Medically Reviewed by Dr. Carol Anderson, LMSW, ACSW
Know the warning signs of alcoholism and learn how to start the conversation with your partner.
In 2018, about 14.5 million people in the U.S. abused alcohol or became dependent on it, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Often, someone who is falling into addiction will try their best to hide their symptoms out of shame or fear. If your spouse drinks a lot, here are some alcoholism warning signs to be aware of, and the steps you can take to get them help.
Symptoms of Alcoholism
You may notice warning signs like these:
- Increased drinking over some time
- Short-term memory problems
- Agitation
- Replacing work or hobbies with drinking
- Mood swings
- Keeping alcohol in secret areas
- Talking about drinking even in the mornings
- Depression
- Anxious when not drinking
- Shakiness
- Consistent excuses for why they’re drinking
An alcoholic might not show all of the symptoms listed above. Also, it can take time for many of these symptoms to appear, because alcoholism develops in stages.
Originally published at WebMD