What Is Alcoholism or Alcohol Dependence?
Alcoholism has four main symptoms:
- Craving: A strong need or compulsion to drink.
- Loss of control: Inability to limit one’s drinking on any given occasion.
- Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms—such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety—occur when alcohol use suddenly stops.
- Tolerance: Needing more alcohol to feel the same effect.
Serious dependence can lead to life-threatening convulsions within eight to 12 hours after the last drink. The delirium tremens (D.T.’s) begins three to four days later, causing the person to become extremely agitated, shake, hallucinate and lose touch with reality.1,2
Many heavy drinkers believe they can stop whenever they choose to—they just never “choose” to do so. Alcoholism is not a destination, but a progression, a long road of deterioration where life worsens over time.3
When I went to quit drinking, I realized that alcohol had taken to my body in such a way that I couldn’t stop. I would shake like I was going to break, I would start to sweat, I couldn’t think until I had another drink. I couldn’t function without it.
“I spent the next eight years in and out of detox and hospitals, trying to figure out what happened to me and how it was possible I couldn’t quit. It was the worst and longest nightmare.” —Jan
REFERENCES
- Alcohol Use Disorder (Alcoholism), Harvard Health Publishing
- Alcohol Use Disorders: Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Alcohol-Related Physical Complications, National Clinical Guideline Centre (UK)
- Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
How much do you really know about alcohol?
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