Do You Have An Alcohol Use Disorder?

There is a fine line between alcohol use, alcohol use disorder and alcohol addiction and even in the case of addiction, high-functioning people with alcohol use disorders appear to have it all together until their alcohol use has serious physical and side psychological effects on them.

It’s become ‘normal’ to have that after work glass of wine but the reality is that for many, that one glass has turned into a bottle, drinking on weekends has turned into week days too and besides we need it to relax, it’s our social lubricant. So really, when it comes to alcohol how much is too much? The list and questions below will help you find out whether or not your alcohol use is a problem:

The symptoms of alcoholism

• Loss of control: Do you struggle to stop drinking after the first drink? People with alcohol use disorders lack the normal control function to set or limit the number of drinks they want to have.
• Tolerance: Do you find yourself needing to drink larger volumes during each session to get the same result that you experienced previously? If you are struggling with an alcohol use disorder, you may find that you can drink more than others and be less drunk!
• Withdrawal: When you sober up, do you experience physical withdrawal, including headache, tremors, nausea, chest pressure, shortness of breath, restlessness, high pulse rate, weakness, guilt feelings and anxiety? I
• Tonic: Do you take an alcoholic drink immediately after waking from a bender to cushion the withdrawals?
• Reserves: Do you guards against running out of alcohol by always having enough on hand? An person with an alcohol use disorder often hides alcohol.
• Obsession: Do you find obtaining and drinking alcohol are prioritised and take up a lot of time?
• Employment: Poor productivity, absenteeism and dismissal from work.
• Isolation: The family’s social network crumbles. Friends do not invite them. Family does not invite friends, fearing they will be embarrassed.
• Relationships: Marriages often end in divorce. Children may often play into cycles of disrespect of a person with an alcohol use disorder.
• Perseverance: Despite being aware of the harm, people with alcohol use disorders continue drinking.
• Risk taking: Drinking and driving, unsafe sex, stumbling/falling, physical aggression, drunken “daredevil” stunts, accidents, arrest and imprisonment.
• Balance: Loss of bodily balance when walking or standing.
• Muscle control: Inability to hold outstretched arms steady, uncoordinated movement of body parts.
• Intellect: Sluggish thinking, poor reflexes, impaired judgment.
• Blackout: Memory loss – forgets notable things they did or that happened while intoxicated.
• Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic (a chemical that removes water from the body). Apart from that, vomiting and diarrhea dehydrates the body. Dehydration causes a chain of deadly events.
• Elements: Alcohol breaks down vitamins, enzymes and minerals. Vomiting also flushes these elements from the body. Unless it is replaced, the results can be terminal.
• Organs: All organs are damaged to an extent, but the most critical damage is to the brain, heart, pancreas, stomach and liver. Can result in death.

Advice for the partners of people with alcohol use disorders

If you are a friend or a partner who came here looking for answers, this is for you:

Do not throw alcohol down the drain or hide it. This kind of behaviour does not highlight the issue it only create an animosity

Do not drink with the person to get rid of the alcohol.

Do not take responsibility or make excuses for the the person struggling with the alcohol use disorder. This is somthing they need to come to terms with. By hiding the problem you are perpetuating a cycle and creating an environment where it is ok.

Do not enable the person with the alcohol use disorder. If they want something, let them do it. There are cases where due caution is advised, particularly if the task involves driving or being at physical risk and harm to themselves. In such cases make it clear that the reason you are willing to help is only for their wellfare and

Take good care of your own mental and physical health. Start following healthy activities such as yoga, walking or other hobbies that promote physical or mental wellness and share with the person how this activity is helping for you.

Maintain your social network. You may need them (for yourself or the person that is struggling with alcohol issues).

Do not take irrational, irresponsible acts of the person struggling with the alcohol use disorder personally. They are not themselves under the influence of alcohol and alcohol will change many aspects of a persons behaviour.

