What Is An Alcoholic?

Professionals refer to someone struggling with alcohol dependence or addiction as suffering from an alcohol use disorder. An alcoholic in the vernacular is a way people refer to those who drink to excess repeatedly. 

An alcoholic is an outdated and colloquial term for someone with an AUD. Normally, the term is now used to self-declare yourself as having trouble with alcohol use.

If you are ready to face your problem with alcohol, reach out to the alcohol rehab center in Florida today.

Alcoholism as a Disease

The “man on the street” definition of what is an alcoholic is symptom-oriented. Signs that someone suffers from the disease vary from person to person. That said, some signs occur with a high frequency, including:

• Inability to limit alcohol consumption. Suffering from an alcohol use disorder, by definition, expresses itself through excessive drinking. Someone cannot stop at one or two drinks. Instead, they continue to drink to excess.
• Failure to meet obligations. Whether it is attendance at a family function, regular work habits, performance at school, or the ability to maintain a personal relationship, someone struggling with the disease frequently falls short.
• Withdrawal symptoms and obsession with using. If too much time elapses between drinks, this person will suffer the beginnings of withdrawal symptoms. These go hand in hand with irritability and an obsession with getting the next drink.

Alcoholism is a medical condition and a chronic disease. Those with an alcohol use disorder may experience the following symptoms:

• Blackouts or loss of memory
• Shakiness
• Increased aggression and agitation
• Self-destructive behavior
• Nausea or vomiting
• Delirium
• Slurred speech

Since an alcohol use disorder is chronic, continued participation in some level of addiction treatment is needed to reduce the risks of relapse.

What Is an Alcoholic that Is High-functioning?

When discussing common alcoholic problems, you inevitably run across the example of the person who doesn’t fit the mold. But, unfortunately, not everyone suffering from an alcohol use disorder is hanging on to the job by a thread. Some, who drink to excess regularly and suffer all the disease symptoms, do so without missing a day of work or falling behind on bills.

You may recognize one or more of the signs that accompany this pattern.

• Jokes about alcohol use. Folks qualifying as high-functioning alcoholics may have a drink early in the morning and refer to it as a “breakfast beer.” They might claim that it is “five o’clock somewhere” when having some drinks at lunch.
• They get angry when confronted about alcohol use. When a spouse, business partner, or close friend asks about alcohol consumption, a high-functioning alcoholic becomes indignant. Then, citing responsible work patterns and handling of financial affairs, this person denies having a problem.
• Drinks heavily. Daily alcohol consumption, drinking every night, as measured by empty bottles, is beyond normal. This person may get a DUI and spends money on attorneys to plead it down. S/He begins to suffer from alcohol-related diseases while hiding the drinking from the doctor.

Overcoming an Alcohol Addiction Is Possible

Knowing what an alcoholic is and the symptoms of an alcohol use disorder can help you or a loved one get help. Even if you still pay the bills and keep up with obligations, alcohol misuse destroys other aspects of your life. Get help today.

Beaches Recovery is an accredited alcohol rehab center in Jacksonville, FL. Our experts provide confidential and compassionate addiction treatment. Programs in Florida include:

• Residential addiction treatment
• Alcohol detox at our partner facility, Tides Edge Detox
• Alcohol addiction rehab
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP)

Clients can take advantage of several therapies available in whatever program they are in, including:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• EMDR therapy
• Trauma therapy
• PTSD therapy
• Experiential therapy
• Equine-assisted therapy
• Nutrition therapy
• Yoga therapy

Find out what it’s like to get up in the morning without a hangover or obsessing about the next drink. Contact us by calling 866.605.0532, or contact us online to connect with the expert rehab staff at Beaches Recovery today!