Sober Resources

Social Effects of Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Addiction in any form and kind is dangerous and unattractive. It leaves out a person with unwanted symptoms and signs. In this article, I am going to talk about one of the specific kinds of addiction which is alcohol addiction. Alcohol addiction is common yet trendy these days. There are a lot of expectations and hopes; there is more than enough competition for people to survive in, which is why they seek materialistic pleasure. They tend to avoid all of their woes and worries through these false and wrong means of unconsciousness. Continue Reading »

Ending Alcoholism and Alcohol Dependency

There are many people who have a drink of alcohol with their dinner or at while at a social gathering. Drinking alcohol before going to bed at night is also very common. However, when a person engages in binge drinking and drinks in excess, alcohol is considered to be a problem.

The result of drinking alcohol in excess can include vomiting and blacking out. Eventually, a dependence on alcohol will be observed. Alcohol abuse can sneak up on someone. It can happen so quickly that people often do not even realize that they are becoming alcoholics. Alcoholism also has the ability to destroy people’s lives. If it is not treated right, everyone in the immediate environment of the alcoholic will be affected.

More often than not, alcoholism is caused by something the sufferer has previously experienced. Before any treatment can begin, that a cause that should be determined. It is always necessary to find the cause of alcoholism and attack that reason so that the problem does not resurface. Genetics can also play a big role in binge drinking and alcoholism. Stress and anxiety can also lead a person to drink in excess and head down the cycle of alcohol dependency.

Many recognize the fact that drinking in excess affects a person both physically and psychologically and treatment is only effective if the alcoholic is willing to change and stop their problem behavior. The alcoholic will also need to be aware that treatment will not be easy and that there will be some profound changes to their lifestyle as soon as they stop drinking. The withdrawal stage can include seizures and hallucinations in those who have been consuming a great deal of alcohol for a long period of time. They may also experience shaking and stomach problems when they begin to give up alcohol.

To make it even more complicated, it has been observed that one who has become addicted to alcohol is most likely addicted to other substances such as narcotics. When these two addictions are present together, the treatment may be more difficult and uncomfortable for the addicted person.

Those who enter treatment programs for their drinking problem often do so unwillingly or reluctantly. This is generally because they do not believe that they have an alcohol problem. There might even be a need for an intervention for those who have had a serious alcohol problem for a number of years.

Professional help is often needed to help the alcoholic end their dependency on alcohol. There are a number of treatment programs that can help the problem drinker get past their addiction. Counseling and medications are some of the treatments that can be used to get the drinker to end their problem with alcohol. The type of program that will work will depend on the level of alcohol dependency and how willing the person is to undergo treatment.

The problems that arise from alcohol dependency are troubling and numerous. When the treatment has ended, it will be necessary that the alcoholic continue to seek support for their new lifestyle. Friends and family is of utmost importance during this time as there will always be a struggle against alcohol for someone who was previously dependent on it. In the beginning, there will be daily struggles to get past the temptations to drink again. The feeling will lessen over time. However, it is still necessary for the dependent person to understand that alcoholism is a lifetime battle.

The Ten Most Common Warning Signs of Alcoholism

There are ten signs of alcohol abuse and dependency that you can look for in your friend or loved one to check if the person is dealing with a drinking problem. Having a couple of drinks a day is not usually considered to be a problem for many people. However, when the drinking is out of control and the person is unable to stop consuming alcohol there is a problem that could include alcoholism and alcohol dependency.

The worst type of alcohol problem a person could have is dependency. There are a couple of warning signs that will indicate whether or not a person is dependent on alcohol. The tolerance level of an alcoholic will eventually rise as they continue to drink. It will take more and more alcohol to bring about intoxication. When the alcohol is reduced or taken away completely, the alcohol dependent person will experience withdrawal symptoms.

There are approximately fourteen million problem drinkers in the United States alone. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that men under the age of sixty five should consume no more than 4 servings of alcohol per day and no more than 14 servings of alcohol in a week. On the other hand, women under the age of sixty five should drink no more than 3 servings of alcohol a day and no more than 12 servings of alcohol in a week.

If you suspect that someone you know may be suffering from alcoholism, check for the ten most common warning signs. Your loved one may be an alcoholic if he:

1. Drinks alcohol by himself
2. Always seems to find reasons to drink
3. Is unable to stop or reduce the consumption of alcohol
4. Is uncaring about his appearance
5. Shows signs of bad nutrition or eating patterns
6. Shakes or trembles especially in the morning
7. Drinks alcohol in secret
8. Becomes violent when he drinks
9. Feels angry or reacts violently when asked about his drinking
10. Needs alcohol just to function

The person who is experiencing dependency on alcohol will also have difficulty remembering what happened the night before. They also feel stress and anxiety when they have to face an event without alcohol available.

Alcoholism also has health consequences. There can be damage to the heart, the brain, and the liver. It can also negatively impact a number of other organs in the body. To make it even worse, many of the problems brought about by alcoholism can be permanent.

If any of the above symptoms are something that you or a loved one is experiencing, the first step to take might be a trip to your doctor for some advice on where to seek help. There are also a number of trained professional counselors who can help with alcoholism and alcohol dependency. Apart from these, there are support groups available to help alcoholics deal with their dependency and the effects of life without alcohol. There is never a bad time to enter treatment programs for alcoholism. There is no such thing as too late.