Alcoholism

Many people have made the mistake of assuming that alcohol abuse and alcoholism are one in the same, which is not the case. Both involve the failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home due to excessive drinking, and can get you into legal trouble or put you in a hazardous situation. In addition, both of these conditions involve the continued use of alcohol despite the social, family or interpersonal problems caused by the drinking. Alcoholism, however, refers to a much more serious disorder leading to three or more of the following:

• Tolerance for alcohol changes (the person needs to drink more to obtain the desired effect)
• Inability to cut down or stop drinking
• Drinking more alcohol or drinking over a longer period of time than intended
• Withdrawal symptoms following a reduction or cessation of drinking
• Using alcohol to avoid withdrawal symptoms (such as early morning drinking)
• Giving up important social, occupational or recreational activities
• Continuing to drink despite knowing the alcohol use has caused or worsened problems associated with the drinking

Recognizing the Symptoms of Alcoholism

The symptoms of alcoholism vary from person to person, but you can look for any of the following early warning signs:

• Drinks to relieve problems
• Experiences "blackouts" (unable to remember events or blocks of time that occurred while drinking)
• Hides alcohol or sneaks drinks
• Plans activities around drinking

Additional alcoholism facts suggest that an individual is in the middle to late stages of alcohol addiction when their symptoms include:

• Drinking more than planned
• Not owning up to their drinking problem
• Trying to control drinking by using mind games (not drinking "before noon")
• Breaking promises
• Having mood swings and personality changes
• Drinking as soon as they wake up

Alcoholism Fact - Treatment Does Work

The sooner you learn to recognize the warning signs of alcoholism, the sooner you can find help for yourself or a loved one. Stepping Stone Center has a 24-hour, toll-free helpline that you can use to get the answers you need or to start the recovery process. Just pick up the phone and call 1-800-763-1562. One of our counselors will discuss your needs during a confidential and free consultation.

Stepping Stone is accredited by The Joint Commission and licensed by the State of Florida. Our alcoholism treatment program is recognized industry-wide as one of the most effective. Start recovering today - call now!