Alcoholism - health consequences and psychological symptoms of addiction

Alcoholism is a disease that develops gradually and can remain invisible to others for a long time. Over time, however, addiction begins to take control over relationships and daily functioning. Alcoholic disease does not only concern the liver or circulatory system. It also involves psychological symptoms and behavioral changes. Early recognition of alcoholism symptoms is important because the faster proper help arrives, the greater the chance of stopping destructive health consequences and returning to stability.

What is alcoholism? Definition of alcoholism

Alcoholism is a chronic addiction in which drinking ceases to be a choice and becomes a compulsion. The sick person loses control over how much they drink and how often they reach for alcohol, despite seeing or feeling negative consequences. Therefore, alcoholism is a progressive disease with a tendency to relapse, which affects both the body and the psyche. In practice, alcoholic disease often leads to behavioral changes, neglect of duties, conflicts in relationships, and gradual subordination of life to drinking. It's worth remembering that alcohol addiction doesn't have a single scenario. In some people, the appearance of normal functioning is maintained for a long time, and symptoms of the disease are hidden or rationalized. That's exactly why it's so important to understand what alcoholism is and what it consists of.

Is alcoholism a disease and is alcoholism a mental illness?

Alcoholism is a disease. In medical practice, it is treated as a chronic addiction with a tendency to relapse. This is an important factor because in alcoholic disease, it's not about a one-time mistake, but about an established mechanism: the compulsion to reach for alcohol, difficulty controlling the amount and frequency of drinking, and continuation despite harm. Relapses are not proof of failure – more often they are a signal that the treatment plan needs to be adjusted or methods adapted to the patient's situation. Addiction concerns the brain and psyche because it changes the functioning of the reward system, regulation of stress, emotions, and impulsivity. That's exactly why a strong need for drinking appears, alcohol craving, tension, as well as difficulties in stopping drinking despite resolutions. At the same time, alcoholism doesn't only act in the psychological sphere. It's a disease that heavily burdens the body: liver, pancreas, heart, nervous system, hormonal balance, and metabolism. Therefore, it's worth thinking about alcoholism as a disease of the whole person: psychological and somatic at the same time, requiring a comprehensive approach.

Who is an alcoholic - when does drinking become alcohol addiction?

An alcoholic in practical terms means a person for whom drinking ceases to be an occasional choice and begins to act like a compulsion. It's not only about the amount of alcohol, but about loss of control and the fact that alcohol becomes an apparent solution for stress, tension, sleep, or emotions. Symptoms of alcoholism can be recognized by recurring signals:

• Strong craving for alcohol and thoughts revolving around drinking, or planning the day so that one can drink.

• Difficulty stopping: the person promises improvement but returns to alcohol despite resolutions.

• Growing priority of alcohol, i.e., giving up important things because drinking or recovery after consumption appears: missed meetings, delays, conflicts at home, mistakes at work.

• High tolerance, i.e., the need for a larger amount to feel the same effect.

• Withdrawal symptoms after reduction or break, including irritability, anxiety, hand tremors, sweating, heart palpitations, or insomnia.

However, the most alarming is drinking despite harm: when alcohol worsens health, relationships, or work, and despite this, one keeps returning. If you recognize several of these signals in yourself, it's worth treating it as medical information and consulting with a doctor.

Alcoholism symptoms – how to recognize symptoms of alcohol addiction?

Symptoms of alcohol addiction rarely start suddenly - more often it's a gradual shifting of boundaries. Situations appear in which it becomes increasingly difficult to give up and easier to find a pretext for drinking. Below are the most commonly occurring symptoms of alcoholism.

Symptoms of alcohol addiction in behavior

• loss of control over the amount of alcohol consumed,

• treating alcohol as a quick emotion regulator,

• drinking alone (then it's easier to hide the amount and circumstances),

• hiding the addiction,

• breaking promises: "that was the last time," "starting tomorrow, a break," after which the situation repeats,

• growing number of occasions: alcohol appears not only on weekends but also after a hard day or before sleep, and breaks become shorter.

Symptoms of alcoholism in the body

• chronic fatigue and dysregulation,

• shallow sleep and frequent awakenings,

• headaches,

• feeling of being broken down,

• strong tension,

• hand tremors,

• heart palpitations,

• sweating and anxiety, especially when alcohol is restricted,

• stomach problems (heartburn, nausea, diarrhea),

• decreased energy and worse concentration.

Symptoms of alcoholic disease in relationships and work

• conflicts and tension,

• withdrawal and irritability,

• loss of trust,

• impulsivity,

• avoiding conversations,

• worse organization,

• postponing tasks and absences,

• mistakes, difficulty with concentration.

Symptoms of alcohol abuse vs. addiction – where is the boundary?

