Unless you are sure someone you love is consuming a lot of alcohol, the signs of alcoholism could very well escape you. However, it is unlikely you are missing the connection, especially if you live in the same house. One of the most prevalent and noticeable signs of alcoholism is mood swings. When a person has gone without alcohol for a day or two so that he can function at his job, he is apt to have mood swings and be irritable. Some will blame it on job stress or finances.
A person can wake up first thing in the morning, especially on weekends if he has a job, and start drinking immediately.
The truth is, it is withdrawal from alcohol and a very common sign of alcoholism.
A person can wake up first thing in the morning, especially on weekends if he has a job, and start drinking immediately. He makes sure he has enough beer and alcohol to make it through the weekend or holiday. The fear of running out is another common sign.
Paying the bills at the end of the month, his wife notices something and brings it to his attention: the liquor store bill is over 200.00 for his favorite hard liquor, nearly 400.00 for beer at the grocery store. He gets irritated and an argument gets started. This is another sign, as alcoholics do not like to be approached about their drinking or their spending habits when it comes to alcohol.
Still another sign of alcoholism is regret. Someone with a drinking problem can say and do things he regrets when he sobers up. He picks a fight with his wife, jumps on his children for minor offenses or even nothing at all, mouths off to a friend and damages a friendship. In the light of day, he regrets his actions, even as he may not completely remember them. His loved ones, however, do. This is part of why family and friends are often mired in alcoholism problems as well and why there are support groups to help them deal and care about the alcoholic in their lives.
An alcoholic tends to do little but just drink during the day. Sometimes he does not even eat until just before he goes to bed if even then. He is consumed with drinking and can literally forget to eat. If he is not having to go to work, finding himself with a weekend or several days off together, he may very well just drink continually that entire time, stopping now and then to grab a few hours sleep, then waking up to another bout of drinking.
These signs of alcoholism should be treated as red flags. If you or someone you care about is showing any of these signs, seek help immediately because you or your loved one have a drinking problem. The good news is there are wonderful programs out there to help you and your family win out against this addiction.
