Most people do not realize they are alcoholics until it’s too late. The drinking culture is widely embraced in the United States and around the world. Many people take alcohol at social events like birthdays, weddings, office parties, among others. During these functions, most people tend to overindulge. A casual drink with friends may seem harmless but may slowly turn into a toxic habit. When the body becomes dependent on alcohol, you gradually graduate from mild alcoholism to full-blown alcoholism.
At this point, you cease to be a healthy functioning member of society. You cannot quickly tell when your drinking habit has crossed the line into alcoholism. Although there are some early warning signs, you can easily miss them if you are not paying attention. The Center for Disease Control defines mild drinking the consumption of at least one alcoholic drink per day for women and up to two bottles for men. Excessive drinking is defined as the consumption of multiple beverages during one occasion or binge drinking. With binge drinking, you increase your chances of becoming a full-blown alcoholic. For women, this could mean consuming four drinks and five or more for drinks men. Alcoholism has many mental and physical side effects.
When Does Mild Alcoholism Become Full-Blown Alcoholism?
Mild use of alcohol is dependent on the frequency of consumption. If you can control alcohol intake and have no emotional or psychological attachment to drinking, you are not likely to become a full-blown alcoholic. There are, however, many warning signs to look out for to prevent this eventuality. During the mild stage, a person may experience a few or more of these signs.
Some of the significant red flags include:
- Becoming violent and defensive when questioned about their drinking habits. • Having a high tolerance for alcohol
- Missing important commitments like work or school to drink
- Neglecting personal hygiene
- Drinking even when faced with severe financial, legal or social problems
- Poor feeding habits while still taking alcohol
- Withdrawal symptoms when not taking alcohol
- Not being able to control alcohol intake
- Constantly craving alcohol
- Drinking alone or concealing drinks from others
- Turning to alcohol to manage stress
- Experiencing Short-term memory loss
Mild alcoholism may not necessarily process into full-blown addiction, although people who drink regularly tend to become alcoholics. Mild drinking may slowly graduate to full-blown alcoholism, especially if an individual is genetically predisposed to alcoholism. Unknown to many, children with parents who have a history of this disorder are likely to become alcoholics.
Another factor that may lead to full-blown alcoholism is the environment. People who grow up in homes where family members abuse alcohol and other drugs are highly likely to end up taking up the habits. Depression and violence are also major contributing factors. Alcoholism brings about mental problems. However, people with pre-existing mental disorders are likely to indulge in alcohol consumption to relieve psychiatric symptoms. This habit may quickly graduate into full-blown alcoholism.
Aside from health problems brought about by drinking, such as nerve damage, cancer, liver cirrhosis, seizures, dementia, gout, and other infectious diseases, alcoholism has other negative impacts on an individual’s life. These include financial difficulties, loss of employment, damaged social relationships, and in severe cases, death. Identifying this disorder while it is still in the mild stage helps prevent it from advancing into a full-blown alcoholic disorder. If you find yourself consuming six or more alcoholic drinks a day, you need to seek intervention to address the problem.
The full-blown stage can be quite a nightmare. Once this stage is reached, it can be difficult to quit alcohol on your own. Professional treatment is the best alternative at this point. At the full-blown stage, you may lose control and become severely depressed to a point where ending your life seems to be their only option. Whether you are in the mild or full-blown alcoholism stage, it is best to seek treatment. There are various treatment options available, for example, detoxification, rehabilitation, counseling, support groups, medical treatments for multiple health problems and medications.
Need help? Call us today at 833-820-2922, and let us be part of your recovery journey. We are located in Columbus, Ohio. Our treatment center offers all alcohol and drug recovery services. Our well-trained professionals will ensure you are well taken care of and fully recover. We will also follow up on your progress to ensure you do not relapse. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day to answer all your questions and cater to all your needs.