed a deadline, forgotten about a social commitment, or didn’t give our all at work.

However, if screwing up like this has become a pattern and your drinking has caused you to flake on other responsibilities, then there may be a problem.

7. Relationship Issues

Do you find yourself at a constant tug of war between your loved ones and alcohol?

Has your drinking led to trouble with family and friends? Do you keep drinking despite these troubles?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these, then that’s a definite sign that you’ve been drinking too much.

While having relationship issues doesn’t make you a bad person, it does make getting help all the more urgent. The last thing you want is to do irreparable damage to your relationships because of alcohol.

8. You’ve Experienced Withdrawal

Alcohol alters your brain chemistry. This means that when you drink heavily for a long period of time, your brain starts to adapt to this state of being.

When you suddenly stop drinking, your brain has to readjust, which in turn causes symptoms of withdrawal.

Here are some of the top withdrawal symptoms to watch out for:

• Nausea
• Anxiety
• Sweating
• Restlessness
• Shakiness
• Trouble sleeping
• High blood pressure
• Seizures
• Disorientation
• Visual hallucinations
• High fevers
• Vomiting

While the symptoms of withdrawal typically improve within 5 days, some people experience prolonged symptoms.

It’s also important to note that if you’ve been drinking heavily for a while, withdrawing from alcohol on your own can be quite dangerous. This is why it’s a good idea to withdraw under the supervision of medical professionals.

9. You’ve Endangered Your Life

When you’re impaired, your brain doesn’t grasp short-term or long-term consequences as well as it does when you’re sober.

This can often lead to poor decisions and putting yourself in risky situations. If you’ve ever driven, fought, swam, or had unsafe sex while under the influence of alcohol, then you may be heading towards dangerous territory.

10. You’re Experiencing Health Problems

When we say health problems, we’re not just talking about a nasty hangover following the day of drinking.

Alcohol can cause major damage to your body. In fact, it can harm your liver, pancreas, heart, brain, and immune systems. It can also cause you to gain weight and increase your risk of getting certain types of cancers.

11. You’ve Found Yourself in Legal Trouble

Have you had run-ins with the law or been arrested while you were intoxicated?

If so, then your alcohol problem may be getting quite serious.

Legal trouble is usually a sign that drinking has become your number one priority, and that you’re fine sacrificing your career and other important responsibilities for alcohol.

12. You Want to Stop But Feel Like You Can’t

If you want to stop drinking but you feel like you can’t, then that’s a red flag.

Oftentimes, people with alcohol disorders actually try to cut down, but find themselves falling right back into their old habits as soon as they have a bad day or are triggered in some sort of way.

If you find that you keep coming back to alcohol no matter how hard you try to avoid it, it’s time to seek help.

What to Do Next

If any of these situations seem familiar to you, then it’s time to seek help.

While seeking help and admitting you have a problem can be very difficult, doing so can save your life.

Talk to a trusted family member or friend, counselor, or medical professional. There are tons of resources out there for those with drinking problems, and getting your life back on track is just one conversation away.

Plus, there are all sorts of ways to make quitting alcohol work with your lifestyle. You could go to counseling, attend meetings, or attend an outpatient or inpatient program.

If you believe that your drinking problem has become quite serious, then attending a treatment program is usually your best bet at getting sober.

With a treatment program, you’ll be surrounded by medical professionals whose goal it is to help you get sober. Medical professionals can also help ensure a safe detox and that you have a supportive environment once you finish up with your treatment.

I’m an Alcoholic: Are You Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you find yourself saying “I’m an alcoholic” after reading this article, then today is the day to seek help. 

If you think entering a treatment program is the right choice for you, then get in contact with us today. We can help get you start your journey on the road to sobriety. 

You don’t have to be an alcoholic to experience the harsh effects alcohol has on your body. While short-term effects include intoxication and dehydration, the longer term effects are much more harmful, especially to your liver. To avoid the worst effects, we provide answers to, ‘How Does Alcohol Affect the Liver?’ 

Of all the alcohol you consume, 90-98 percent is broken down directly by your liver. This creates a lot of extra work for your liver, taking it away from other jobs it could be performing. You might be thinking, “how does alcohol affect the liver if I only have a drink here or there?”.

What Is the Role of Your Liver?

Alcohol is the causes of 4 out of 5 deaths from liver disease. And once you begin consuming alcohol, the damage begins. The effects won’t be seen immediately as the liver is amazingly resilient and can repair itself.

Your liver is one of the most vital organs in your body. It is the largest organ of the body with over 500 functions, including helping rid the body of toxins and other harmful substances while also storing vitamins, iron, and glucose. Not only this, but it helps filter waste and regulates blood clotting.

When you consume alcohol, it’s as if a foreign toxin has been introduced to your body. Alcohol produces acetaldehyde, which damages the cells in your liver and causes liver scarring.

