SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE

Signs & Symptoms of Alcohol or Drug Abuse

It is important to remember that if an individual has any of the following symptoms it does not necessarily mean that he or she is using drugs and/or alcohol. The presence of some of these symptoms could be related to a host of other problems (i.e. stress, depression). Whatever the cause, they may warrant attention, especially if they persist or if several of them are occurring at one time. The key thing to look for is change; be aware of significant changes in an individual’s physical appearance, personality or behavior.

Behavioral Symptoms

• Mood Swings: Virtually all mood-altering drugs produce a wide range of mood swings from euphoria to depression. A user may be passive and withdrawn one minute and angry or hostile the next.
• Personality Changes: A normally energetic and outgoing person becomes chronically depressed and uncommunicative.
• Defensiveness: Blaming or claiming to be persecuted or victimized.
• Overly Emotional: Inappropriately happy, depressed, hostile, or angry.
• Overly Self-Centered: Always has to have their own way and will do anything to have it.
• Tendency to Manipulate: Making excuses for failure or finding ways to have other people handle their problems or bear the consequences of their actions or behaviors.
• Strained Communication: Unwillingness or inability to discuss important issues or concerns.
• Withdrawal from Family Activities: Refusing to eat at family meals, participating in celebrations or holidays or making any adjustments to family life.
• Change in Dress and Friends: Sudden deterioration of long friendships/relationships, deterioration in personal appearance and hygiene, spends time with suspicious friends and/or co-workers.
• Lack of Self-Discipline: Inability to follow rules, complete household chores, school assignments, work-related duties, keep appointments or commitments.
• Apathy: Little or no interest in meaningful activities such as clubs, hobbies, sports, or other activities.
• School and Work Problems: Excessive tardiness, absences, drop in grades, drop in job performance, missed deadlines, failure to turn in assignments and take tests or perhaps suspension or expulsion.
• Anxious Behavior: Chronic jittery, jerky, or uneven movements, fearfulness, compulsiveness and talkativeness.

Physical Symptoms

• Change in appearance: Sudden gain or loss of weight.
• Poor physical condition: Lack of coordination, stumbling, shaky hands, dizzy, consistent “run down” condition, chronic fatigue, irregular heartbeat.
• Eating: Changes in habits such as loss of appetite, increase in appetite.
• Eyes: Bloodshot or watery, consistently dilated pupils.
• Frequent colds: Sore throat, coughing, nausea, vomiting.
• Nose: Chronically inflamed or runny nostrils.
• Speech pattern: Significant changes such as slurred speech, faster speech, slower speech.

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Relapse Warning Signs

Chemically dependent individuals can demonstrate relapse behaviors at any time throughout their recovery process, but they are especially prone during the early stages of recovery. The relapse process starts when a person falls into old patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. The following are signs of relapse at any stage in recovery:

• Lack of gratitude: For recovery or what has been achieved in the recovery process.
• Complacency: When things begin to improve. The chemically dependent person believes that they no longer need to focus on their recovery efforts; they are convinced they will never begin using again.
• Lack of self-care: They become exhausted, develop or return to irregular eating habits or poor health habits in general.
• Self-pity: The chemically dependent person talks and acts as if no one else has it as bad as they do.
• Denial: Increasing or a return to denial. The chemically dependent person starts rationalizing, justifying, minimizing or generalizing addictive thinking.
• Blame: Begins blaming others instead of taking personal responsibility for one’s own thoughts, feelings or behavior.
• Isolation: Attempting to solve problems on their own; not sharing what is going on with others in the support group.
• Unrealistic goals: Wanting too much too quickly.
• Manipulation: Attempting to control one’s recovery through blaming of others for their problems.
• Discounting a recovery program: Stopping 12-Step meetings, not utilizing a sponsor or unwilling to allow others to help.

Signs & Symptoms of Substance Abuse in the Workplace

• Absence: Frequently absent from work for no justifiable reason.
• Tardiness: Arriving late and/or leaving work early.
• Unnecessary breaks: Long lunches or unexplained disappearances.
• Job Performance: Decreases significantly.
• Avoidance: Of supervisor or other co-workers.
• Appearance: Poor personal hygiene, sudden gain or loss of weight.

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