Alcoholism
Alcoholism —An In Depth Study
Alcohol dependency is a rapidly growing concern that advertently affects the society mainly because it is a social problem that can worsen if this is not controlled and managed immediately. The fact that you can easily have access to this addicting beverage can only make things difficult than they already are. The best that you can do is to become aware of this issue by fully understanding how too much drinking can affect your mental and physical health. Read on to learn more about this important subject that can make or break this downhill trend of the society.
Definition
Alcoholism is a chronic and often grievous disease that causes your body to have this uncontrollable need of alcohol. This dependency, like all other addictions, can affect both mental and physical health making it all the more dangerous to the recipient. Due to its availability to the public, many people today are now addicted to this substance. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 140 million individuals from all over the globe are alcohol dependent. This makes it a real threat to the society and that is why the committee is strongly discouraging everyone to utilize any alcoholic beverages for medicine.
Terminology
Aside from alcoholism, there are many terms for this condition. Back in the 19th century, it was called dipsomania. It is a historical name for all concerns that are characterized by an uncontrollable need to drink alcohol. This word came from the Greek words “δίψα” meaning thirst and “μανία” meaning mania. All people who have been diagnosed by this illness are distinguished by chronic drunkenness. Today, this term has been simplified in a rather literal manner through many names such as alcoholism, alcohol dependency, alcohol addiction, and alcohol abuse.
The Cause
Alcohol addiction has many causes mainly due to the fact that it is a disease that covers a broad range of issues that involves alcohol. The following factors and influences play an important role as to why people become dependent to this substance.
Genetics. Studies show that people who have a family history of alcohol dependency have a forty percent chance of becoming one. It has been discovered that excessive drinking can actually influence gene expression. What it does is that it shapes your DNA sequence with the properties found in alcohol. As a result, the person with this genetic component will be more susceptible to this disease.
Environmental. Environmental influences such as a child being brought by a parent to a club, frequent partying at home, or watching television programs with people drinking alcohol and stuff are just some examples that can strongly encourage alcoholism. Being exposed to alcohol at a very young age can lead to this problem so make sure you are mindful with what you do, who you are with, and where you go.
Trauma. Individuals who have had severe traumatic experiences in the past are more vulnerable to alcohol. More often than not, these people have suppressed their emotions resulting to an irrepressible need of alcohol in a feeble attempt to forget everything that has happened to them. Being completely drunk is their own escape from their miseries.
Mental disorders. Those who have chronic depression, anxiety problems, and other psychological concerns are usually the ones that drink a great deal. They drink so they can feel better about themselves, more confident and happy. Without alcohol, their old depressing state will consume them once again, making it very difficult to do anything but isolate themselves into the confinement of their room.
Drug addiction. It is not uncommon to see people who are addicted to drugs are also addicted to alcohol. Drugs and alcohol go well together. More often than not, these individuals mix both substances to enhance or reach a certain “high.” This combination is more dangerous and can quickly affect the person’s mind and body.
Lifestyle. Normal people can become an alcoholic too through peers, habits, and hangout places. If you are always with a crowd that goes to bars almost every night and who drinks a lot, chances are, you will soon crave for this drink without intending to.
Who’s at Risk?
Being aware about the causes of this dangerous disease can tremendously help you in understanding why the following demographics are more prone or susceptible to alcoholism.
People who drink regularly. Habitual drinking can be very dangerous because your tolerance with alcohol will continuously increase until such time that you just can’t live without it anymore.
Males. Men are more prone to becoming addicted to alcohol due to their lifestyle and peers.
Individuals who have been exposed at an early age. Children or teenagers who have been introduced to alcohol will mostly likely to develop a chronic addiction to the said substance.
People with family history of alcoholism. If one of your parents or grandparents, maybe an uncle or a cousin is an alcohol, then it is in your genes and there is a high chance that you will become one too.
People who are mentally unfit. These are the ones who are mentally unstable, depressed, and psychotic. They often hide their miseries and fears by drinking a lot. This is also a way for them to forget.
Signs and Symptoms
Before you go any further, it is essential that you know the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. These two conditions, although they are closely related to each other, have some slight but significant difference. You see, alcohol abuse simply refers to excessive drinking so this does not necessarily mean that you are alcohol dependent. However, habitual excessive intake of this substance can lead to alcoholism from which alcohol withdrawal, a very nasty condition wherein your body screams for alcohol, can be experienced whenever you stop drinking. Read on to learn more about the signs of these concerns.
Alcohol Abuse
o Work or school problems because of too much drinking.
o Drinking while driving.
o You experience blackouts while drinking.
o Legal issues due to public nuisance or DUI.
o You get violent when drunk.
o You still drink despite of your health problems.
o Friends and loved ones are worried about your drinking.
Alcohol Dependence
o Uncontrollable urge or need to drink.
o Increased alcohol tolerance, thus the need to drink more.
o You spend most of your days drinking, even in the mornings.
o You neglect everything just so you can drink more.
o You continue to drink even when you hurt people.
o You feel guilt after drinking.
o Drinking secretly and alone.
o Weight loss.
Alcohol Withdrawal
o Anxiety and/or depression
o Upset stomach
o Nausea
o Dizziness
o Irritability
o Erratic mood swings
o Cold sweats
o Chronic migraines
o Dry mouth
Treatment
It is very common for people who have this kind of addiction to adamantly refuse to seek professional help or to enter into a rehabilitation center. This is because they simply do not recognize that they have a serious condition that they need to deal with. This is where the emotional support from loved ones and close friends come in. It is of vital importance that you strongly encourage the person who is alcohol dependent to go through a proper treatment. Some of the most effective therapies are:
Detoxification. Your body will undergo a strict detoxification plan for about four to seven days to completely get rid of all alcohol in your system. This can be very difficult especially when the alcohol withdrawal starts to kick in. This is done in a hospital or a rehabilitation facility under the careful scrutiny of the doctors and nurses.
Counseling. This method is done by licensed therapists that can help you understand what you are going through. Your sessions involve group and individual therapies.
Re-establishing yourself through treatment plans. Conducted by specialists, this includes setting up a particular goal that focuses on changing your attitude and mind set about alcohol through different techniques provided by the rehabilitation center.
Medications. Although the intake of drugs such as disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate do not cure alcoholism, these pills can effectively remove your cravings on the said drink. As a result, your dependency will gradually diminish until such time that you do not feel the need for it anymore.
Psychiatric treatment. It is highly advisable that you talk to a psychiatrist if you have problems with anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders that cause you to drink excessively.
Alternative Remedy
Opting for self care remedies can also be effective as long as you do it consistently. These things can also help you recover from your long battle against alcoholism. Simple solutions such as a glass of celery juice every day or eating crushed dates every morning is a great way to discourage your body from drinking alcoholic beverages. Keeping a balanced diet with matching regular exercise is also a very effective method of recovery. Yoga, acupuncture, or engaging yourself in activities that do not involve any alcohol like sports can further improve your need to become sober.
Prevention
It is crucial that you immediately address this problem as early as possible for easier and faster recovery. Long-term addiction can lead to a series of mental and physical problems, making it very hard to quit. Set a good example to your children by drinking responsibly and by teaching them about the dangers of alcoholism.