We all know the typical signs of alcoholism. The person is homeless, dirty, and disheveled. They can’t hold down a job or raise a family, and their life has spun out of control. If there is anyone in need of alcohol rehab success, it is this person. The reality, however, is much more complicated than this. In fact, your life might be entirely different, yet you may still have a severe addiction to alcohol.
Definition of Alcoholism
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) lists a total of 11 symptoms that define alcohol use disorder. They include the following:
- Drinking more or for longer than you intend
- Being unsuccessful at cutting down or stopping drinking
- Spending a great deal of time drinking or feeling sick or hung over
- Drinking or its effects interfere with your daily life or relationships
- Craving alcohol
- Continuing to drink despite its impact on your relationships
- Curtailing or quitting hobbies in order to drink
- Repeatedly putting yourself at risk because of drinking
- Needing to drink more to experience the effects of alcohol
- Continuing to drink even when it makes a physical or mental health condition worse
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking
These symptoms can also be seen as signs of alcoholism and can point to the need for treatment at one of the nation’s top alcohol rehab centers.
Surprising Signs of Alcoholism
In addition to the signs of alcoholism that you may already be familiar with, ask yourself if you or someone you love experiences any of the following. They are red flags that a problem might exist:
- You have a history of binge drinking. In general, experts define binge drinking as having four drinks within a two-hour period if you are a woman and five if you are a man. If you engage in this pattern of behavior on a regular basis, you could be setting yourself up for a lifetime of alcohol abuse.
- Heavy, chronic drinking is a part of your everyday life. Even if you have a stable family life and a great job, ongoing heavy drinking will continue to take a toll on your body, including your liver, cognitive functioning, and cardiovascular system. Sooner or later, the carefully constructed house of cards you built for yourself will fall, and alcohol will be the cause.
- You resist evidence that points to the fact that you have a serious problem with alcohol. Perhaps someone asked you to take an alcoholism self-assessment, or maybe someone you love directly confronts you about the issue. They point to the signs of alcoholism that you display and mention how much better your life would be with alcohol addiction rehab success. If you find yourself vehemently denying that alcohol is controlling your life in spite of clear proof to the contrary, you probably need professional intervention.
How Alcohol Rehab Centers Can Help
Alcohol use disorder is a severe condition that can lead to difficulties in all facets of your life. Your relationships, job, financial welfare, and physical and mental health can all suffer devastating damage because of alcoholism. The good news is that you don’t need to tackle this monster on your own; a great place to start is an alcohol rehab in Jacksonville FL. They have high-quality residential and outpatient centers that help men, women, and young adults understand what led to their drinking and to learn strategies that will enable them to find lasting healing and recovery. If you see the signs of alcoholism in yourself, don’t let another day go by without getting the help and support you deserve.
