What are alcoholism symptoms?

Alcoholism symptoms are of several kinds: alcoholism symptoms of dependency, alcohol symptoms of withdrawal and alcoholism symptoms of longer term difficulties.

Alcoholism symptoms: withdrawal

Alcoholism symptoms of withdrawal occur within 24 hours of cessation of alcohol use in people who have become physically dependent on alcohol. Typically, mild alcoholism withdrawal symptoms are characterized by loss of sleep, agitation, raised levels of anxiety and panic attacks. Moderate alcoholism withdrawal symptoms are characterized further by sweating and tremor. Marked alcoholism withdrawal symptoms are further characterized by vomiting and severe diarrhoea.

The most severe form of alcoholism withdrawal symptoms is known as delirium tremens and is distinguished from more mild forms by the presence of confusion, disorientation and visual hallucinations. Alcohol withdrawal may also be complicated by the occurrence of alcohol withdrawal seizures which are essentially epileptic fits.

Alcoholism symptoms: dependency

Alcoholism symptoms of dependency include psychological dependency symptoms as well as physical alcoholism symptoms. Psychological alcoholism symptoms of dependency include prioritism of alcohol use over other importance tasks, development of a regular drinking routine, and craving for alcohol. Physical alcoholism symptoms of dependency are charactersied by alcoholism withdrawal symptoms (above), the development of tolerance to alcohol and the use of alcohol to relieve alcoholism withdrawal symptoms.

Alcoholism symptoms: longer term difficulties

Alcoholism symptoms can arise as a result of many harmful effects of alcohol on a range of body systems. The most well recognized long term alcoholism symptom is liver damage, leading in severe cases to liver cirrhosis. However, alcoholism symptoms can arise from damage to almost any body system. Brain damage caused by alcohol abuse including dementia and severe memory loss, heart attacks and raised blood pressure, cancers of the gastro-intestinal tract, and pancreas damage are all examples of long term alcoholism symptoms. Socially and psychologically, alcoholism symptoms can include relationship breakdown, legal and work difficulties, depression and anxiety.

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