We all go through difficulties in life. Some of these are of our own making, but life throws its fair share of curveballs that can leave us in a shambles. Alcohol is one of the many chemical substances that’s easily available. Unfortunately, alcohol dependence causes many lives to be derailed or even destroyed. How can you tell if you have a problem with alcohol that you need to address?

The effects of alcohol consumption are well known. At first, and in small amounts, it can make you feel good, perhaps a little less inhibited. However, consuming more will diminish your judgment significantly, leading to poor decision-making, and many negative health effects. It’s doubtful that anyone sets out to be dependent on alcohol, but it happens all too often. Knowing the dangers and what to look out for can be lifesaving.

What is alcohol dependence?

In many communities in the US, there’s social acceptance of drinking alcohol, whether it’s having some wine with dinner, two fingers of whisky after a hard day at work, or going out with friends to a bar. In one sense, alcohol is ubiquitous and easily accessible if you’re of legal drinking age. Depending on the circles you run in, there may be a stigma against being a teetotaler, but social drinking is part of the fabric of society.

Alcohol dependence is another term that is used to describe what we call alcoholism. When a person is alcohol dependent, they have a chronic disorder that makes them increasingly unable to function without consuming alcohol. It can begin with social drinking and occasional excessive drinking, progressing toward an increased tolerance to alcohol consumption and experiencing withdrawal symptoms in the absence of alcohol.

The last stage of alcohol dependence is when a person has physical alcohol dependence. They may experience severe health and other consequences from consuming alcohol. If you’re asking if you have alcohol dependence, consider the following.

Signs of Alcohol Dependence

Some of the signs of alcohol dependence include physical and psychological factors such as the following:

Developing higher tolerance

Tolerance means that you feel as though you need increasing amounts of alcohol to achieve similar desired effects from consuming it.

Withdrawal symptoms

When alcohol use is stopped or reduced. some will experience withdrawal symptoms such as feeling anxious, headaches, nausea, disorientation, restlessness, or seizures.

Cravings for alcohol

If you have a strong desire or urge to drink alcohol, that could point to alcohol dependence.

Loss of control

If a person has difficulty stopping or cutting down their alcohol consumption, that could also point to alcohol dependence.

Sustained or continued use

If you continue using alcohol despite experiencing negative consequences from that consumption, like losing your job or getting in trouble with the law), that could also suggest alcohol dependence.

If you go to a health professional to get diagnosed with alcohol dependence, the doctor will use the Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5) to assess your symptoms. It will include things such as:

• Consuming larger amounts of alcohol or for longer periods than intended
• Having a persistent desire or making unsuccessful efforts to cut down consumption
• Spending a lot of time trying to obtain or use alcohol
• Limiting or abandoning activities due to alcohol use
• Experiencing blackouts or memory loss due to alcohol consumption
• Having tremors
• Weight changes
• Mood.

For a believer (though it may not qualify as alcohol dependence), when alcohol makes them lose good judgment and moral restraint, or cause others to stumble, it’s no longer the proper use of alcohol (Genesis 9:21; Proverbs 31:4-5; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13).

Getting Help

When something has mastery over you, that means your choices are no longer determined freely. Without your freedom, you may not be able to love God and others in a way that honors the Lord. When you become dependent on alcohol, it can have many potential negative consequences on your health and relationships. It’s not uncommon to develop liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

Alcohol dependence can also result in neurological damage, and it can also cause relational problems, both personally and professionally. Wine (alcohol) truly is a mocker as Scripture states (Proverbs 20:1), and if it leads you astray, there’s no telling the amount of damage it can do in your life.

Alcohol dependence can be overcome. It’s important to acknowledge that your consumption of alcohol is indeed problematic so that you can seek help. Recognizing the problem is an important first step and a necessary one. There are various options for treatment, both in-patient and outpatient. If the alcohol dependence is severe, monitored detoxification will be necessary.

Other means of help include behavioral therapies and cognitive-behavioral therapy to address the underlying causes of excessive alcohol consumption as well as the unhealthy patterns of thought that inform it. In some cases, medications such as naltrexone and disulfiram may be useful as part of the recovery process. Support groups can also provide a necessary bulwark and support system.

Some counselors and therapists are trained and specialize in helping individuals work through alcohol dependence. If you are ready to work with a therapist in Huntington Beach, California, reach out to our office today at Huntington Beach Christian Counseling. We can assist you in setting up an appointment.

The counselors at Huntington Beach Christian Counseling in California will help you address the issues with alcohol in your life or the life of your loved one.