Effects of Alcohol addition, abuse and dependency-Part Two

What alcohol addiction can do to your life and that of others can be very painful if not treated

Having discussed what alcohol is and some of its uses in the previous article, we want to continue with the series of alcohol addiction concentrating on the effects of alcohol and evidences or signs of alcohol addiction. Being the major cause of addiction affecting all people in indiscriminately it is important that we are well informed of the effects and signs of alcohol addiction so that we can take timely precaution and live a healthy life.

Effects of Alcohol addition, abuse and dependency-Effects of alcohol

We actually don’t have a uniform way alcohol affects people, the effects of alcohol vary immensely according to gender, age, weight, height and other similar factors. For instance a state of drunkenness would include one being too talkative and sometimes reckless in speech, staggering or difficulty walking upright, double vision and poor muscle control. However when it becomes extreme, drunkenness will cause vomiting, inability to stand, a state of coma and incapability to communicate well. It is in this case that some people appear to be less affected than others although excessive use can affect anyone. Alcohol will affect you in different ways and these will depend on the following:

• Ones sensitivity to alcohol
• Consuming alcohol on an empty stomach
• The kind of food eaten and to what quantity
• The quantity of alcohol you drink
• The intensity and consistency of your drinking
• How long you have been drinking
• Your environment at that time
• Have you been on drugs like cannabis while drinking?

The effects of alcohol may cause you just after taking a few drinks may release your inhibitions making you feel confident and self-assured while on the other hand the same quantity of alcohol may make you feel depressed, angry and possibly suicidal. These effects are very common in than in men though as both sexes grow older they are affected in the same way. Signs of alcohol intoxication include a flushed, reddened face, slower reactions and reduced inhibitions. If a person experiences extreme drunkenness then there is a great risk that they may vomit in their sleep and choke on this vomit. Overindulgence in alcohol creates an unpleasant reminder known as hangover which is the body’s reaction to intoxication and is partly caused by dehydration and the production of a toxic chemical as alcohol is broken down by your liver. Symptoms of a hangover include headaches, nausea and possibly vomiting; shakiness, tiredness and thirst. The effects will have disappeared by either the end of the day or the next. But it is when this crosses the line from an occasional event to a regular event that signals a drinking problem.

Effects of Alcohol addition, abuse and dependency-Alcohol addiction

This comes as a result of the excessive alcohol consumption to point where the drinker becomes unable to control their consumption and they are now driven by the alcohol thirst which leads to alcoholism. Therefore alcoholism is the consumption of or preoccupation with alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the alcoholic’s normal personal, family, social, or work life. The chronic alcohol consumption caused by alcoholism can result in psychological and physiological disorders.

• The primary effect of alcoholism is to encourage the alcoholic to drink at times and in amounts that are damaging.
• The secondary damage caused by an inability to control one’s drinking manifests in many ways.
• It is common for a person suffering from alcoholism to drink well after physical health effects start to manifest.
• The physical health effects associated with alcohol consumption include cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatic, polyneuropathy, alcoholic dementia, and heart disease, increased chance of cancer, nutritional deficiencies, sexual dysfunction, and death from many sources.

Effects of Alcohol addition, abuse and dependency-Why do people become alcoholics

Human beings are social beings capable of making decisions and choices on their own because we are different it may not be easy to get a straight answer to this question. However when these choices are made some will be good and productive while others will be bad.

• The choices are influenced by a variety of factors like our background, family upbringing, lifestyle, genetics, environment etc. if for example a family has history of alcoholism either of your parents or grandparents was an alcoholic then this is a risk factor.
• If you suffer from a mental illness such as anxiety, depression or manic depression then you may use alcohol as a way of coping with your illness.
• It can also be a form of escapism.
• If you work in an environment which has a ‘drinking culture’ then this is another risk factor.
• Also, stressful life events such as divorce, bereavement or moving house can all trigger alcohol abuse.

It is difficult to say when social drinking becomes a problem which eventually leads to an addiction (alcoholism). However the first step for these people is recognizing that their drinking is out of control.

Effects of Alcohol addition, abuse and dependency-How to know if you have an alcohol addiction

Each person needs to have general knowledge of how alcoholism gets into one’s life. The signs of a drinking problem or ‘alcohol abuse’ may include:

• Being unable to stick to one drink
• Guilt or feeling ashamed about your drinking
• Sudden change of attitude like lying to family or friends about your drinking
• Having a desire to drink in order to relax or feel confident
• Finding that you drink more than is good for you
• Experiencing ‘blackouts’ or forgetting what you did when drunk
• Your family and friends are getting worried about your drinking
• Need a drink to get through the day or to cope with your illness

The journey from problem drinking to full blown alcoholism happens over a period of time. However if detected at an early stage then it can be prevented. Having a problem with alcohol doesn’t mean that you will automatically become an alcoholic but it does increase the risk of that happening. What happens is that you develop a tolerance to alcohol over a period of time, which is a sign that your body is becoming used to alcohol and demands it in order for you to function normally. It can start off by a few drinks several times a week, then drinking every day or ‘binge drinking’ which can result in alcoholism.

Alcoholism doesn’t happen overnight: it is a gradual process in which the drinker passes through three stages to get to this point. The three stages of alcoholism are:

• Stage one: no obvious signs of damage yet. The drinker is still in control but is gradually developing a tolerance to alcohol.
• Stage two: problems have started to occur. The drinker is experiencing physical and mental effects of their habit and has developed alcohol abuse.
• Stage three: this is the final stage in the journey. The drinker has become a full blown alcoholic and is unable to stop drinking.

There are warning signs of alcoholism which include an increased tolerance; finding that you can drink more than your friends or colleagues; drinking to ease withdrawal symptoms such as shakiness or anxiety and denying or attempting to justify that you’re drinking to family, friends and colleagues. When this happens to you then you need help which must begin with you acknowledging that you have a problem. Step two would be to seek professional help from experts and this is where doctor Dalal Akoury and her time of experts get involved. Doctor Akoury is the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. She is offering exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to other physicians and health care professionals through training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars. Your addiction problem is well under her vast experience in addiction treatment. With her you will get real time natural treatment that will ensure your life back and be well again to enjoy life to the fullest. Having looked at the effects and bit of signs of alcoholism in this article, I want to invite you to continue staying on the link and get to know the treatment segment in our next article.

Effects of Alcohol addition, abuse and dependency-Part Two