Alcohol abuse can cause signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, psychosis, and antisocial behavior, both during intoxication and during withdrawal.
The Effects of Alcohol on Behavior
Slurred speech, motor impairment, confusion and memory problems are just a few common consequences of alcohol consumption in the short term.
There is a strong association between antisocial personality disorder and alcoholism. Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a lack of regard for laws and authority. People who have antisocial personality disorder engage in dangerous behaviors, lack guilt and display low impulse control.
Axis I disorders commonly associated with alcoholism include bipolar disorder, certain anxiety disorders (e.g., social phobia, panic disorder, and post–traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]), schizophrenia, and major depression (Helzer and Przybeck 1988; Kessler et al. 1997).
Generally, people drink to either increase positive emotions or decrease negative ones. This results in all drinking motives falling into one of four categories: enhancement (because it's exciting), coping (to forget about my worries), social (to celebrate), and conformity (to fit in).
Harmful drinking is defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption causing health problems directly related to alcohol. Alcohol dependence is characterised by craving, tolerance, a preoccupation with alcohol, and continued drinking in spite of harmful consequences.
When we become intoxicated, our judgment becomes impaired, which can cause us to act in ways that are out of character for us. A usually shy person may become more outgoing or flirtatious when drinking; someone who usually doesn't drink alcohol might become belligerent or violent after only one too many drinks.
Difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction times, impaired memory: Clearly, alcohol affects the brain. Some of these impairments are detectable after only one or two drinks and quickly resolve when drinking stops.
One of the differentiators between problem drinking and alcoholism is the physical dependency. If you can go long periods of time without the need for alcohol, you may not be an alcoholic.
Most people who drink excessively are not alcohol dependent | CDC Online Newsroom | CDC.
Unlike Type 1 alcoholism, however, the severity of alcohol abuse in those with Type 2 alcoholism doesn't change over time. Type 2 alcoholism more commonly occurs in men than women. A genetic predisposition is required, and environmental factors play much less of a role in the development of Type 2 alcoholism.
Stage 3: The Late Stage
At this point in an individual's addiction, they will present a severe case of physical addiction and dependence on alcohol. Dependence forms after problem drinking and eventually the individual will grow an attachment to alcohol that has taken over their day-to-day life.
Delta: Inability to stop drinking; continual drinking to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
The chronic disorders associated with alcoholism are psychological, social, and medical. Among the psychological disorders are depression, emotional instability, anxiety, impaired cognitive function, and, of course, compulsive self-deleterious use of alcohol.
In 1980, the third edition of the Manual, DSM-3, identified alcoholism as a subset of a mental health disorder. The current edition, DSM-5, classifies alcoholism, now referred to as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) or Substance Use Disorder (SUD), as a mental disorder presenting both physical and mental symptoms.
High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum. Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick. Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.
Other Common Alcoholic Personality Traits
Others will be irritable, anxious, and aggressive both when they drink and when they go through alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol dependence can also make a person impatient and easily aggravated. Additionally, you might notice impulsiveness or other erratic traits.
While some alcoholics apologize for their behavior and promise to turn over a new leaf, if they only talk the talk but don't walk the walk, their repeated apologies and broken promises eventually carry little weight with those around them.
Individuals with alcohol use disorder appear to show deficits in empathy compared with healthy controls. Deficits are particularly pronounced for older individuals and for cognitive (versus affective) empathy.
Alcoholics generally drink excessively, often much more than four drinks per day and in a manner they can't control. Excessive drinking is a serious health problem for millions of people in the United States. Alcohol addiction, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is one facet of problem drinking.