Giving Up Alcohol

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Alcohol has been present in the society of men for a long time. It was used generally for celebration and religious ceremonies in prehistoric time. Way back the time of Greek philosophers, giving up alcohol was not widely thought of.

The Greeks had a philosophy of drinking, eating and being merry. They believed that the fulfillment of one's life is to enjoy the physical world and its pleasure. This was later contradicted by other Greek philosophers but the habit of drinking alcohol in excess was fixed in their social activities and giving up on the bottle was a challenge for the philosophers and that society entirely.

In today's society, alcohol abuse is alive and kicking. In Greek times, the people found reasons to celebrate every night to make an excuse for drinking. Nowadays, celebrations are not needed. Most people who are addicted to alcohol drink it at anytime at all. For alcoholics of the present society, giving up alcohol is the hardest thing to do as their system is already dependent on alcohol.

There are a lot of effects brought about by alcohol. It does not only affect the alcoholic but also the people around them. Being an alcoholic can cause violence and turmoil. Alcohol impairs judgment and motor skills and that can lead to relationship problems and neglect of responsibilities. Alcohol also tends to make a person emotional and violent; that is why alcoholics often lash out and be involved in public disturbances and domestic violence, theft, destruction of public property and sometimes even death and murder.

Most alcoholics' claim that they do not need help giving up alcohol; most are in denial that they are dependent on alcohol. That is why most alcoholics end up alone; because they tend to disgrace, neglect and hurt the people around them.

There are many ways to help those who want to stop. There is rehab, support groups, therapy, and video diaries. A person submitting himself to rehab will undergo intense supervision and shall develop self discipline to control alcoholic tendencies. Support groups are a group of people who share the same problem and help one another to quit alcohol. Therapy however, requires the presence of a psychologist or a psychiatrist to help the patient in giving up alcohol.

For alcoholics, friends, family and relatives should also be involved in the process. Giving up the habit cannot be done alone. It takes the effort and support of everyone involved in the alcoholic's life.

Tips

For those who live with alcoholics and want to help them in quitting, there are a few requisites. First, the alcoholic should realize and admit that he has become dependent on alcohol and he needs help. Partly, the responsibility falls upon the family and friends of the alcoholic to help him realize the truth of his dependence to alcohol.

Metanoia

The other requisite is to know if the alcoholic actually wants to quit alcohol. If the alcoholic is forced into rehab, it would only cause numerous fall backs. So the essential step is to have him want to quit alcohol.

It is imperative for the alcoholic to have a complete change of mind. This is the key to successful and continues independence from alcohol: to completely want to turn away from alcohol and to yearn for better days.

The alcoholic should have the right motivation and the best of these are going to be for themselves and for their loved ones. Giving up alcohol is hard for alcohol dependent people. In this way, the alcoholic's aim is to be better for the sake of the people around them and their happiness and health.

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Signs Of Alcoholism

Are you looking for signs of an alcoholic? Are you thinking about alcoholism outpatient treatment for you or someone you love, but you need to make sure there is a real problem first? Let us help you determine the severity of the issue that is on your mind.

Drinking has become fashionable in our society. People will share a bottle of wine while taking a meal, usually while hanging out for drinks with friends, and many functions and occasions feature time for drinking alcoholic beverages. Alcohol consumption became a normal one but no one knows the level of their drinking and goes on drinking without thinking about their health. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse otherwise known as alcohol dependence is an upcoming major problem these days in modern society and we need a lot of time to know the side effects and risk factors.

Sometimes, we cannot understand as our mind is out of control, we do not understand that we have a problem. Understanding the problem is the first step to overcome from alcoholism. Only you and loved ones around us can help change us. Some won't find any side effects of drinking but nearly millions of peoples are suffering from alcoholism and alcohol abuse.

Drinking problems are due to many facts such as genetics, your parents, your friends, your environment, and your emotional strength as well as weakness. Alcoholics may suffer from anxiety, pain, tolerance, dependence, or just being out of control. Drinking has become in or cool these days and many people like going out drinking. Women generally have greater side effects as the alcohol dehydrogenase hormone found to be lesser in them.

