Signs of Alcohol Abuse

By Ashley Neglia

If you are constantly battling a hangover at work or in class, you may want to ask yourself if you have a problem. A tell-tale sign of alcohol abuse is when drinking begins to affect your performance in other areas of your life. If you seem to be racking up absences at work or have trouble getting your work in on time due to drinking, you should consider seeking help.

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Legal Trouble

If you find yourself standing before the judge several times a year, it may be time to cut back on your drinking. Drunk-driving, assault, acts of vandalism and even more violent offenses can all be the result of intoxication. For example, in 2002, more than 70,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 were victims of alcohol-related sexual assault in the United States, according to the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs at Rutgers University.


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Withdrawal Symptoms

If you drink every day and have withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, or anxiety when you cut back or stop drinking, you may have an alcohol abuse problem. Withdrawal symptoms can begin anywhere from 4 to 12 hours after a person stops drinking. As the disease of alcohol dependence progresses, severe symptoms of withdrawal (called delirium tremens, or DTs) can occur. Symptoms of delirium tremens may include seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations), confusion and irritability, severe trembling and seizures. In rare cases, delirium tremens can lead to death if untreated.


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Alcohol Related Health Problems

Because alcoholics cannot quit drinking or control how much they drink, even when they try to, they may continue to drink despite having serious health problems that are caused or made worse by alcohol use, such as a peptic ulcer. Aggravating or ignoring serious medical conditions through denial or indifference not only negatively affect your life, but it could affect the lives of your loved ones as well.


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Concern from Loved Ones

When your friends and family start inquiring about your drinking habits, you may need to consider that you have a drinking problem. Loved ones can often pick up on changes in behavior more readily than we can ourselves.


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Risky Behavior

The perception of risk, acting on impulse and sensation-seeking behaviors are all affected by alcohol use, according to the National Institute of Health. Most people know that alcohol impairs judgment, but if you frequently put yourself into dangerous situations after you've been drinking, whether having unprotected sex or getting behind the wheel of a car, you may have a problem with alcohol.


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Binge Drinking

Drinking three or more drinks in a row is considered binge-drinking and can often lead to a blackout. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 40 percent of college students have engaged in this type of drinking. Have trouble remembering what happened while you were under the influence or misjudging how much alcohol you consumed is often a sign of alcohol abuse. Use this tool to find out if you've been underestimating how much you drink.


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Hiding Alcohol

Keeping a flask of whiskey at work or storing beers around the house could mean that you have a drinking problem. Hiding your drinking habits or lying about how much you drink can be a symptom of alcohol abuse and could be contributing to any feelings of denial you may have.


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Aggressive Behavior

Have you ever heard the term "beer muscles?" It refers to the effect of intoxication on the brain, which can lead to aggression and hostility. According to the National Institute of Health, alcohol weakens brain mechanisms that normally restrain impulsive behaviors, including inappropriate aggression. By impairing information processing, people who have been drinking can also misjudge social cues and can easily overreact to what otherwise might be a simple misunderstanding or a non-threatening situation. Becoming violent in a situation that doesn't call for it can result in you hurting yourself or someone else.


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Depression

Researchers from the Minneapolis VA Medical Center found that people who are depressed have 1.5 times greater chance to begin drinking. People who suffer from depression or anxiety anxiety often reach for alcohol to help numb feelings of despair and cure insomnia.


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