12 Signs Someone You Love May Have Alcohol Use Disorder

 

When you’re worried about the drinking habits of someone close to you, it can sometimes be hard to know how serious their alcohol use really is. Are they just going through a rough patch, or is their drinking a serious problem? You might second guess yourself, or feel like you don’t have enough information to say anything. That uncertainty is common. But the fact that you’re paying attention matters.

Serenity Grove’s drug and alcohol rehab in Athens, Georgia provides comprehensive treatment for alcohol use disorder, as well as working to raise awareness of substance use disorders and the help available to overcome them.

It’s important to understand that alcohol use disorder is a medical condition, not a character flaw or personal shortcoming. Knowing the signs of a drinking problem can help you understand what’s happening and figure out what to do next to help your loved one.

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the clinical term for what many people call alcoholism or alcohol addiction. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, (NIAAA), it’s characterized by an inability to stop or control drinking despite negative consequences at home, work, or with health.

AUD can range from mild to severe, and a diagnosis requires only two or more recognized symptoms. That means someone doesn’t have to be drinking around the clock to have a serious problem. Many people with AUD hold jobs, maintain relationships, and appear to function well, at least for a while.

12 Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder to Watch For

1. They drink more than they intend to. They plan on one or two drinks and consistently end up having more. This loss of control, not the quantity, is one of the most telling early signs of alcohol use disorder.
2. They’ve tried to cut back and can’t. They may recognize their drinking has become a problem and sincerely want to change. But repeated attempts to cut down or stop on their own haven’t worked. This isn’t a lack of willpower, it reflects how deeply alcohol dependence affects the brain.
3. A lot of time revolves around drinking. Planning days around when they can drink, recovering from drinking, or making sure alcohol is available wherever they go. When this kind of organizing starts happening, alcohol has become central to how they function.
4. They’ve developed a tolerance. What used to affect them after two drinks now takes four or five. Needing increasingly larger amounts to feel the same effect is a hallmark of physical dependence, and it tends to escalate over time.
5. They experience withdrawal symptoms. When they go without alcohol for too long, they feel physically unwell. They may experience shaky hands, nausea, sweating, anxiety, or difficulty sleeping. In severe cases, withdrawal can include seizures and requires medical supervision. This is one reason detoxing from alcohol alone can be dangerous.
6. Their mood shifts around drinking. You might notice they seem anxious, irritable, or out of sorts before drinking, then more like themselves after a few drinks. These mood swings often reflect the body’s physical need for alcohol to feel normal.
7. They’re become more secretive. Hidden bottles, vague explanations about where they’ve been, minimizing how much they’ve had. Secrecy in alcohol use disorder rarely comes from a desire to deceive, it usually comes from shame.
8. Their personality has changed. This one can be harder to name, but you feel it. The person in front of you doesn’t quite seem like the person you knew. Long-term alcohol misuse can affect mood regulation, emotional availability, and behavior in ways that slowly alter someone’s personality. If you find yourself grieving who they used to be, that’s worth paying attention to.
9. Physical changes are becoming visible. Unexplained weight shifts, persistent puffiness in the face, a flushed complexion, neglected hygiene, or a general appearance of being worn down. The body reflects what’s happening internally, and these physical signs often become more visible as alcohol use progresses.
10. They’re pulling away from people and activities they used to love. Hobbies dropped, friendships fading, family dinners skipped. When alcohol becomes the priority, most other things gradually stop competing with it. For families, this withdrawal is often one of the most painful changes to watch.
11. Responsibilities are being neglected. Missed work, unpaid bills, being less present as a parent or partner. Alcohol use disorder erodes a person’s capacity to keep up with daily life — not because they’ve stopped caring, but because the addiction has taken up so much room.
12. They keep drinking despite real consequences. Job problems, strained relationships, health scares, legal issues, and drinking still continues. This is one of the defining features of alcohol use disorder. The inability to stop even when it’s clearly causing harm.

Alcohol Use Disorder and Mental Health

It’s worth knowing that alcohol use disorder and mental health conditions frequently occur together. Depression, anxiety, trauma, and PTSD are among the most common co-occurring conditions. Many people with alcohol use disorder began drinking as a way to manage difficult emotions or experience.

When both mental health and substance use are present, treating only one rarely leads to lasting recovery. Someone who gets sober without addressing underlying depression, for example, is left managing the very thing that may have fueled the drinking in the first place.

Dual diagnosis treatment addresses both together, which is why it’s often the most effective path for people whose drinking is entangled with emotional pain..

What to Do If You Recognize Signs of Alcohol Addiction

Trust what you’re seeing. A formal diagnosis isn’t required for you to begin a conversations and look for help for your loved one.

Compassion tends to open doors that confrontation closes. Saying “I’m scared for you” lands differently than “you have a problem.” If you’re not sure how to start the conversation, speaking with a counselor beforehand can help you find the right words — and take care of yourself in the process.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Athens, Georgia

At Serenity Grove, we offer compassionate, evidence-based alcohol addiction treatment in Athens, GA. Our programs are for adults who are ready for help, or whose families are trying to find a way forward.

We provide a range of services including medical detox, residential treatment, PHP, IOP, and outpatient treatments, with a clinical team that understands how complex alcohol use disorder can be.

If you’re in the Athens area and have questions about treatment options, we’re here to help. Call us today to speak with someone who can walk you through your next steps.

Sources: 

1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) — Alcohol’s Effects on Health
2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) — DSM 5 Alcohol Use DIsorder Diagnostic Criteria Checklist