Alcoholism is the most severe form of drinking when someone suffers from signs of an alcoholic such as tolerance and dependence. Tolerance is the first sign of alcoholism. Increasing tolerance simply means that you are able to drink more and more before it affects you. Withdrawal is the next sign. You feel anxiety or pain without alcohol; you need to drink instead of wanting to drink.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms is the another sign that involves anxiety, Shakiness, Sweating, Nausea, vomiting, Depression, Irritability, Loss of appetite and Headache. Whenever you get these symptoms consult doctor and take necessary treatment

Other signs and symptoms of an alcoholic (alcohol dependence) such that your alcohol intake is out of control. You cannot stay a second without alcohol and you are totally out of control thus continues to drink without thinking anything is wrong. You will sit idle without hanging out with friends, family and being alone in the world of alcohol. You give up everything you love; you change your behavior and prefer to be with strangers drinking then with friends and family who are not.

But in this social life drinking became an addictive habit which you cannot seem to avoid. At this point (or hopefully well before) you should be seeking help. You should be able to recognize that your alcohol abuse is damaging your relationships with loved ones, friends and family as well as affecting you in other ways. Some of these signs of an alcoholic may include giving you depression, having alcohol related health problems, having the need to drink above all else or lying about how much you drink. The CAGE test is an important tool to aid all for the purpose of identifying alcoholism signs. There are many tools available, but this one is the most preferred and important famous tool for the identification of signs of an alcoholic.

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When Does Alcohol Abuse Become Alcoholism?

Alcohol Abuse and the Alcoholic

As a precursor, I would like to point out that I am a recovering alcoholic. This in no way makes me an expert but it does, with the benefit of hindsight, allow me to share 'some' of my activities as an alcoholic and as a recovering alcoholic.

There is no correct definition for alcohol abuse, as it is quite ambiguous to understand or define. To our satisfaction, we can define alcohol abuse as a boundary line between the two phases namely, normal drinkers and alcoholics. Technically speaking, alcohol abuse is considered as a pattern of drinking that harms one's health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work.

What is the reason for the abuse of alcohol? One reason is failure to fulfill responsibilities at work, school, or home can result in stress, which tempts one to drink a lot. The act of alcohol abuse under these circumstances satisfies two core needs.  The need to feel pleasure, which is often experienced when drinking, at least initially, and the desire to avoid pain, which subsides very quickly when drinking begins. The vicious circle of alcohol abuse is exacerbated by the fact that alcoholic behavior often creates more stress and pain in your life, and the drinker will turn to alcohol to deal with that pain.

What are the Consequences of Alcohol Abuse?

Prolonged and excessive use of alcohol will eventually lead to alcoholism. Again it is quite

ambiguous to differentiate the symptoms of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. But there are certain ways to recognize the symptoms of alcohol abuse and take precautionary measures before it is too late.  Some of the early signs of abuse are sneaking drinks, frequent memory blanks while engaged in drinking, frequent injuries due to excessive drinking, unwillingness to discuss about the drinking habits with family and friends, and feeling guilty over the drinking habit.

So what are some of the other consequences that occur because of the abuse of alcohol? There are many and some of them include going late for work, trouble with authorities for drinking and driving, and aggressive behavior in public. Also physically a person is often affected due to excessive drinking. The physical signs of abusing alcohol include drunkenness, slurred speech, short attention span, uncoordinated movements, drowsiness, memory problems, and aggression.

Most people who abuse alcohol think that it is not a big issue. They have a thought that

they can control their habit easily. But this case does not work in reality, because once a person becomes an alcoholic, it is really hard to bring him back to his normal life.

Alcohol abuse during adolescence, especially during the early adolescent age, may lead to long-term changes in the brain. This has a very bad consequence which leaves teenagers at an increased risk of alcoholism in later years. So, it is highly important that teenagers have to be taken care of at the right time to eliminate alcoholism.

If proper precautionary measures are not taken, drinking to excess regularly might result in suicide or violence. It has been estimated that about 1.8 million deaths have been occurred due to alcoholism and 58.3 million people have been disabled due to the same.

