Alcohol Addiction – Signs and Symptoms

Whether or not you have alcohol addiction, it is important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of the disease, and what treatment options are available. It is also important to understand what causes it, and how you can avoid it.

Symptoms

Symptoms of alcohol abuse and addiction can appear in many different ways. It can make it hard for people to recognize that they are in a bad situation, so it’s important to watch for them. It’s also important to get help if you or a loved one is struggling with these issues.

Symptoms of addiction can be both physical and psychological. For instance, an addict may be irritable and unable to control his or her emotions. Some people who drink heavily are also unable to remember certain events or have a distorted memory.

When someone stops drinking, they often experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can include anxiety, vomiting, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping. They can also cause hallucinations and sweating. Typically, a person will continue to drink because they are afraid of not being able to cope with the withdrawal symptoms.

During the early stages of alcohol use disorder, people can have cravings for alcohol. They may even become unconscious. As the drinking begins to increase, the person starts to ignore their responsibilities and other problems. The person may begin to miss work, be late for school, and be absent from home.

Biological factors

Biological factors that contribute to alcohol addiction are a topic of substantial research. In addition to behavioral effects, many genes have been proposed to contribute to addiction vulnerability. Environmental exposures are also thought to affect a person’s susceptibility to addiction. However, their effects are not the same for every person.

Using animal models, researchers have studied the social factors that contribute to alcohol intake. They have observed elevated alcohol consumption in rats exposed to positive social stimuli and lower alcohol intake in rats deprived of these stimuli. These findings have provided valuable evidence of biological mediators.

Several brain regions have been identified as contributing to the social effects of alcohol. These include the amygdala, a region involved in motivational processing. Immature brain areas are also implicated in the social effects of alcohol. These regions have been shown to be involved in reward-motivation processing.

Similarly, the function of the GABA system has been associated with alcohol consumption. Specifically, the serotonin transporter gene variants have been linked to differences in amygdala activation.

Social factors

Several social factors play a role in alcohol addiction. Some of these include family and peer groups. These factors interact in different ways in each individual. For example, people who have low self-esteem may develop problem drinking. Those with a history of heavy drinking are also more likely to develop alcohol use disorders.

In addition, cultural teachings and religious beliefs can influence addiction. Those with higher levels of religious devotion and practice are less likely to initiate alcohol use.

Subcultures also play a role. For example, alcoholics in certain cultures are ashamed of their condition. This can lead to them hiding their problems and avoiding treatment.

Another important factor is the immediate environment. During stressful situations, people tend to turn to alcohol to deal with their stress. These repeated behaviors can be difficult to break.

Other factors involve genetics. Researchers have found that a person’s genes contribute about half of the risk of becoming an alcoholic. Those with a close family history of alcoholism are more likely to have the disease.

Treatment options

Getting treatment for alcohol addiction involves a variety of methods. These include medication and therapy. The goal of treatment is to improve the quality of life.

Medications can help decrease cravings and withdrawal symptoms. In addition, they can also help avoid complications. The most effective medications are those that are prescribed in conjunction with behavioral therapy.

Acamprosate, an FDA-approved medication, may help regulate the brain chemicals affected by heavy drinking. It may also lessen mental and physical cravings for alcohol.

Alcohol withdrawal can be very severe, causing seizures and other unpleasant reactions. Depending on the severity of your condition, medical detoxification is often required. The procedure is usually performed at a hospital. It is a highly structured program. It can last for several days.

A medically supervised detox is the first step in alcohol recovery. It helps to deter withdrawal symptoms, and can also be used to diagnose co-occurring disorders.

Treatment for alcoholism may involve an outpatient or inpatient program. Outpatient programs are typically for less severe cases of alcoholism, and they do not require clients to leave their homes.