Alcohol addiction is a complicated problem. Meaning that, alcohol can be an addictive substance. But not everyone who consumes alcohol will become addicted. However, certain people may be more susceptible to become addicts.
Alcoholism or alcohol dependency impacts every aspect of a person’s life. An alcoholic suffers mentally, emotionally, and physically. Furthermore, once the addiction takes its toll, almost everyone wants to know how to put an end to this bad habit.
It’s just as important to point out that, there is no stereotypical portrait of an alcoholic. Both men and women from all sorts of different economic, education, and racial backgrounds suffer from this problem. If you’re reading this article, chances are that you’re seeking
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Women, on the other hand, should limit themselves to two to three ounces daily.
For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 15 drinks or more per week. While heavy drinking for women is defined by consuming 8 drinks or more per week.
Find a support group. In many ways, recovery is an individual experience. Which increases the urge to drink when you’re alone. Progressing through recovery means becoming well-acquainted with your own thought processes and tendencies. Although much of the recovery involves the addict's own individual journey, the value of support systems cannot go underappreciated.
A support group, for instance, can help addicts surround themselves with healthy individuals. Meaning that, they’ll gain the ability to end ties with those who have had an unhealthy influence on their life, making the recovery process even more difficult. Support groups can also help addicts voice their struggles. As we all know with any important life change, the road to recovery isn’t always easy. As a matter of fact, anyone who’s battled an addiction knows that you are likely to encounter many obstacles and
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The list can include anything that you hold close to your heart and value. Once the list is made, post it where you can see it daily. In addition to this, put your focus on enjoying healthier alternatives which don’t involve drinking or being around alcohol.
Expect withdrawals to happen. One justification most alcoholics will use for not giving up an addiction is their fear of withdrawals. Approximately 50% of the people with alcohol dependence experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms usually start about six hours after alcohol cessation. Even if an individual is cutting back rather than quitting, it’s best to take the process one day at a time.
From the first six hours to a few weeks after the last drink, drinkers that range from medium to heavy will experience withdrawal symptoms that include:
Twitching
Anxiety
Cold sweat
Difficulty sleeping
Difficulty concentrating
By ending alcohol consumption, individuals may also experience an increase in energy level. After a few months, excess weight begins to disappear as the result of lower calorie intake. Although most of us may not realize it, liquor, especially beer, adds up to a lot of calories and can easily add pounds to your
Alcoholism is as prevalent in my family, as blood is in our veins. When previously asked to observe 12-step groups, I ritualistically flocked to Alcoholics Anonymous, without consideration of the possibility that other groups had any potential to make an impact on me. I always pride myself in my ability to identify as an individual that is not ensnared in alcoholism, but unfortunately am an individual that was highly tormented by alcoholism. Through observation of the group and how it processed, as well as identifying how I felt as a new attendee, I was able to understand why self-help, support groups are so vital for individuals in recovery. I finally realized, I too am in recovery.
Many of the problems associated with early sobriety do not stem directly from psychoactive substances. Instead they are associated with physical and psychological changes that occur after the substances have left the body. When a person regularly uses psychoactive drugs, the brain undergoes physical changes to cope with the presence of drugs in the body. When the drugs are removed from the body, the brain craves the drugs that it has become accustomed to and as the brain attempts to rebalance itself without the presence of psychoactive drugs the person often experiences feelings of confusion, pain, and discomfort. The symptoms that are experienced immediately after stopping drug use are called acute withdrawal. But often the symptoms do not stop at acute withdrawal. After the body makes initial adjustments to the absence of drugs, the changes that have occurred in the brain still need time to revert back to their original state. During this period, a variety of symptoms known as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) begin to occur. In the book Uppers, Downers, All Arounders, published by CNS Productions, authors Darryl Inaba and William Cohen define PAWS as “a group of emotional and physical symptoms that appear after major withdrawal symptoms have abated” (Inaba & Cohen, 2011).
Dealing with everyday stresses can be overwhelming for most people, all the more for recovering addicts. If you don’t have access to a support group who can help you manage these feelings in a positive way, you may be pushed to find social connections and coping mechanisms in other avenues. You may seek old relationships or habits that reawaken tempting behaviors.