Prevention, Deterrence and Support is Critical

It is better that proper measures are taken to control our intake of alcohol before an alcohol abuser becomes an alcoholic. Alcohol abuse can be prevented through increased taxation of alcohol. Strict regulations have to be implemented for alcohol advertising. Information and education on social norms and the harms associated with abusing alcohol should be delivered to everyone through media, internet, and regular campaigns. Getting help at the right time is vital and it can be provided by a healthcare agency. A healthcare professional can improve the chances of solving the problem of alcohol abuse. The professional will conduct a physical exam and a mental health assessment to know the progress of cure. A lot of advice on limiting or abstaining from drinking habit is provided in seminars or meetings and attending these seminars or meetings can also help someone recover from alcohol abuse.

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Related articles

• FAQs on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

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Alcoholism And Depression

It has been proven that alcohol causes depression. Depression is ongoing feelings of hopelessness, sadness, unhappiness, and causes a bleak outlook on life. And when you are suffering from depression you can't be at the top of your game. It is hard to function in high gear when you are fatigued and are experiencing a general lack of interest, also caused by depression. It may also be important to point out here that depression causes anxiety. So many who suffer from depression will also have episodes of anxiety.

Since alcohol is a known depressant, it stands to reason people with depression shouldn't drink. This applies to people suffering from manic depression as well. Studies have shown that doctors miss diagnosing correctly roughly 65% of people who are depressed.

The depression caused by alcohol actually starts with your physical body. First, alcohol lowers the serotonin and norepinephrine levels in your brain. These chemicals are the chemicals that give you your good feelings - a feeling of well being, and they help you to feel normal. The anti-depressant drugs were designed build these chemicals back up. After a long drinking career, since alcohol can take these brain chemicals down to ground zero, it can take a long time for the anti-depressants to bring these brain chemical levels back to where they need to be.

Alcohol also temporarily nullifies the effects of stress hormones. This is why after drinking you feel worse than ever, because alcohol depresses your nervous system and your brain. A study was done that followed people who were only drinking one drink a day and after these people stopped drinking for 3 months, their depression scores improved. And that is only at one drink a day, so it is easy to imagine the impact the kind of volume an alcoholic takes in every day can have.

Alcohol all but wipes out every vitamin in your system after a drinking session. A folic acid deficiency will contribute the brain aging and in older people, dementia. The folic acid deficiency also contributes to overall depression. Further, the alcohol in your system also breaks down and speeds the elimination of antioxidants in your blood. Antioxidants are critically important to our health because antioxidants fight free radicals and free radical damage causes diseases and aging. Our immune system actually creates the antioxidants which then neutralize the free radicals.

Alcohol can activate a gene that has been linked to depression and other mental issues. The result of this activation can cause not only depression, but seizures, and manic depressive episodes as well.

Although the majority of problem drinkers associate depression with their mental and emotional states, the fact is this kind of depression originates in your physical body's response to drinking alcohol.

Alcohol Abuse: Symptoms

If we look into the latest reports of WHO (World Health Organization), some pernicious facts will be revealed at once. The reports state categorically that alcohol abuse or disproportionate use of alcohol is rising by leaps and bounds across the globe and is victimizing no less than 2.5 million people per annum. Among them there are 3.2 lakh young people between 15 and 29 years of age. A number of studies have also stated already that alcohol abuse happens to be the eighth leading risk factor for deaths throughout the planet. As per studies, there are two billion alcohol consumers, around the globe.

How can a chronic addict be saved? Well, it can be only if he/she is admitted to one of the most reputable alcoholism treatment centers. This is the general idea (and there is no wrong in this); a number of measures have to be adopted to check the alcohol addiction symptoms prior to the admission. Only if there is there presence of those, there should be further advancement. Without second thoughts it can be said that alcoholism ought to be treated no less than as an ailment and hence, it remain reliant on precise treatment by means of medicines with counseling. Where do we go if there is any disease? Nursing homes along with hospitals become our last refuge; similarly alcoholism treatment centers are the last destinations of a chronic addict to alcohol. We must focus and detect the said symptoms that lead to the results we observed in the first few sentences of this article.

