subject: Serious Alcoholism: Learning The Signs [print this page] Alcohol dependency is a critical disorder that is characterized by physiological, emotional and psychological dependence on alcohol. While some people can drink alcohol occasionally such as a glass of wine at night without damaging their body organs, alcohol addicts are too focused on drinking the substance on a regular basis and experience various negative effects.
According to some inpatient alcohol rehabilitation professionals, when a person suffers from alcoholism, the severity of his condition will depend on the stage of his alcoholism. Every stage is more destructive than the others in terms of psychological, physical and social damage as well as the severity of the symptoms. An individual who suffers from chronic alcoholism places himself in the fourth stage of alcoholism.
Inability to Control
An individual who has chronic alcohol abuse will not have the ability to control his life. In fact, even if he is aware of the situation, he won't have enough power to do it because of the effect of alcohol in his body. Even if drinkers sometimes think of stopping the habit, the cravings are too strong to make this possible. This loss of control may not allow the alcoholic to control his moral center. This leads to the tendency of the sufferer to do things that he doesn't usually do such as engaging in fights, driving while under the influence of alcohol and stealing money. Alcohol abusers will be too obsessed to acquire alcohol and will ignore all the dangers that the habit poses to themselves and to the people around them. Indeed, they may not care about using necessary things in life such as water, food, shelter and career.
Psychological Changes
Alcohol affects the way an individual thinks so chronic abuse of the substance will result to serious changes in moods and personality. Alcohol abusers can become irritable, aggressive or emotional. They may also feel scared or nervous without any particular reason. Some inpatient alcohol rehab specialists say that those who abuse alcohol are likely to experience alcoholic psychosis through auditory and visual hallucinations.
Physical Symptoms
Alcoholism can impact an individual physically especially his heart or liver. The abuser may also experience unsteadiness, dizziness, redness, weight loss, blackouts and gastritis. In addition, when a drinker is not able to consume alcohol when he needs to, he will begin to endure withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, shaking, seizures and nausea.
The symptoms of chronic alcohol abuse can be obvious physically, psychologically and emotionally. Individuals who have been experiencing this condition should be treated immediately at a rehabilitation clinic to prevent additional problems. When the alcoholism has damaged the most important organs of the body, this may cause death.