If you’ve ever had a hangover, you’ll know how dehydrated you feel the day after a long night of drinking. This is because alcohol dehydrates your body. This is particularly detrimental because water is essential to the function of your liver.

Alcoholic Hepatitis – Inflammation of the Liver

Alcoholic hepatitis is also known as the inflammation of the liver. Once diagnosed, you should stop drinking alcohol immediately. If you continue to drink, it can lead to permanent liver damage or even death.

You might be thinking that this type of illness only occurs in those who drink heavily over long periods of time. While that does play a role in acute alcoholic hepatitis, there isn’t a direct correlation between alcohol consumption and this disease. Even if you’re only a social drinker you can still develop alcoholic hepatitis.

When your body starts to tell you something’s wrong, it’s important to listen to your symptoms and respond accordingly. You might notice a yellowing of your skin and eyes, caused by jaundice. This is the most common sign of alcoholic hepatitis.

Other things you might notice is a loss of appetite. Anytime you consume a large amount of alcohol, you won’t feel hungry. So instead of eating your calories, you’ll be consuming them in the form of alcohol. You might also notice you’re more tired than usual, have a low-grade fever, or experience an upset stomach.

Fatty Liver – Steatosis

Fatty liver disease, or steatosis, means exactly what it sounds like, you have extra fat in your liver. This is one of the earliest stages of alcoholic liver disease.

This disease will rear its head in 90 percent of people who consume anywhere between one and a half to two ounces of alcohol each day. While this disease is brought on by drinking heavily, it can also occur with long-term drinking and can range in severity from patient to patient.

The difficulty with fatty liver disease is that the symptoms are usually understated. Sometimes you’ll simply feel more tired than normal, have some abdominal pain, or experience sudden weight loss. In order to determine if you have this condition, you’ll need to be diagnosed using a blood test at your doctor’s office.

Although fatty liver disease is brought on by constant drinking and consuming more than your liver can process, the effects can be reversed in 4-6 weeks by stopping alcohol consumption as soon as you’re diagnosed.

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is the final stage of long term liver disease. This can be brought on by a number of things, one of those including alcohol abuse. This means there is a loss of liver cells resulting in liver scarring which leads to poor liver function.

Depending on the state of your liver, you may experience a range of symptoms, including nausea, fatigue, yellowing of the eyes and skin, as well as fluid buildup in the legs. On the other hand, you may experience no symptoms at all.

Once diagnosed by your doctor, know that there are no known cures for cirrhosis at this time. Eventually, this disease could lead to liver failure even if you decide to give up alcohol altogether.

Reducing Your Risk of Liver Disease

In the United States, long term heavy alcohol consumption is the most common cause of illness and death when considering a liver disease. Since your liver is the sole organ that processes liquor, it is more inclined to experience the greatest effects of alcohol.

Cut out Alcohol

One of the best ways to make sure your body is in the best shape possible is to stop drinking alcohol altogether, especially if you find yourself drinking multiple glasses daily. Although this won’t reverse all the effects alcohol has had on your liver, it will help make the liver healthy again.

Live a Healthy Lifestyle

Whether it means signing up for that gym membership you’ve been putting off or throwing out that carton of cigarettes, now is the time to make a healthy change. Only second to alcohol consumption, obesity is the leading cause of liver disease. It’s also been found that a workout helps to reduce the urge to drink!

Along these same lines, start to be more mindful with what you put into your body. Eating out and drinking a soda every now and then isn’t detrimental to your body, but it’s important to know your limits. Also be sure to incorporate fruits, vegetables, and water into your daily diet.

It might not totally reverse the negative effects drinking has had on your liver, but living a healthy lifestyle is a step in the right direction.

Protect Your Body

Pay close attention to other things your body is coming in contact with. If you find that you’re around aerosol sprays or other types of chemicals on a frequent basis, come prepared with the right protection. Wearing a mask when working with these can help be a barrier between your body and a harmful substance.

Protecting your body comes in many forms, not just the things you physically come in contact with, but the things you ingest as well. For instance, many medications have harmful effects when not taken at the proper dosage. If you take too much, your liver will have to work overtime to process it, which makes it harmful and toxic to your body.

How Does Alcohol Affect the Liver Break down Process?

Your liver is key in processing any alcohol that enters your body. Through a process called oxidation, your liver takes the alcohol and removes it from the bloodstream. Keep in mind, when you drink, you’re giving your body more work to do which takes it away from its main job, filtering your blood.

Throughout this process, the alcohol will move from a toxin into water and carbon dioxide. In the grand scheme of things, it takes about 1 hour for your liver to break down 1 ounce of alcohol.

When you consume too much alcohol, your liver will have a difficult time breaking it all down. This means the toxins from the alcohol will remain in your system, having potentially deadly effects.

