In the UK, 32% of men and 15% of women drink alcohol at a level that leaves them at risk of alcohol-related harm, according to the NHS.
While most know their limits, for others, alcohol can become an addiction or even a dependence. Alcohol dependence is an uncontrollable desire to drink, despite the impacts on health. Recognising when you or a loved one is struggling with this is the first step to treatment.
To help you better understand the signs of alcohol addiction, we’ll explore the symptoms, as well as what to do if you need help.
Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence
One of the first signs of alcohol dependence is obsessive thoughts about alcohol. You may think about the next time you can drink when you’re working, with family, or even just relaxing.
Increased tolerance is common with alcohol – the more you drink, the more you need next time to experience the same effect. In fact, you might start to feel shaky and nauseous when you don’t drink, leading you to drink even more to put off the withdrawal symptoms.
If you’re worried about signs of alcohol dependence in yourself or a loved one, look out for the following symptoms:
- Prioritising alcohol over obligations, work, or family and friends
- Losing friends because of drinking
- Others express concern about the amount you drink
- Your physical and mental health is impacted
- Needing to drink more to feel the same effect
- Drinking is getting you into trouble
When you recognise these signs of alcohol dependence, whether in yourself or a friend, it can be daunting. To get help, it’s best to speak to a GP or addiction specialist as soon as possible.
Health Impacts of Alcohol Dependence
Over time, alcohol dependency can start to have negative impacts on your body. As such, you may notice a range of mental and physical changes.
Physical Alcohol-Related Health Issues
Alcohol can have serious impacts on your body when consumed in excessive amounts, as is common with alcohol dependency.
Heavy drinking can cause organ damage, increase blood pressure, and weaken your immune system. That’s not all, as alcohol dependence poses an increased risk of various long-term health conditions, such as:
- Liver disease
- Liver cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Breast cancer
- Bowel cancer
- Infertility
- Dementia
- Pancreatitis
- Impotence
If you’ve noticed the signs of alcohol dependence in yourself or a loved one, it’s important to get help as soon as possible to avoid the potential long-term impacts of addiction.
Mental Alcohol-Related Health Issues
It’s not just your physical health that feels the impacts of alcohol dependence, as there are risks to your mental health as well.
As alcohol affects the brain, you are at a higher risk of developing mental health disorders, such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Anti-social behaviour
- Psychosis
- Anger issues
Some people start to lose family, friends, and loved ones as a result of alcohol addiction, while others experience financial difficulties, unemployment, or even homelessness as a result of drinking.
Getting help as fast as possible is the best way to prevent the long-term mental health implications of alcohol dependence. If you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, you can contact our team to see how we can help.
What To Do If You’re Worried About Alcohol Dependency
Knowing the signs of alcohol dependency is one thing, but what can you actually do if you spot them within yourself or someone you know?
There are plenty of treatment methods available for alcohol dependency, each designed to help you control and manage addiction while maintaining sobriety. You can explore treatments, such as:
- Talking therapy: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a common type of talking therapy used to manage the symptoms of alcohol dependence. You’ll explore your addiction with a trained therapist, including any triggers and unrealistic thoughts or beliefs surrounding it. Then, they’ll help develop healthy coping strategies.
- Support groups: Experiencing addiction alone can be daunting, isolating, and make the process harder. Support groups provide you with like-minded people experiencing their own journey with addiction. Organisations like Alcoholics Anonymous run support groups across the UK. You can use their website to find one near you.
- Rehabilitation: Sometimes removing yourself from the environment associated with alcohol is the best way to begin your recovery journey – that’s where rehab comes in. With rehab, you’ll stay at a residential treatment facility to tackle your addiction, receiving round-the-clock care from dedicated experts.
Our Expert Team Can Help You Face Addiction Today
Dealing with alcohol dependency can often feel like a never-ending journey. However, it’s important to remember help is available and recovery is possible.
Here at Stonebridge Communities, we offer expert residential treatment across the UK to support you throughout your recovery journey, from start to finish. Our friendly team are on hand to answer any questions you might have about our rehab service.
Contact our team via phone call on 01934 311 965 or send an email to info@stonebridge.rehab. We’re ready to help you on your recovery journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alcohol Dependence a Disease?
Yes, alcohol dependence is considered a medical condition in the UK.
This classification is crucial to understanding the experience of someone with alcohol dependence. Dealing with alcohol dependence isn’t a reflection on the character of the individual; it is an illness that people often have no control over.
With the right help, those with alcohol dependence can regain control of their life and begin to safely and healthily manage the condition.
How Much Alcohol Is Considered Excessive?
Alcohol consumption is counted in units, with more than 14 units of alcohol a week posing a potential health risk, according to the NHS.
The number of units changes per drink. For example, a single shot of a spirit is 1 unit, whereas a large glass of wine is 3 units.
You can calculate the amount of units you drink using Alcohol Change UK’s unit calculator to help you keep on top of your alcohol consumption.
What Causes Alcohol Addiction?
There is no one single cause for alcohol addiction, though genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors can impact a person’s behaviour with alcohol.
Stress relief is a common cause of alcohol addiction, with some relying on drinking to unwind after work. Family history can lead to alcohol addiction if you grew up around someone struggling with addiction themselves. Peer pressure and social factors play a part in alcohol addiction for some as well