Alcoholism has been a fixture in our society since the first introduction of alcohol. Despite it being an equal opportunity disease, a large majority of not only the treatment, but also the research, has been about men. This lack of consideration of the different needs for men and women has led to many women going through recovery systems that do not address their experiences, and therefore do not allow them to take full advantage of that recovery system. This paper will attempt to look at the different experiences that men and women have in their journey through a substance addiction (particularly alcohol), from addiction through recovery. The main recovery method that will be discussed here is Alcoholics Anonymous.
...meeting was one of awe and some relief. This meeting made me realize that I should really appreciate the things that I have in life because there are others out there who are way off worse. What I learned from the meeting is that the problem is not how much you drink; it’s what happens when you drink. Getting clean and sober is for those who want it, not those who need it. The key step for addicts is to maintain a motivated way of thinking once you start feeling good about yourself from making amends. I believe 12-step sober support groups can be extremely beneficial to the person attempting abstinence. The premise is that one addict can best help another and that by helping another you actually help yourself. AA is a fundamental example of how groups support sobriety in individuals as long as they are willing to follow a program and commit to changing their habits.
Overcoming an addiction to alcohol can be a long and bumpy road. Many people feel that it is impossible to overcome an alcohol addiction. Many people feel that is it easier to be an addict than to be a recovering addict. However, recovering from alcoholism is possible if one is ready to seek the help and support they need on their road to recovery. Recovery is taking the time to regain one’s normal mind, health and strength. Recovery is process. It takes time to stop the alcohol cravings and pressure to drink. For most, rehab and professional help is needed, while others can stop drinking on their own. Recovery never ends. After rehab, professional help or quitting on your own, many people still need help staying sober. A lot of time, recovering
According to WebMD, signs of alcohol dependence or addiction are not being able to quit drinking or control how much, the person may experience withdrawal symptoms, and you drink in the morning or are often drunk for long periods of time or drink alone (WebMD website, 2016, para. 3). As of result of Greg drinking, he needs to seek treatment so that he no longer harms himself or others. Those individuals who seek treatment also run the risk of having a relapse. Relapse is often defined as a return to drug use after a period of abstention (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016, p. 285). To avoid a relapse one should create a relapse prevention plan.
Alcoholism is a major problem in today’s society it is considered a disease. The effects of this so called disease are a lot more serious than one might think, and can effect your life in a big way. Many of alcohols consumers drink frequently that they will eventually get used to it, and it becomes an everyday thing. That right there is where the problem starts. Some of the effects I found are economical, physiological, and physical, which are some of the negative effects alcohol, can have on someone’s life.
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.
Generally speaking, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) references substance dependence (in this case, alcohol) as a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms that shows that the person is continuing use of the substance even with adverse effects on the individual’s life. Specifically, for a person to be diagnosed with substance dependence they must show at least three of the following symptoms; tolerance, withdrawal, substance being taken in larger amounts of over a longer period of time than intended, an unsuccessful desire or effort to control the use of the substance, there is a great deal of time devoted to the drug, important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced due to the substance, and the individual continues use of the substance even with the knowledge that the substance is causing physical or psychological problems (APA, 2000).
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.
Binge drinking has different definitions but many would agree that ¡§Binge drinking has been defined as drinking more than 4-5 drinks in a row in one sitting. A drink is defined as a 12 ounce can or bottle of beer, a wine cooler, a four ounce glass of wine, or a shot of liquor¡¨ (Rhodes 1). Others believe that men who consume 5-6 drinks and women who consume 4-5 drinks are also considered Binge Drinkers. Personally I do not think that sex matters, if someone is consuming multiple drinks to become highly intoxicated they should be considered a Binge Drinker.
The best way to avoid alcohol abuse, dependence, and addiction is to drink only moderate amounts, or not drink at all. Moderate drinking is no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. To avoid alcohol dependence:
Alcoholism is a disease that affects many people in the United States today. It not only affects the alcoholic, but also their family, friends, co-workers, and eventually total strangers. The symptoms are many, as are the causes and the effects.