What is ADDICTION? Simply put it’s the inability to stop consuming or doing anything that causes you harm. This can also include foods.
For this blog we’re looking at alcohol addiction.
The signs of alcohol addiction aren’t always recognizable. Let’s lean in to what that alcohol addiction looks like
Signs of Alcohol Addiction
Signs of alcohol addiction include an inability to control drinking, prioritizing alcohol over responsibilities, high tolerance, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Key indicators are trying but failing to cut back, craving alcohol, continued use despite health or relationship issues, and experiencing physical symptoms like shakes, nausea, or sweating when not drinking.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the American Addiction Centers, and the NHS, common signs include:
Behavioral and Social Signs
Dangerous Behavior: Drinking in unsafe situations, such as driving or operating machinery, as highlighted by the American Addiction Centers and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
Failed Control: Wanting to cut down or stop drinking but being unable to do so.
Time Consumption: Spending significant time drinking, obtaining alcohol, or recovering from its effects.
Neglecting Responsibilities: Failing to fulfill obligations at work, school, or home due to drinking.
Social Withdrawal/Change: Giving up activities or hobbies to drink, or drinking alone.
Relationship Problems: Continuing to drink despite it causing issues with friends or family, notes the HSE website and the NHS.
Physical and Psychological Signs
High Tolerance: Needing more alcohol than before to achieve the desired effect, or finding it has less effect.
Withdrawal Symptoms: Feeling shaky, irritable, nauseous, or sweating when trying to stop, as explained by MedlinePlus and Bradford Health Services.
Constant Cravings: A strong urge or need to drink.
Physical Effects: Unsteady gait, frequent blackouts, slurred speech, or persistent stomach issues.
Mental Health Impact: Continued drinking despite it causing or worsening depression, anxiety, or other health issues.
If you or a loved one are experiencing these symptoms, consider seeking professional help.
As a holistic lifestyle practitioner, I see far more of the above symptoms in clients than less.
Even though they come to me with other health issues to address. Many of them who would never acknowledge their relationship with alcohol as an addiction based on standard metrics.
For those who want to test their relationship with alcohol, give their bodies a break from exposure to this detrimental nuerotoxin and experience the benefits of a sober life I’ve created a monthly challenge.
At the conclusion of this challenge expect improvements in your:
1) Hydration – alcohol is a diuretic that dehydrates the body. Within days, your skin may look brighter, and “hangxiety” (alcohol-induced anxiety) often subsides.
2) Sleep – while alcohol may help you fall asleep faster, it disrupts REM sleep, leading to next-day fatigue. After 1–2 weeks, most people report deeper, more restorative rest.
3) Weight Loss – eliminating “empty calories” from alcohol can lead to spontaneous weight loss, particularly around the midsection.
4) Digestive System – symptoms like heartburn, bloating, and indigestion typically start to resolve within the first month as the gut lining heals
5) Mental Clarity – “brain fog” begins to lift, improving memory, concentration, and focus.
6) Immune System – your body becomes more effective at fighting off infections, such as colds and flu, as white blood cell function recovers.
7) Heart Health – blood pressure often normalizes within a month, reducing the immediate strain on the cardiovascular system.
8) Emotional Stability – long-term sobriety helps stabilize neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, often leading to significant improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms.
9) Cancer Risk – prolonged abstinence drastically lowers the risk of developing seven different types of cancer, including breast, liver, and colorectal cancer
10) Relationship Growth – sobriety often allows for more present and meaningful connections with family and friends.
11) Financial Savings – most people save between $1,500 and $3,000 annually by not purchasing alcohol or related items like bar tabs and late-night food.
Are you ready to test your relationship with alcohol & experience the benefits of presence, clarity and overall improved health? Join the challenge here
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AMENA BELLEDESOLEIL IS A DIVINELY GUIDED & GIFTED HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE PRACTITIONER, ANCIENT MEDICINE ALCHEMIST, NATURAL HAIR HEALER, WORDSMITH AND GOOD STEWARD OF MOTHER EARTH WHO SHARES HER KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELEVATING HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS & VIBRATION. BLESSINGS & BLISSINGS.