Your Health Is at Stake

If this isn’t evidence of how alcohol affects the liver, consider how it affects your wallet. The average American spends 1 percent of their annual income on alcohol, equating to about $565 each year. So not only are you doing damage to your body, you’re damaging your savings as well.Next time you order a cold beer, consider the vital role your liver plays in your overall health. Not convinced? Read more about the link between alcohol and anxiety.

Alcohol abuse is known to come with a number of health and legal costs. One factor that many people tend to overlook, however, are the financial costs of drinking alcohol. Unfortunately, many people fail to realize just how much money they spend on their drinking habits each year.

Because it can be quite simple to acquire alcohol, such as when ordering a glass of wine with dinner or having a beer while at the bar, these costs can be overlooked. In time, however, these can add, leaving many people hundreds or even thousands of dollars shorter per year.

In light of America’s growing drinking population, it has become more important – and more complicated – than ever to track consumer spending habits. Particularly when both the material and physical cost of excessive drinking rates is becoming increasingly problematic.

WHAT IS THE NORMAL ANNUAL COST OF ALCOHOL?

The amount of money spent on alcohol per year can differ based on a person’s specific drinking habits, especially when taking into account the varying costs of different drinks and brands. Some people also drink more than others, making it even harder to pin down specific figures.

One way for you to find out your own personal costs is to keep track of your spending by either writing down your alcohol purchases as you make them or by totaling everything up at the end of the month.

If you purchase alcohol along with other items, like groceries, you may want to keep track as you go, unless you want to spend time looking through receipts each month to try to tabulate your costs.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO DRINK ALCOHOL?

Another way to track your alcohol spending is to consider the cost of your drink of choice. The cost of certain alcoholic beverages ranges from low to high in various cases, which can play a significant role in calculating average consumer spending.

THE COSTS OF DIFFERENT ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

For some people, a six-pack of beer might run around $5, but for others, a six-pack of craft beer might cost upwards of $10. Wine can also vary greatly in price, with some bottles costing under $10, and others as much as hundreds of dollars.

Likewise, liquor from a store brand can cost a few dollars, but notable brands can charge much more. The size and packaging quality of a bottle, as well as the vendor from which it is purchased can also be a factor in determining the price of liquor, or any other form of alcohol.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE ALCOHOL SPENDING FOR AMERICANS PER YEAR?

In conjunction with the The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an economic analysis provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans spent an estimated $249 billion funding dangerous drinking habits within the year of 2010.

This average spending, while having recently decreased publicly, has since climbed slightly within the private sphere. Higher consumer spending within the home environment in recent years has been primarily attributed to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These findings further report that, on average, American adults drink alcohol at rates that equate to approximately one percent of their annual gross income compared to other grocery and household purchases.

This works out to around $565 per year. Over the span of their adult lives, these people can end up spending on alcohol over tens of thousands of dollars. With this BLS data, it is also important to consider one’s specific location when it comes to alcohol spending.

HOW DO THE COSTS OF ALCOHOL VARY BY CITY?

Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics cost-of-living data per city and county health rankings, how much Americans spent on alcohol within the last few years can vary significantly based on where in the U.S. someone is located.

A vast majority of major cities in America may have a higher-than average price when it comes to the cost of drinking. These areas may increase both the price of an alcoholic beverage as well as their provisionary services, costing far more than it would to drink in more rural cities.

Cities spending more on alcohol per year include San Diego, San Francisco, Boston, Baltimore, and many other cities located in a more metro area featuring a high cost-of-living. Overall alcohol spending is far higher than it should be, regardless of where in the U.S. you live.

HOW MUCH DOES AN ALCOHOLIC SPEND PER YEAR ON ALCOHOL?

Although the reviewed cost of how much Americans spent on alcohol annually has thus far typically totaled to around several hundred dollars on drinking per year, someone who struggles with alcohol abuse may struggle far more.

Someone with an alcohol addiction will generally depend on alcohol as a mood enhancement, or to stave off withdrawals. This means that they may need a constant supply of alcohol in order to function, leading to greatly increased costs.

As their condition worsens, addicted people spend around several thousand dollars per year on alcohol, even when drinking what would be considered inexpensive brands. Spending on alcohol varies based on the volume purchased.

When it comes to alcohol addiction, these people spend far more money funding their habits than the average American might. These additional costs can be crippling, characterized by a year over year increase in spending on little other than a continuous alcohol supply.

RECOVERING FROM THE COSTS OF ALCOHOL ADDICTION AT PATHFINDERS RECOVERY CENTER

Because alcoholism is a progressive disease, intervention may be required to end the cycle of alcohol abuse. For those struggling with alcohol or drug problems, Best Rehabs In Arizona offers a variety of recovery solutions, including 12-step programs, to assist in your treatment.

To learn more about how you can live your best life and be free from struggles with addiction, click here now. You can also call 877-651-3366 to speak with a substance abuse treatment professional about detox and recovery solutions designed to address your unique needs.