Initially, symptoms can be best detected by family members only and hence their responsibilities increase to a great extent. Apart from being aware of his/her each and every movement, you (in case you're the family member) must also be conscious of the potential developments in these cases and compassionate. Make sure to find out or detect known indications of alcohol abuse in the hapless person. Remember if there is any minor alcohol abuse (fair in degree or effect) the symptoms or indications will be nothing severe than memory loss, gradual withdrawal from the family and social mixing, and increase in violence if alcohol is not provided. Other possible symptoms include abrupt stammering along with reduction of good vision.

Bear in mind that each and every moment is pricey and any negligence on part of dear and near ones can lead to catastrophes. Keep tabs on every development and try to find out if the addict is in a mood of withdrawing him/herself from others. There would be a change in the personality also; a vibrant person turn into complainant and surrenders to violence without any exception. If this change stays and perturbs the entire family, it is the time to get conscious and force the addict to opt for alcoholism treatment centers. Well, this is a necessary positive step because accepting the alcohol abuse problem in the very beginning makes the entire job easier.

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The Functional Alcoholic

Despite appearing 'normal'  in all aspects of their life the functional alcoholic is, infact, getting ever-closer to rock bottom. Every alcoholic has their own rock bottom. For some it can be the loss of their job. For some it can be the loss of their family whilst for others it may be loss of financial security. For the unfortunate few, rock bottom can be the grave.


When I commenced this blog I thought that it would be a cakewalk as I've experienced alcoholism from both sides of the fence. The more that I delve into this blog on alcohol abuse and options of alcohol treatment I am finding myself drawn to my own experiences. Please excuse this as it is a useful way to fully explain the complexities of alcohol abuse and alcohol treatment. Outside of perversion, theft and violence I pretty-well did it all.


For many years I was a functional alcoholic. I worked night-shift, came home and drank myself to sleep with no disruption to my 'life.' When my first child was born, alcohol (briefly) took second place. My drinking soon escalated again and my alcohol symptoms began to become evident. This was magnified when my second child was born.


I thought that I had hit my rock bottom when my marriage ended in 2002. Emotionally, I still believe this to be true. As far as alcohol was concerned, I had much further to go. I moved into a house close to my children. Paradoxically I headed down a path that saw me drinking 2 bottles of vodka on an almost daily basis. To say that I was on a path of destruction is such an understatement.

Despite my 2 bottle a day habit, I was still able to 'keep up appearances' for a while. As soon as 'cracks' appeared, they appeared big-time. Week-long blackouts, several hospitalisations for seizures associated with alcohol withdrawal (for which I remain on medication for), non-appearances at social events, a bloated appearance due to impaired renal function and often a beard....mainly because my shaking was so bad that I was unable  to hold a razor steady enough.


Interestingly, I would wake at whatever time of day or night shaking very badly. As soon as my hand became within a few inches of the vodka bottle, these shakes would stop. I was coherent enough to realise that there was a psychosomatic factor related to my alcohol abuse. The habitual factor had become so entrenched that it was now presenting as physical symptoms. I chose to ignore this.

So; for the functional alcoholic, bare in mind that this 'functional' state will end for whatever reason. Additionally, there are incredibly strong psychosomatic factors involved that are best addressed by finding a respected Psychologist.


When this occurs....and I sincerely hope that it does (for your well-being)....the next step is alcohol treatment. 

Where Do You Drink Alcohol?

As mentioned in my previous entry alcohol is a socially accepted and highly promoted drug and that some people can handle it better than others. This begs the question as to why people consume alcohol. There is a mountain of reasons to justify the consumption of alcohol.  Social events, work dinners, barbeques, sporting events, unwinding after a hard days work....the list goes on.


This leaves quite a scope of opportunity for the alcoholic to have a drink. Why, then, is the alcoholic different from anyone else consuming alcohol at these events? The alcoholic is more likely to have 'a few drinks' prior to attending public functions. Initially in the disease process this acts as a great foil for their alcoholism as they will only consume a few alcoholic drinks as they are already 'primed' prior to the event.


