Problem drinking by a family member has led many a person to ask: Is my loved one an alcoholic? Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to this question. Whether or not your loved one qualifies as an alcoholic depends on a variety of factors. How much they drink, when they drink, and what they drink can all be relevant.
Many people drink alcohol. Most of those people are able to exercise control over alcohol and avoid negative consequences. However, alcoholics frequently engage in inappropriate drinking. If you are asking is my loved one an alcoholic, you are likely to recognize some of the following behaviors:
The foregoing behaviors must be looked at contextually. Just because someone has a drink by themselves after work does not necessarily mean they’re an alcoholic. Similarly, a single instance of excessive intoxication in a lifetime of responsible drinking does not signal addiction.
If you’re asking yourself, “Is my loved one an alcoholic?” you’ve likely seen a pattern of behaviors that fit some of the items in the above list.
Alcoholics often engage in behaviors that damage their overall health. Malnourishment is common, as is excessive weight loss or weight gain. Whether an alcoholic gains or loses weight typically depends on how caloric their drink of choice is and whether they like to eat while drunk.
Similarly, alcoholics will often overdose on alcohol. Alcohol overdoses, sometimes called alcohol poisoning, can be dangerous or even fatal. Less serious cases involve nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and the familiar symptoms of alcohol intoxication. However, more serious cases of alcohol overdose can result in respiratory distress and other life-threatening complications.
Alcoholics often neglect other important parts of their lives to focus on drinking and getting drunk. As a result, the loved ones of alcoholics often suffer as much as the alcoholic. Spouses and children frequently get the short end of the stick as their loved one spends all of their time intoxicated or hungover.
Unsurprisingly, alcoholics’ work ethic is also reduced, often to the point where their employment is placed in jeopardy. Alcoholics often arrive at work still drunk or hungover from the night before. Consequently, their work performance noticeably decreases and they miss chances for advancement and promotion.
Alcoholism can often be one of the most difficult addictions to treat. Because alcohol is so prevalent in society, teaching alcoholics to resist the temptation to drink is a monumental challenge. Luckily, the San Antonio Recovery Center (SARC) uses modalities and methodologies designed to treat the whole person and not just a group of symptoms. We provide programs like:
Perhaps you find yourself asking, “Is my loved one an alcoholic?” If that question sounds familiar, please call us at 866.957.7885 for a quick chat. No one should be forced to watch in silence as their loved ones suffer. We want to help.
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