0800 - 222 444 6
When are you addicted to alcohol?
When do you drink too much?
The line between drinking too much and alcoholism is often quite blurred in practice. You are already drinking too much if you drink more than 1 to 2 glasses of alcohol every day and do not drink alcohol less than 2 days a week. This does not yet mean that you have an alcohol problem.
Whether you develop an alcohol addiction has more to do with why you drink and what space alcohol has in your life. For example, do you drink regularly when you feel bad and feel like you need alcohol to feel better? If so, you may have an alcohol problem. It is important to be aware of your alcohol intake and ask yourself why you drink too much.
Signs of alcohol addiction
- You can't stop drinking
• You drink more and more alcohol to achieve the same effect (tolerance)
• You often drink during the day and usually alone
• You lie about your alcohol consumption
• You have less and less interest in social contact, your work and hobbies
• You suffer from withdrawal symptoms
• You drink secretly
• You suffer from trembling hands
• You no longer drink together, but alone
Alcoholism withdrawal symptoms and physical symptoms
When you suffer from alcohol addiction, you also face physical symptoms and withdrawal symptoms. There are several short-term and long-term consequences of excessive alcohol use.
What does alcohol do to you?
When you drink a lot of alcohol, it can cause several problems for your body and brain. In the short term, excessive alcohol consumption can make you suffer from blackouts. Your sleep quality also deteriorates and your reaction time decreases. In the long term, damage can occur to your brain. Alcohol kills brain cells, and after prolonged excessive use, irreparable damage can occur. Other long-term consequences of alcohol addiction include:
- Damage to the liver
• Damage to the brain
• Damage to the stomach, heart and blood vessels, your nervous system and esophagus
• Leg complaints (numbness - especially on the soles of your feet, leg pain)
• Hallucinations or psychoses
• Memory loss and impaired concentration
• Early dementia (syndrome - Korsakov-wernicke)
• Pancreatic or pancreatic inflammation
What does alcohol do to you?
Your body gets used to a certain amount of alcohol over time. Therefore, when you start drinking less or stop drinking altogether, you experience withdrawal symptoms, such as:
- Shaky hands
• Restlessness
• Sweating
• Insomnia
• Palpitations
• Dizziness
• Anxiety and mood swings
• Seizures similar to epilepsy
Get a grip on your
alcohol addiction
This page has been professionally reviewed for medical truth
U-center has subject matter experts check information on the website for medical truth. So you can be sure of reliable information.
Last updated on 26-09-2023
Page reviewed by:
