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Psychological symptoms
The physical signs of alcoholism are obvious, but the psychological effects are just as detrimental, if not more so. Alcohol can adversely affect a person’s thinking, memory, and mood.
The most prominent psychological symptom of alcoholism is an addiction! People with alcoholism become addicted to alcohol and cannot stop drinking. At first, people drink to relieve stress or relax, but eventually, they become dependent on it for survival.
As a result of alcoholism, a person’s judgment and decision-making skills may also be affected. Individuals with alcoholism may make bad choices or take risks they would not usually take.
A person with alcoholism may also have memory problems. Alcoholism can cause short-term memory loss and even long-term dementia. Imagine if you forget what you did yesterday – or even worse, what happened years ago!
Finally, alcoholism can be attributed to mood swings and depression. Alcohol becomes a necessary nutrient for a person who becomes addicted to it – they begin to depend on it in order to function. Therefore, if they are unable to consume alcohol, they will experience withdrawal symptoms such as mood swings and depression. In addition to anxiety and bipolar disorder, alcoholism can also lead to other mental health conditions.
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Social signs
People typically associate alcoholism with physical symptoms such as shaking, slurred speech, and uncontrollable drinking. However, alcoholics also experience various social difficulties that can adversely affect their relationships with friends and relatives.
Alcoholism can often cause people to become irritable and argumentative. This is because when someone has alcoholism, their brain function is impaired, leading to mood swings and making them more likely to have disagreements with others. They may start to neglect their loved ones in favor of drinking or lash out at them in anger. In extreme cases, it can even lead to violence and abuse.
Alcoholism can lead to really negative consequences, like feeling isolated and lonely. This is because alcoholics tend to withdraw from friends and family members.
A person with alcohol abuse problems may completely destroy the relationships considered vital to them. Friends and family members of an alcoholic are often hurt and betrayed by the person’s behavior, and it may be difficult to rebuild those relationships once they have been damaged.
Financial outcomes
A significant loss of productivity at work is one of the most prominent and devastating effects of alcoholism on finances! Heavy drinking may result in job losses, missed work, and decreased earning potential, resulting in absences from work, delays, and poor work performance. Additionally, alcoholics are more likely to be involved in workplace accidents and may lose their jobs.
Alcoholics also often have higher-than-average expenses related to their drinkings, such as alcohol, rehab, and legal fees. These financial problems can be tough to manage and cause significant stress.
Legal effects
Alcoholism can cause various legal problems, seriously impacting a person’s life. One typical result of alcoholism is getting charged with DUI or DWI. Alcoholism can also lead to child custody, visitation, and domestic violence issues.
A person’s alcoholism has the potential to cause specific legal outcomes, but it can also negatively impact their life, as we previously mentioned. Alcoholism can ruin relationships, make it difficult to keep a job, and cause a multitude of other problems…causing immense pain and anguish! As a result, an alcoholic could face serious legal issues if all of these factors are present.
To sum up
The effects of alcoholism can be devastating for the individual who suffers from it and their family members. Alcoholism can lead to a number of problems, so it is imperative that you seek help if you are struggling with this condition. Assistance is readily available, and taking advantage of it is not a bad thing. Therefore, don’t hesitate to seek help today!
Sources:
Mullahy, John, and Jody L. Sindelar. “Alcoholism and income: the role of indirect effects.” The Milbank Quarterly (1994): 359-375.Glenn, Susan W., Oscar A. Parsons, and Larry Stevens. “Effects of alcohol abuse and familial alcoholism on physical health in men and women.” Health psychology 8.3 (1989): 325.
Mukherjee, Sukhes. “Alcoholism and its effects on the central nervous system.” Current neurovascular research 10.3 (2013): 256-262.