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Symptoms, causes and effects of alcoholism
Symptoms, causes and effects of alcoholism
Symptoms, causes and effects of alcoholism
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What is Alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a disease in which a person has an overwhelming desire to drink alcoholic beverages. A person who has this desire is called an alcoholic because he/she feels forced to drink. Alcoholism also known as alcohol dependence a disabling addictive disorder. It is characterized by compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol. Alcoholism is considered one of the most serious problems in the world. Alcohol creates many problems in our society and people 's personal lives. A large number of people in the world die from different diseases caused by alcohol. Alcoholism is an increasing problem, which has many objectionable consequences. Excessive drinking involves deaths from falls, drownings, fatal fire accidents, accidental deaths on the job, highway fatalities, spouse beatings, and child abuse. So alcoholism causes many troubles. It can destroy a person 's life: relationship with family and relatives, and even one 's attitude toward life.
Signs and Symptoms
Alcoholism is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one’s health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work. Repeatedly neglecting responsibilities at home, work, or at school because they’re too hungover to do anything. Using alcohol in dangerous situations such as drinking and driving, drinking in a bad neighborhood, mixing alcohol with prescription medications, or operating a machine under the influence. Getting into fights, being disruptive in public, and domestic dispute are some legal problems that drinking can lead to. Alcoholics continue to drink despite relationship problems. It makes things worse in the relationship with your spouse, family members, or friends. Alcohol can cause people to fight with family members because ...
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... their outdated behavioral patterns and make the conscious decision to change. By becoming less influenced by their surroundings, addicts can learn to eliminate cravings and embrace their inner strength without the need for external validation through substances.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves inserting small needles into the skin. The evidence that acupuncture helps people overcome alcoholism is more anecdotal than research-based. Acupuncture works in these ways:
It modulates neurotransmitters
Stimulates the endocrine system, resulting in relaxation
Stimulates circulation and tends to reduce inflammation
There is no factual published research that can back acupuncture’s benefits in treating alcoholism. Most people use acupuncture to relieve pain and depression, they also use it to quit smoking.
Patient Teaching
AA’s founder Bill Wilson asserted that alcoholism is a spiritual disease with only one cure., AA believes that the one and only cure is by following, and living by the 12 step program. Alcohol Anonymous 12-step program derived from this type of thinking and from the very beginning, new members are taught that they are absolutely powerless to alcohol, and that the only way for you to be cured is for “a power greater than yourself could restore you to sanity”. AA members separate themselves from the rest of society, and attribute their drinking problems to every other aspect of their lives. There is a list of contributing factors to an individual’s disease, published by Bill Wilson. The list is roughly 25 aspects of every alcoholic’s life but Alcohol is never listed because in Mr. Wilson’s eyes it’s not the alcohol that is the problem. Instead it is the individual that has become a victim to the alcohol.
Bill emphasized that alcoholism was a malady of mind, emotions and body. Though a physician, Dr. Bob had not known alcoholism to be a disease. Due to Bill’s convincing ideas, he soon got sober, never to drink again. The founding spark of A.A. had been struck (Wekesser 26). Both men immediately set to work with alcoholics at Akron’s City Hospital, where one patient quickly achieved complete sobriety (Pitman 69).
Alcohol is the most widely used substance all over the world. The use of this substance affect the person health and economy. It is also affecting the family, community and the country (“National Institute on Drug Abuse,” 2016). Most people are facing this problem, but they could not get rid of it alone. Drinking addicted people need someone who has the same problem, and decided to quit drinking alcohol, therefore Alcoholics Anonymous is standing for them to help such type of people and bring their normal life. Alcoholic Anonymous subculture helps the families, the community and the country, because mostly excessive alcohol drinking leads to the crime, and it is affecting the person life “40% of all violent crimes today by the case of an excessive drinking (“National Institute on Drug Abuse,” 2016). Most crimes are alcohol related according to the National Council on Alcoholism, 37% of almost 2 million convicted offenders currently in Jail, report that they were drinking the time of their arrest (“Alcohol, Drugs and Crime,2016). Most people easily addicted with alcohol especially young people, because they can get it easily around. This drinking problem leads the people to the crime and shade their future life. Some people decide to stop drinking, and they go to the Alcoholic Anonymous to their alcohol addiction treatment. As long as the person gets ready to follow the program and promise to change his or her practices, they will bring their life back. For a few people AA might not
Once you admit this, A.A. philosophy states, you can deflate your own ego and hand your life over to God. It has been argued that this strategy has the capacity to affect women negatively and not best serve the needs of those women who seek treatment (Kaskutas, 1992). Women, it has been asserted, instead need to fight to overcome common feelings that are associated with alcoholism, such as helplessness, powerlessness, and dependence (Kaskutas, 1992). Studies have shown that one specific method for treating alcoholism, irrespective of the differentiation of patients, does not maximize the benefit received from the treatment program. This would apply to cultural differences, age differences, as well as gender differences.
From a biological perspective, alcoholism is a disease that affects the brain’s functioning and AA is a route to sobriety. From a psychology major’s perspective, it is more than just a place for victims of alcoholism. It is an opportunity to observe how people go from drunk to sober with help from their AA friends.