Symptoms of alcohol abuse often look like repeated slips, after which the person promises improvement. These are typically situations in which too much alcohol appears at a party, too frequent drinking on weekends, hangover hindering normal functioning, or risky decisions or expenses under influence that are later regretted. In abuse, alcohol usually appears in specific situations (socially, after stress, for relaxation), but the person can still take a break, give up without strong tension, and doesn't feel they must drink to survive the day. The boundary starts to shift when instead of "I can, but I don't have to," the mechanism "I must" appears. In alcohol addiction, the occasion itself stops being important, and increasingly the internal compulsion: thoughts revolve around alcohol, the day's plan is subordinated to when one will be able to drink, and attempts at limitation end with repeated return to drinking despite sincere resolutions. The difference is clearly seen in the body's and psyche's reactions to a break. In abuse, there is usually discomfort related to hangover and remorse, but there are no permanent withdrawal symptoms. In addiction, however, symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, hand tremors, sweating, heart palpitations, or insomnia may appear. This reinforces the vicious circle because the patient returns to alcohol not for pleasure, but to feel relief and return to apparent balance.

Health consequences of alcoholism – diseases of alcoholics and long-term consequences

Alcoholism negatively affects the entire organism of the drinking person. Most exposed to ethanol action are: Liver, pancreas, stomach - the most common health consequences of alcoholism concern the liver (fatty liver, inflammation, cirrhosis) and pancreas (inflammation, digestion problems). Often stomach ailments are added: heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, and deficiencies that weaken the organism. These are some of the most typical diseases of alcoholics. Heart and pressure - alcohol can raise blood pressure and cause heart palpitations and rhythm disturbances. Long-term drinking is often associated with decreased efficiency. Brain, nerves, sleep – sleep, memory, and concentration often deteriorate, and mood becomes more unstable. When alcohol is restricted, tremors, anxiety, sweating, and insomnia may appear, i.e., withdrawal signals. In some people, tingling and numbness of limbs also occur. Immune system - chronic drinking can significantly weaken immunity and regeneration, promote infections, and cause constant energy decrease. The organism then recovers more slowly from illness and tolerates stress worse. Additionally, under the influence of alcohol, the risk of some cancers increases (alcohol is a carcinogenic substance) and accidents, because consumption of the drink worsens situation assessment and reflexes. In some situations, dangerous interactions of alcohol with medications and worsening of treatment of other diseases also occur.

Reasons for drinking alcohol – why does alcohol addiction develop?

Reasons for drinking alcohol rarely come down to one cause. Most often, addiction develops when biological, psychological, and social factors overlap. This model explains well why one person can drink occasionally, while another develops a compulsion mechanism over time. Some people have greater biological susceptibility. Influence may come from:

• family predispositions,

• temperament,

• sensitivity to stress,

• how the brain reacts to reward and relief after alcohol.

If alcohol quickly relieves tension or improves mood, it's easier to establish a pattern because the organism starts to treat drinking as a proven regulation method. Psychological factors also play a big role:

• chronic stress,

• overload,

• difficult experiences,

• trauma.

Alcohol is then often used for sleep or calming. The problem begins when drinking becomes a habitual response to discomfort, and without alcohol it becomes increasingly difficult to relax, fall asleep, or endure tension. Environment and lifestyle are not without significance:

• easy availability of alcohol,

• frequent meetings with alcohol,

• social pressure,

• work in a culture where drinking is the norm,

• lack of alternative ways to relieve stress.

Reasons should not be treated as an excuse, but as a map to treatment. The better the patient understands why they reach for alcohol, the easier it is to select effective help and break the mechanism of addiction. At Nasz Gabinet, consultation can help organize these factors and set realistic, safe therapy steps.

When is it worth using consultation?

It's worth using consultation when you see that drinking is starting to get out of control, and breaks are becoming increasingly difficult or causing clear symptoms. This is especially important with suspected withdrawal because some symptoms can be dangerous and require quick assessment. Alarming signals related to withdrawal and complications include:

• delirium,

• seizures,

• fainting,

• intensified vomiting leading to dehydration,

• severe chest pain or increasing shortness of breath.

Also concerning are bleeding from the digestive tract, for example vomiting with blood admixture, tarry stools, or marked weakness combined with pallor and dizziness. Suicidal thoughts or risk of self-harm also require urgent reaction.

Treatment of alcohol addiction – what does the process look like and where to start?

Treatment of alcohol addiction most often begins with a simple step: a calm consultation during which the patient talks about what drinking looks like, breaks, symptoms after withdrawal, and health or life consequences. On this basis, a specific plan is created in which we determine what we do now, what in the following weeks, and what support will be realistic to maintain. At Nasz Gabinet, we offer organism detoxification, pharmacological treatment (including Esperal implant), and individually selected form of addiction therapy. Sometimes family therapy is also recommended. If you notice symptoms of alcoholism in yourself or someone close to you, don't wait for the situation to worsen. Help is within reach, and the first step to lasting change can be one conversation with a specialist.

Sources

Ryszkowski A., Wojciechowska A., Kopański Z., Brukwicka I., Lishchynskyy Y., Mazurek M., Objawy i skutki nadużywania alkohol, https://contentpro.pl/s/app/webroot/files/orders/alkohol-a-zdrowie-psychiczne-1-22f2.pdf. Diamond I., Messing R. O., Neurologic effects of alcoholism, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1011410/.

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