Alcoholism Symptoms - What is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism symptoms - what is alcoholism? In this post we will define what alcoholism is and some of the alcoholism symptoms to help loved ones know and understand what an individual may be experiencing and how he/she can best support the loved one dealing with alcoholism. The definition on the Web for "alcoholism" says "An addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the mental illness and compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency." According to aarecovery.com 1 in 13 adults abuse alcohol or suffer from alcoholism they also tell about some alcoholism symptoms, which include:

• Compulsion, or a strong need, to drink
• Frequent inability to stop drinking
• nausea, sweating, shakiness, or anxiety that occurs when one goes for a period of time without drinking
• Drinking alcohol or using another sedative to control the nausea, sweating, shaking, and anxiety
• Tolerance

The last symptom "tolerance" is significant in that it isn't necessarily the type of alcohol or even the amount of alcohol that one consumes that determines whether or not an individual suffers from alcoholism.  Alcoholism is better diagnosed by the individuals "need" for alcohol. Some that do not understand what alcoholism is may not understand that a person actually "needs" alcohol just as much as another person needs food and water. A person suffering from alcoholism develops a very real dependency on alcohol and has such intense physical cravings for it that I can only compare it to me trying to stop drinking water or stop eating food. When I have fasted from food and water for 24 hours I know how desperately my body needs food and water. Having such intense cravings for alcohol would be very difficult to overcome.

Once a person understands what alcoholism is and what the alcoholism symptoms are, this knowledge can really be helpful in rehabilitation or drug treatment. Alcohol is a drug and just like any other drug the person seeking help or drug treatment needs to understand what is happening within his/her own body to understand how to fight the addiction. I understand that my body requires food and water for survival. Even if I had enough will power to stop eating or stop drinking water, I know that the result would be death. For someone that is suffering from alcoholism, even though their cravings for alcohol are just as intense as another person's are for food or water, they have to understand that their body does not actually require alcohol for survival and by abstaining from alcohol the cravings and alcoholism symptoms will gradually decrease until they are completely gone. This knowledge and hope can be a great tool for alcoholism victims to use and cling too throughout the treatment and recovery process.

Unlike some terminal diseases, alcoholism is considered a treatable disease. If alcoholism goes untreated, it has the potential to destroy the life of the individual. Not only will the person's health deteriorate, but the individual may also suffer the loss of his/her family, job, social standing, and even his/her very life. Not every person that drinks alcohol has alcoholism and not every person that drinks alcohol on a regular basis will get alcoholism. Some people are genetically more prone to alcoholism and these individuals should take extra precautions to help decrease their risk for alcoholism. If you know someone, or if you are, suffering from alcoholism, visit 4drugrehab.com to find a treatment center for alcohol rehabilitation near you.