Physical Symptoms of Alcoholism and Recovery
______________________________________________________________________
The important message regarding the physical symptoms of alcoholism and recovery is this: alcoholism leads to a
series of damaging physical and psychological behaviors and problems that will continue and intensify unless the person stops drinking.
Alcoholic Behaviors - First Stage
What are the physical symptoms of alcoholism and recovery? It is clear that alcoholism physically affects people while they
are addicted and actively drinking and also when they want to recover from this disease and experience withdrawal symptoms.
 We will focus first on the physical symptoms of alcoholism and then on the physical aspects of alcohol withdrawal.
One way to look at the physical symptoms of alcoholism is to focus on the typical alcoholic behaviors in the various stages of
alcoholism.
The following represents some of the classic alcoholic behaviors in the first stage of alcoholism:
-
Lack of recognition by the person that he or she is in the early stages of a progressive illness
-
Boasting and a "big shot" complex
-
Gross Drinking Behavior - more frequent drinking of greater amounts
-
A conscious effort to seek out more drinking opportunities
-
Increasing tolerance
-
An ability to drink great amounts of alcohol without any apparent impairment
| Factors that affect your blood alcohol level include the following: how quickly your body metabolizes alcohol, how
quickly you consume the alcoholic drink, how much food is in your stomach at the time you drink, and how strong the alcoholic
drink is. |
Alcoholic Behaviors - Second Stage
The following represents some of the classic alcoholic behaviors in the second stage of alcoholism:
 Gulping the first few drinks to feel the "buzz" faster- Increasing tolerance
- Drinking because of dependence rather than for stress relief
- Blaming problems on others and on things external to themselves
- Unsuccessful attempts to stop drinking
- Physical problems increase
- Sneaking extra drinks before social events
- More frequent blackouts
- Chronic hangovers
- Sporadic loss of control
| Research has demonstrated that American children who are raised in single-family households are almost twice as
likely to experience an alcohol-related problem such as alcohol abuse as compared with children who are raised by both parents in
the same household. |
Alcoholic Behaviors - Third Stage
 The following represents some of the classic alcoholic behaviors in the third stage of alcoholism:
- Loss of control have become a pattern
- Serious financial, relationship, and work-related problems
- The development of an alibi system - an elaborate system of excuses for their drinking
- Aggressive and grandiose behavior
- Eye-openers
- Loss of interests
- The start of physical deterioration
- Avoidance of family and friends
- Frequent violent or destructive behavior
- A decrease in alcohol tolerance
- An increase in failed promises and resolutions to one's self and to others
- Unreasonable resentments
- Problems with the law (e.g, DUIs)
- Neglect of necessities such as food
- Loss of willpower
- Increased tremors
- Half-hearted attempts at seeking medical treatment
| The Department of Transportation (DOT) procedures established for mandatory alcohol testing require the employment
of a standardized breathalyzer. The categories of testing that are allowed by the DOT are the following: post-accident,
reasonable suspicion, and random. |
Alcoholic Behaviors - Fourth Stage
The following represents some of the classic alcoholic behaviors in the fourth stage of alcoholism:
-
loss of tolerance for alcohol
-
obsession with drinking
-
"the shakes"
-
moral deterioration
-
the "DTs"
-
devaluation of personal relationships
-
continual loss of control
-
unreasonable resentments and hostility toward others
-
auditory and visual hallucinations
-
the collapse of the alibi system
-
benders, or lengthy intoxications
| A number of family-oriented interventions have been used to help prevent alcohol abuse. These interventions
include the following: family preservation programs, family services, family therapy, family skills training programs, in-home
family crisis services, and family education programs. |
Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms exhibited by individuals who stop drinking alcohol after a pattern of continuous and
excessive consumption. These symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe and include both behavioral and psychological
components.
Studies have shown that inpatient detoxification programs are more effective and longer lasting than outpatient
detox programs. The important issue here, however, is the following: the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms, the
more likely that inpatient detox programs
should be used. |
Physical Symptoms of Withdrawal
There is a fairly typical pattern of physical symptoms in the withdrawal process from alcohol. As noted above, some of
these symptoms are psychological and others are behavioral or physical.
| In simple economic terms, alcohol-related issues and problems in the United States cost society almost $200
billion per year. In human terms, the cost of the following alcohol-related issues cannot be calculated: fatalities, injuries,
illnesses, broken homes, wife battering, and child abuse, failed health, and destroyed lives. |
Mild to Moderate Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
 The following represents mild to moderate alcohol symptoms that typically occur within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic
drink:
- headache (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
- Insomnia, sleeping difficulties
- Looking pale, without color
- Rapid heart rate
- Eyes or pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
The 25.9% of underage drinkers in the United States who are alcohol abusers and alcohol dependent drink 47.3% of
the alcohol that is consumed by all
underage drinkers. |
Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
The following represents severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms that typically occur 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
| Even at low intake levels, alcohol significantly impairs the judgment and coordination required to drive a car or
operate machinery safely. |
What To Do When Experiencing Withdrawal Symptoms
The first concern when experiencing alcohol withdrawal should be "who should I contact about the alcohol withdrawal symptoms I am
experiencing" rather than "what helps for alcohol withdrawals?" When experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, always
see your doctor or healthcare provider immediately so that he or she can assess the severity of your situation and suggest the best option for
treatment.
| Over 40 percent of corporate CEOs who responded to one survey estimated that the use of alcohol and other drugs
costs them from 1% to 10% of their payroll. |
Physical Symptoms of Alcoholism and Recovery: Conclusion
Based on the above, it is clear that alcoholism affects people while they are drinking and also when they want to
recover from their  addiction and experience withdrawal symptoms. Treatment options for withdrawal and the different recovery programs can be
found on other pages of this website. The important message regarding the physical symptoms of alcoholism and
recovery is this: alcoholism leads to a series of damaging physical and psychological behaviors and problems that
will continue and intensify unless the person stops drinking. Moreover, abstaining from alcohol for the alcoholic typically results in
withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms, however unpleasant, are the realities of alcohol addiction. The very first step in the recovery
process is acknowledging that you have a drinking problem and then possessing the desire and the will to stop drinking. Once the alcoholic
reaches this point, the next hurdle is how to best handle the withdrawal symptoms that usually follow. And the best way to cope with and
overcome the withdrawal symptoms is to see your doctor or healthcare provider immediately so that he or she can assess the severity of your
situation and suggest the best option for treatment.
Please Add Our Website To Your Favorite
Bookmarks!
| One national study found that students are less likely to use alcohol if they are socially accepted by people at
school and feel that teachers treat students fairly. |
__________________________________________________
| 