Alcoholism is more than just drinking too much. It is a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol characterized by an uncontrollable craving for alcohol. As little as a few hours after an alcoholic stops drinking, they begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms like nausea, sweating, and anxiety, which can only be relieved by consuming more alcohol. Over time, alcoholics develop a higher tolerance and need to constantly drink more to feel the same effects. While binge drinking and alcohol abuse are risk factors, alcoholism specifically involves an extreme need for alcohol that is as strong as basic needs for food, water and air.

2. We hear so often about people suffering from alcoholism. There is still a
belief amongst some people that an alcoholic is just someone who drinks
to much. To those of us who don't drink a lot, it is hard to understand why
someone can not stop drinking. But to those of us who have either dealt
with alcoholism personally or know someone who has, understands that
there is much more to it.

3. Alcoholism is really alcohol dependence. If you are an alcoholic you suffer
from a compulsion to drink. Your body and your mind crave alcohol and
for some people they are unable to think of anything other than drinking. If
you are a smoker, you are familiar with craving something so strongly that
you can not think of anything else but smoking a cigarette. In fact if you
go too long without a cigarette, you start to show physical symptoms of
withdrawal. The same runs true for someone who is an alcoholic. Just a
few hours after that last drink, the signs of withdrawal begin to creep to
the surface. You may find yourself feeling sick to your stomach, sweating,
and feeling very anxious. The only way to stop these feelings is to have
another drink.

4. Alcoholism is also when your tolerance level goes up. You no longer get the
same effect from alcohol unless you constantly drink more of it. It doesn't
matter what type of alcohol it is. You can be an alcoholic who just drinks
beer, or you could be one who just drinks whiskey. The meaning of
alcoholism has nothing to do with how long you have been drinking or
exactly how much you drink, but rather your uncontrollable need for
alcohol. This need is as strong as your need for food, water and air. This
is why some doctors will classify alcoholism as Alcohol Dependence
Syndrome.

5. Many alcoholics start off as binge drinkers. Binge drinking is when you have
five or more drinks in one session. As you continue to binge drink, and
once it begins to cause problems in your work or school life or with family
and friends but yet you continue to drink, is when you have gone on to
alcohol abuse.

6. It is important to know that there is a difference between alcohol abuse and
alcoholism. The biggest differences are that with alcohol abuse there is
not an extreme craving to drink, nor is there a physical dependence on it.
Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that can cause you to not fulfill
work, school or home responsibilities, legal problems that are related to
alcohol such as a DUI and relationship problems that could be caused by
your drinking. Most alcoholics are alcohol abusers but not all alcohol
abusers are alcoholics.

7. Resources:
https://www.brcrecovery.com