Alcohol use disorder is a complex issue, and there are a lot of factors involved with identifying it. It’s tough to sort out instances of alcohol abuse from casual drinking or a habit that’s on the edge of going too far.
When you’re not sure, though, it’s important to look at the physical signs of alcohol abuse. The body doesn’t lie, and we’re going to look at some of the things it might be telling you or a loved one who’s using alcohol to excess.
Hopefully, the information below can help you get a better idea of the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse. Let’s get started.
The Physical Signs of Alcohol Abuse
The physical signs of alcoholism come in various ways, but one important thing to look out for is a person who is generally unwell. Sickness, colds, flushed face, and general anxiety are all things that might come along with the excess use of alcohol.
The body has to work hard to work out all of those toxins, and the immune system takes a hit in the process. It can be hard to sort out whether the effects are from a general hangover or if they’re lingering from past use. That said, the individual will be more prone to getting sick or feeling ill in general.
Unusual Skin Tone
Skin tone can change for a couple of reasons when it comes to alcohol abuse. The first, and more common reason is that alcohol can raise the body temperature and produce sweats. In that process, the person will often experience a flushed skin tone.
There’s also a disorder called facial flushing that occurs in some individuals who drink alcohol on a regular basis. People who have lower levels of the ALDH2 enzyme in the liver are most prone to this symptom.
People who have long abused alcohol might experience another issue that causes the skin to turn yellow. The liver, over time, will fail to produce hormones that impact your pigmentation if it’s been damaged. Alcoholism does significant damage to the liver, and people who have abused alcohol for a significant length of time might notice that their skin starts to take on a yellow hue.
This condition is called jaundice, and it can also cause the whites of your eyes to turn yellow.
Physical Withdrawals
One of the most important physical signs of alcohol addiction is the presence of withdrawals. Withdrawals are a complex issue, but the general idea is that the individual has physical pains when they’re not able to drink.
Depending on how long you’ve been using alcohol, these withdrawal symptoms will be more or less severe. In individuals who have abused alcohol for decades, the symptoms of withdrawal could be enough to cause significant health complications or death.
In shorter instances of abuse, those symptoms will be difficult but not as likely to be fatal. You might notice that you get sick, sweaty, paranoid, and anxious when you’re not drinking.
Cravings for Alcohol
Before you have withdrawals, you might start to have physical cravings for alcohol.
At first, drinking is something that a person is compelled to do because it sounds fun. Maybe you want to relax after a long shift at work or your friends are going out, so you want to get a drink as well. Over time, that innocent desire can shift into a physical craving.
The craving can be gut-wrenching, and it compels you to find alcohol. Those who have had a craving know that it’s a very physical experience. It’s not so much the thinking about alcohol that does it, it’s the body screaming at the individual to satisfy the desire.
In the presence of cravings, the person might adjust their decision-making, get anxious, become frustrated, and change their plans.
Note that cravings are easier to fight off when they first show up. If you or a loved one is starting to have cravings, don’t write them off. They’re serious, and they have the potential to get stronger.
After a period of giving in to the cravings, those urges will become so strong that refusing them will require some help from the professionals.
Increased Tolerance
Over time, our bodies get used to whatever we put into them. Whether it’s processed sugar, caffeine, or heroin, the body will adjust to its presence after a period of use.
The same goes for alcohol. When a person’s tolerance gets higher, they have to drink more to achieve the same effect. When that happens, the liver and other internal organs take more of a beating, and the physical manifestations of alcohol abuse continue.
That said, some people respond differently in terms of tolerance. One individual who abuses alcohol might develop a lower tolerance after a certain point. This could have something to do with liver damage and the reduced ability to process alcohol.
On the other hand, some severe alcoholics might drink all day without displaying any signs of intoxication. That same individual might have a perfect and meaningful conversation with you and have no recollection of it the next day.
Signs Your Loved One is Abusing Alcohol
The signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse can vary with each individual. It’s important to note, though, that alcohol abuse will produce a change in the person’s lifestyle, priorities, and behavior.
The physical symptoms of abuse are harder to notice than the psychological ones, especially if you’re examining someone else.
When in doubt, you can always ask if there’s a problem. You won’t always get the honest answer, though. Think about the person’s life, whether it’s changed in recent months, and whether or not that person is behaving in a different way.
Those signs don’t denote abuse all of the time, but abuse often causes those changes to a person’s life.
Want to Learn More?
Hopefully, our look at the physical signs of alcohol abuse was helpful to you. There’s a lot more to learn about noticing addiction, though. We’re here to help.
Contact us if you’re experiencing trouble with addiction or you’d like to learn more about helping someone in your life who is.