I was thinking the other day about the physical symptoms of alchohol abuse. In my experience it was a craving, the need to self medicate. I really needed a drink in the past, having that first alcoholic drink of the day was like a religious ceremony to me.

I used to get chronic stomach pains too, sometimes they were extreme enough to make me collapse to the floor. The there was the dull and painful ache in my back because of my liver. Nausea too, I used to throw up nearly every morning, the shakes, the headaches, how ill I looked, my red puffy face…the list goes on.

What amazes me is that even when you feel terrible and think, “I’m never going to drink again!” it doesn’t take long before you do and why the hell do we continue to drink when it makes us feel so bad?

Here is a list of the most common physical symptoms of alcoholism

increased tolerance
continued use despite physical problems
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting
red eyes
puffy face
numbness in the arms or legs
swelling of the liver
blackouts, not remembering drinking episodes

I can relate to every item on the above list and if you can too…Then it really is time to do something about your alcoholism.