Do not abuse the person physically or mentally thinking it will stop the disorder, it wont, it will only make it worse. Understand that the disorder is most often a problem because that person has struggled with a trauma in their life that they are unable to resolve in their mind. The alcohol use disorder is simply a symptom of that problem. Sitting with them with an empathetic understanding and getting to talk to them as to what they think is fuelling the problem and what you can collectively do to solve it is a far more meaningful process.

Do not blame, condemn or ridicule a person that is struggling with alcohol. Thinking of the disorder as a disease is helpful. Would you sit and make fun of a person that was in a hospital bed with cancer? No well why would you do it to a person struggling with alcohol?

Talk to the person as an equal, they are not some forgein alien species they are a human being. You cannot expect positive results through negative inputs, try getting to understand what is actually going on.

Tell the alcohol use disorder, in a calm and progressive manner, that their behaviour is destructive when it is destructive. Often alcohol is an easy solution to “forget” and “blank out” how bad things have gotten. If they are unable to share with you why their alcohol use has reached this level of destruction in their lives. Then there is a good liklyhood that you are some part of the problem. This is why professional help from a registered counsellor can be invaluable. Their only function is to get to the root cause of the problem and then find meaningful ways to solve it.

Try to sound positive and to motivate the person to find formal treatment in a rehabilitation environment.

Contact a treatment centre for advice about how the recovery process works. With the right kind of personal counselling for alcohol use disorder many boundaries can be approached without destroying or deteriorating personal relationships.

If the person does not stop or agree to treatment or getting help. If this is where you want to go it would be advised to get some advice from a counsellor on how to deal with the situation. Seeking guidance for yourself can be a means of therapy by proxy, if they are not willing then a therapist may help you reach the concusions for the relationship to end or for you to provide meaningful assistance to help the person with the disorder.

Forge about the tough love approach. In the last 40 years of it’s existance tough love has only worked on a fraction of cases and these are in many cases people that made or were making the decision to stop anyway.

Treatment for alcoholism

Alcoholics can be clever, creative and manipulative. Only in rare cases do they readily agree to submit to treatment. They do not consider alcohol to be as “bad” as other drugs. They are very scared of the withdrawals, so they are not easily swayed to go for treatment.

They will dismiss your concerns as childish nonsense. They will remind you that they are acting responsibly by contributing household money (to justify the alcohol spend). If you persist, they may react aggressively.

At best, they will promise to reduce their intake. They may even go as far as stopping. This will only last for a while, as they are not equipped to abandon the drinking habit for extended periods. They may even resort to drinking secretly. (Only the latest therapeutic treatment can prepare them properly for longer term sobriety.)

There are tried and tested intervention techniques which were developed to convince alcoholics to voluntarily submit themselves for treatment. If you require advice or assistance with this, please feel free to phone the number at the top of this page for advice or to arrange a confidential appointment with a professional therapist.

More Information On Dealing With Alcoholism

• Private Alcohol Rehabs in Johannesburg
• Complete Guide to Alcohol Addiction
• 20 Question Alcoholic Self Test
• Understanding Alcoholic Neuropathy
• Help Getting an Alcoholic Into Rehab
• Alcohol Harm Reduction

If you are suffering from an alcohol addiction, seeking professional help can help you regain control of your life and achieve long-term recovery. It is critical to find a qualified and experienced professional who understands the complexities of alcoholism and can assist you in navigating the challenges that come with it.

Alcohol use disorder is very often a complex issue that can have serious consequences for your physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as your relationships and overall quality of life. Seeking assistance from a professional who has worked with people who have alcohol use disorders can provide you with the support and guidance you need to overcome addiction.

Therapy, medication, support groups and other forms of care can all be used to treat alcohol related issues. Working with a professional who understands the unique challenges of alcohol and can tailor treatment to your specific needs can improve your chances of success significantly.

Remember that seeking help is a brave step towards a healthier and happier version of yourself. Anyone can overcome alcohol addiction and achieve long-term recovery it all has to do with making the descision to start recovery with the right support and care.

Other Medical Conditions Caused by Alcohol Use Disorders