Alcohol Abuse is part of disorder that affects many people throughout the world. Many are aware of the issues the disorder can bring not just on the victim, but also to the people that surround the person with the psychological problem. There are different areas that can be discussed in regards to alcoholism. According to Coon & Mitterer (2013), a substance abuse disorder is when there is an abuse or dependence on a psychoactive drug. Alcohol is a substance that can become abusive and bring negative effects on a person’s body. Alcohol is a substance that can bring behavioral effects such as behavioral effects, physical changes, and social changes. A good solution to Alcohol abuse can be Alcohol anonymous, an organization that helps individuals with alcohol addiction.
...nding what is "normal" and what is not because of the unpredictable environment they were raised in. Often times alcoholic have a tendency to abuse their children and their spouse. Many times, alcoholics come from an abusive home and they have a history of alcoholism in the family already. In conclusion, alcohol affects every part of your life. It has irreversible affects on the body, including the liver and the brain. Alcohol also has detrimental affects on the mind, which leads to feeling inferior and unstoppable. Alcohol and alcoholism also affects family as well. There are many treatment programs and support groups that can help. However, most of the time the alcoholics refuse to admit they have a problem with their drinking, so it goes untreated. It is best to seek help, as living with an alcoholic parent is not only traumatizing, but taxing on the body and mind.
Alcoholism, as opposed to merely excessive or irresponsible drinking, has been thought of as a symptom of psychological or social stress or as a learned, maladaptive coping behaviour. More recently, and probably more accurately, it has come to be viewed as a complex disease in its own right. Alcoholism usually develops over a period of years. Alcohol comes to be used more as a mood-changing drug than as a foodstuff or beverage served as a part of social custom or religious ritual.
Alcoholism is defined as a destructive addiction to alcohol while alcohol abuse is defined as a destructive abuse of alcohol. Alcoholism is the most severe form of alcohol abuse but there are many different factors that contribute to a person becoming an alcoholic. Alcoholism is genetic but usually influenced by someone’s environment growing up and their present environment. Having a abusive childhood or a hard life in general can trigger feelings that turn into a need to drink. An alcoholic can not control his/her intake of alcohol because he/she does not have control over it. There are many signs and symptoms to determine if someone is in fact an al...
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, alcoholism is defined as "the compulsive consumption of and psychophysiological dependence on alcoholic beverages." It is a problem that can tear apart marriages and families, cause someone to lose his job, and many more negative results. In order to recover from this dependency a person must lose his desire for and dependence upon alcohol, continue to remain sober, and resolve all conflicts caused by the alcohol abuse. There are several alternatives an alcoholic has to rehabilitate himself. The best solution is a combination of individual therapy and a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous.
Connecting is part of this wonderful Fellowship of men and women who share experiences, strengths and hope of a better, sober life. The philosophy of Alcoholics Anonymous is that alcoholism is a disease and no one is “cured” even if they stop drinking. The members of this informal group focus on staying sober “one day at a time”. And, anyone who desires to stop drinking is welcomed into the
Drinking alcohol is associated with many adverse health problems in the short and long-term. These include cancer, stroke, heart disease, miscarriage, premature birth and unintentional injuries. Despite the fact that alcohol brings many negative impacts, many people still choose to drink and do not overcome their drinking habit. They have been successfully seduced by alcohol until drinking has become their addiction. However, some of them try to quit drinking, but they still cannot break the addiction. Basically, quitting alcohol is difficult and almost impossible for them because of brain-craving, lack of belief and support, and weak willpower.
To understand alcoholism, it must first be understood what this affliction is dependent on. Alcohol is a substance that is made by the fermentation of fruits, grains, or miscellaneous other organic materials. The chemical, alcohol, is a depressant and acts on every cell in the human body. Due to this, the central nervous system, along with the pleasure centers of the brain, are affected resulting in a feeling of euphoria and a sense of well being. After repeated exposure, the brain becomes dependent on this drug to unburden itself whenever it feels the compulsion. Several factors that contribute to alcoholism are the individual’s psychology, genetics, culture, and the individual’s response to physical pain.
It is unfortunate that many people within our society and worldwide suffers from the affects of alcohol addiction. There are many issues associated with this addiction and many times it’s not only the victim that deals with the addiction but also the people in close association with the individual. Alcohol addiction can afflict anyone and knows no limits of its damage that it can do to a person’s life or the people in their lives. Most importantly are the ones whom seek help for their addiction as it becomes a lifelong healing period for them. It has become clear that constant consumption of alcohol leads to addiction. It has also become clearer with the laws and policies that have been drawn up to combat drunk drivers that it is not a normal thing to do anymore as was thought to be normal in the late 60’s and early 70’s. This is not normal behaviour and it becomes clearer as the laws for drinking and driving is enforced by law enforcement officers. It is a duty for addiction workers to help in the aid of these problems and its laws and policies that help in putting a stop to some of the problems that arise from this addiction.
"Because time and amount of drinking are uncontrollable, the alcoholics is likely to engage in such behaviors as [1] breaking family commitments, both major and minor; [2] spending more money than planned; [3] drinking while intoxicated and getting arrested; [4] making inappropriate remarks to friends, family, and co-workers; [5] arguing, fighting and other anti-social actions. The alcoholic would probably neither do such things, nor approve of them in others unless he was drinking" (Johnson 203).