SoberBlog

"What IS Alcoholism?"

And Do I Have It?

Alcoholism is also known as 'alcohol dependence,' and is a disease that includes four symptoms:

Craving: A strong need, desire or compulsion to drink.

Loss of control: The inability to limit your drinking on any given day.

Physical dependence:Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.

Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to 'get high.'

People who are not alcoholic sometimes do not understand why an alcoholic doesn't just use willpower to stop drinking. But alcoholism has little to do with willpower. Alcoholics are in the grip of powerful cravings and have an incereedibly strong need for alcohol that overrides the ability to stop drinking.

Many people are able to recover from alcoholism without help, but many aren't. Those who fit into the category of "alcoholic" generally need some assistance. An with treatment and support, many individuals are able to stop drinking and start rebuilding their lives.

While some people wonder why some individuals can use alcohol without problems but others cannot, often it is simply genetics. Scientists have found that having an alcoholic family member makes it more likely that if you choose to drink you too may develop alcoholism. Genes, however, are not the whole story. In fact, scientists now believe that certain factors in your environment influence whether a person with a genetic risk for alcoholism ever develops the disease. Your risk for developing alcoholism can increase based on your environment, including where and how you live; your family, friends, and culture; peer pressure; and even how easy it is to get alcohol.

If you have more questions than answers, here's a great starting point:
The Forums @ SoberRecovery.com.

If you, a friend or family member need help now, start with the Samhsa DataBase , The Treatment Directory , or The Suboxone Directory for Opiate Detox.