Alcoholism Physical Symptoms

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As more and more individuals experience various alcoholism physical symptoms, an increasing number of people are asking how they can better mange or reduce these symptoms.

Although there are social, emotional, and spiritual alcoholism symptoms that can be just as painful as the better-known alcoholism physical symptoms, it is apparent that alcoholism and its physical symptoms are a major concern for alcoholics and for those who are related to or associated with people who are alcohol dependent.

Alcoholism and Physical Symptoms

It is apparent that alcoholism physically affects people while they are addicted, when they want to recover from this disease, and, unfortunately, when they experience withdrawal symptoms.

One productive way to focus on alcoholism physical symptoms, it is asserted, is to look at the prototypical alcoholic behaviors in the four stages of alcoholism.

Alcoholism Physical Symptoms - First Stage

The following list typifies some of the typical physical alcoholism symptoms and behaviors in the first stage of alcoholism:

Boasting and a "big shot" complex
A conscious effort to seek out more drinking opportunities
Increasing tolerance
Lack of recognition by the person that he or she is in the early stages of a progressive illness
Gross Drinking Behavior - more frequent drinking of greater amounts
An ability to drink great amounts of alcohol without any apparent impairment

Even one beer can slow your reactions and confuse your thinking. This means anything that requires concentration and coordination, such as driving, is dangerous when you have consumed even one alcoholic drink.

Alcoholism Physical Symptoms - Second Stage

image: young female alcoholic exhibiting alcoholism physical symptoms The following characterizes some of the more common alcoholism physical symptoms and behaviors in the second stage of alcoholism:

Sporadic loss of control Gulping the first few drinks to feel the "buzz" faster
Chronic hangovers
Unsuccessful attempts to stop drinking
More frequent blackouts
Physical problems increase
Sneaking extra drinks before social events
Increasing tolerance
Drinking because of dependence rather than for stress relief

A clearer understanding of the biological underpinnings of alcoholism is opening the way to better drugs. Scientists have identified a number of genes that confer a predisposition to alcohol addiction. They have also found that the brain goes through profound changes when a person starts drinking to excess.

Alcoholism Physical Symptoms - Third Stage

The following list typifies some of the main alcoholism physical symptoms and behaviors in the third stage of alcoholism:

Loss of control has become a pattern
The development of an alibi system - an elaborate system of excuses for their drinking
Eye-openers
Increased tremors
A decrease in alcohol tolerance
Half-hearted attempts at seeking medical aid
The start of physical deterioration
Neglect of necessities such as food
Avoidance of family and friends
Problems with the law (e.g, DWIs)
Frequent violent or destructive behavior
Aggressive and grandiose behavior

Many people only think of a "skid-row bum" when they think of someone with an alcohol problem. This is the end stage of alcohol problems, when a person has lost his or her family, job and health because of alcohol abuse. You don't reach this stage overnight.

Alcoholism Physical Symptoms - Fourth Stage

As mentioned above, alcoholism has four stages. Chronic alcoholism or severe alcoholism is the fourth and final stage of alcoholism and is characterized by the most life threatening consequences of this debilitating disease.

The following list typifies some of the key physical alcoholism symptoms and behaviors in the fourth stage of severe alcoholism:

Auditory and visual hallucinations
Benders, or lengthy intoxications
Moral deterioration
The "DTs"
Continual loss of control
Unreasonable resentments and hostility toward others
"The shakes"
Loss of tolerance for alcohol

Friends may not easily accept the sober, perhaps more subdued, comrade. Close friends and even intimate partners may have difficulty in changing their responses to this newly sober person and, even worse, may encourage a return to drinking.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms exhibited by individuals who stop drinking alcohol after a pattern of continuous and excessive consumption.

While these symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe and include both behavioral and psychological components, it needs to be emphasized, moreover, that alcohol withdrawal symptoms are usually the worst during the fourth and final alcoholism stage, a stage known as chronic alcoholism or severe alcoholism.

Alcoholism is a heritable disease and is frequently accompanied by other substance abuse disorders (particularly nicotine), anxiety and mood disorders, and antisocial personality disorder.

Mild to Moderate Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

The following represents mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms that generally occur within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic drink:

Insomnia, sleeping difficulties
Headaches (especially those that pulsate)
Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids
Loss of appetite
Abnormal movements
Sweating (especially on the face or the palms of the hands)
Tremor of the hands
Clammy skin
Looking pale, without color
Rapid heart rate
Eyes or pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils)
Nausea
Vomiting

For decades the only alcoholism drug in the U.S. was Antabuse, which causes people to vomit when they drink. Even now, only some 140,000 alcoholics in the U.S. receive medication for their disease, ranging from Antabuse to anti-depressants to anti-seizure drugs.

Severe Withdrawal Symptoms

The following represents severe symptoms that usually take place within 48 to 96 hours after the last alcoholic drink:

Visual hallucinations
Delirium tremens (DTs)
Severe autonomic nervous system overactivity
Black outs
Muscle tremors
Convulsions
Fever
Seizures

However unpleasant, most hangovers go away on their own within eight to 24 hours. If you choose to drink alcohol, doing so responsibly can help you avoid future hangovers.

What To Do When Experiencing Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

The first concern when suffering from alcohol withdrawal should be who you should contact about the alcohol withdrawal symptoms you are experiencing.

When encountering alcohol withdrawal symptoms, always see your doctor or healthcare practitioner immediately so that he or she can assess the seriousness of your circumstances and recommend the most productive and effective option for treatment.

Since alcohol blocks emotional pain, it is frequently resorted to as a cover up during times of temporary or ongoing stress or grief such as that experienced with the loss of a loved one or relationship, unresolved family tensions, and chronic work stress.

Alcoholism Physical Symptoms: Conclusion

It is apparent from a review of the literature that alcoholism physical symptoms affect people when they drink, when they try to stop drinking, when they involve themselves in the recovery process, and, regrettably, when they experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Based on an analysis of the information discussed above, nevertheless, the significant messages regarding alcoholism physical symptoms are these.

First, alcoholism leads to a series of destructive, unhealthy, and painful physical as well as emotional, social, and spiritual symptoms that will get progressively worse unless the individual abstains from drinking.

image: male ad for alcohol and drug therapy

Second, a crucial step in the recovery process is acknowledging the fact that drinking has become a problem and having the desire and the willpower to quit drinking.

Third, once the alcoholic reaches this point, the next obstacle to overcome is how to best cope with the withdrawal symptoms that typically follow.

Fourth, the most logical and effective way to cope with and overcome alcoholism physical symptoms is to immediately see a doctor or healthcare professional so that he or she can assess the severity of the problem and suggest the most appropriate and productive form of treatment or intervention.

This is especially important the further along the person is regarding his or her alcohol addiction.

Stated differently, as people progress through the four stages of alcoholism, it is increasingly more important for the person to see his or her physician or healthcare practitioner, especially during the fourth stage (known as chronic alcoholism or severe alcoholism).

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The best approaches for motivating a patient to seek treatment are interventional group meetings between people with alcoholism and their friends and family members who have been affected by the alcoholic behavior. Using this approach, each person affected offers a compassionate but direct and honest report describing specifically how he or she has been hurt by their loved one's or friend's alcoholism.

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