As time progresses, however, the amount of drinks taken prior to a public event increase. Additionally and despite the ever-increasing tolerance to alcohol, increased alcohol consumption carries over into the public event and becomes noticed. During this 'crossover phase,' the alcoholic begins to sneak drinks. In my instance it was taping four hip-flasks of vodka to my body, wearing loose-fitting clothing and heading off to the toilet for a drink, returning to the can of beer that was my 'disguise.' 

It was around this time that I realised I was a fully-fledged alcoholic....and had no intention of addressing it. Why? I have no idea.


This type of covert and devious drinking can only be 'understood' by a practicing or 'functional' alcoholic. I was a 'functional' alcoholic for many years as my tolerance to alcohol increased so gradually. Looking back on it now, it is a form of madness. 


Many alcoholics will admit to this but I guarantee that the vast majority will only do so at the end of along drinking session. Once sober, they will (poorly) brush it off....until next time.


There is also the plight of the alcoholic who drinks predominantly out of sight....but that deserves an entry all of its own.

Alcoholism Is Insidious

Hi. I suspect you are reading 'here' for any one of three reasons. The first is the most obvious. Curiosity. The second reason is that you either know someone by however many degrees of separation suffering from alcoholism. The third is, obviously, that you think or know that you are on the road to or an alcoholic. To anyone in the third category, well done! I'm so pleased that you're here....and here's why....


....To those who know or at least suspect they have a problem with alcohol, there are a multitude of alcoholism management strategies. Each alcoholism management strategy is highly-tailored for the individual alcoholic as no two alcoholics are the same.


I am a recovering alcoholic. It took me 10 years to acknowledge it, a further 9 years before I addressed it and the last 3 years managing it. I say 'manage' it as alcoholism can't be beaten. It's not a fight and besides, it's a far superior opponent to those who cannot 'manage' it. It's a big, fat, bitter pill but it's a fact. As soon as you stop 'fighting' alcoholism then I guarantee a very noticeable change in your mindset.


Let's step back quite a few years. Alcohol is a socially accepted and highly promoted drug. Some people can handle it better than others. If, at an early stage of your drinking, you were one of those who could handle it better than most then this is a major alarm bell. If you are reading this and know any younger folks like this, please try to get them to read this. I am in no way trying to encourage visitors. What I am trying to do is help prevent anyone from going down my road. There is nothing glamorous about it. It's not Hollywood. This is hard-core life and death material.

I can recall, at the age of 19, reading a book on Psychiatry as I was working there as a Student Nurse. I had an interest in alcoholism and Behavioral Psychology. I still do. I was reading a generalized book when I came to the chapter on alcoholism. I merely skimmed through it but the term 'insidious.' It struck a nerve and has been with me to this day. At that young age I knew that I was 'better' at drinking than most as I was never the one falling over, becoming aggressive and all of the other humiliating things that come with drunkenness. 


As time progresses for the alcoholic, traits and behaviour follow, generally speaking, a similar path. Your work begins to suffer due to excessive days off due to a few too many drinks the night before. This  may be accompanied by arriving to work not in 100% shape and often smelling of alcohol.


Your home life begins to suffer to. You become more tense and irritable for no 'obvious' reason. The next step downwards in the spiral is denying that you have been drinking when you have. Believe me; people close to you know. It can't be masked for long.

The next two factors, statistically speaking, occur within 18 months of each other. The first is sneaking drinks. This is such a ludicrous cycle to get into as it only gives one the alcohol 'kick' for a few minutes. The rest of your time is spent being paranoid and uptight. The second factor is drinking before and/or at work. Again, an outrageous paradox when one looks at it from the 'outside.'


Added to all of this is the need to constantly lie about your drinking. Due to your intake combined with anxiety levels, lie after lie end up tripping over themselves.


Once you have disrupted your family life, your career, friendships and finances to crisis point, it is time to ask for help. Ideally you do this of your own volition but statistics state otherwise.


When you think you're down and out, there's always further down to go. Believe me.


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