The Disease of Alcoholism
Do you are someone you know deny they have a drinking problem but all the signs say that alcohol is at the root of major problems in the life of the one doing the drinking? Cravings for alcohol and an inability to limit or stop the flow of alcohol are both earmarks that the individual is probably suffering from a disease called alcoholism, a disease that is chronic in nature and one that can have severe health, financial and relationship consequences.
There is commonly denial on the part of the drinker that a true trouble exists concerning alcohol and health issues. Or issues that include financial problems or relationship issues. All these problems may stem from the drinking habits. Anybody with a disease that impairs thinking is going to make bad decisions. Or they may effort to cover up the problem out of embarrassment or for other reasons. They may try to fight against getting help if doing so means doing without the thing they crave the most – alcohol. A person may actually want to stop drinking or at least has a desire to limit the consumption. But they are unable to do so without help. If this person is a male, there is a higher probability that there will be a lag time between when he realizes he needs help and when he will admit the idea that he must actively accept help. This is not unlike other scenarios when it comes to admitting that there may be a “disease” involved. Although it is more common in males to have a difficult time going for medical help, female drinkers can also have difficulty coming to terms with the facts. The fact that they may have a disease when it comes to alcohol consumption. Alcoholism involves a drug and the drug is alcohol. This is a very addictive drug and addictions can be very difficult to beat.
Individuals that associate with the drinker may find it easy to blame the drinker for their problems. The problems that arise as a result of the drinking. This instead of being able to have compassion for a person suffering from a disease. If a person has physical symptoms like paralysis or an amputee it becomes easier to see why the individual is in need of medical intervention and healing. When the disease requires a little more investigative work in order to connect the health consequences or signs and symptoms of the disease then those who are in contact with the person suffering from alcoholism must look beyond the raised glass in order to see and understand the disease.
Alcoholism treatment begins with recognizing the signs and symptoms, getting past the denial stage, and realizing that the truth must be accepted. Once this happens, the individual may accept the idea they may need medical treatment and psychological counseling. This is the usual combination that is involved when treating the individual with alcoholism.
Signs and symptoms of alcoholism:
Strong Cravings for alcohol that cannot be denied
A strong need to drink at specific times or after certain events (like after dinner)
The experiences of needing to drink more alcohol than previously in order to achieve the same level of intoxication that brings with it a sense of “normalcy” or “good feeling”. This is called tolerance.
The ability to consume large quantities of alcohol rapidly without appearing to be intoxicated
Having “blackouts” in which the individual is unable to remember conversations or commitments made while drinking
A loss of interest in activities or hobbies that typically was important to the individual prior to the increase in alcohol consumption.
Related posts:
- About Alcoholism and the Twelve Steps Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has a twelve-step program for those suffering from alcohol abuse or alcoholism. Individuals with the disease alcoholism benefit from the twelve steps because it gives them a plan for making the disease manageable and to help them accept the reality of the disease that they will have for life. Yes, alcoholism is a chronic disease, there is no cure and the individual must learn how to live with the disease or it can and will end the life they have. The process of recovery from your disease begins with admitting that you have alcoholism and that you can overcome the consequences of the signs and symptoms of alcoholism....
- Alcoholism Common and Serious Did you know that alcohol addiction is a common and fatal disease? Physicians have started to associate cancers with alcoholism. They also see many cases of diseases related to alcoholism that include alcohol-related cirrhosis, cardiomyopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding and pancreatitis. There are also those that suffer the consequences of alcoholism without ever taking a drink of alcohol. These include the innocents that suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome, a leading cause of mental retardation. Other grave consequences of alcoholism include the traffic accidents that drinking and driving cause, depression and dementia suffered by those with the disease, suicide, and homicide linked to alcoholism and the risk to children of alcoholic parents that they too might suffer someday the same illness...
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- Marriage And Alcoholism – The Leading Cause Of Divorce Alcoholism and marriage are two things that do not tend to blend well. Alcoholism can also be devastating to a relationship, resulting in a great deal of problems for a relationship. Sometimes, untreated Alcoholism can result in divorce as alcohol abuse can lead to physical or sexual abuse, along with verbal abuse. Assuming you are in the kind of a relationship where your partner drinks large quantities of alcohol, you really need to be cautious....
- How To Fight Alcoholism? Alcoholism is not something contemporary to write on. On the other hand, sorry to say nobody can persuade individuals to discontinue drinking. People, who cannot get alcohol because of financial issues or any other reason, sometimes take pills having alcohol in them. This way is still more damaging to health....
Written by Dave Owen on December 9th, 2009 with
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