Who Is an Alcoholic?

Help the Individual Who is Alcoholic

Ever fancy a party or dinner without alcoholic drinks?? Hardly any!! Alcohol is a very old drink that has been used in almost every culture. These alcoholic beverages and drinks are a basal need. All over the world, the people consume alcohol at dinners, parties and social get together. Alcohol doesn’t always take you to the drowsy level if taken at a moderate level. Instead, it spurs you up and sense of well being flows down in your body. It loosens you up. Just a shot can’t be as risky as it just impairs brain functions for sometimes making the driving and other works hard to perform, but it fades away in a matter of a day. Here, we need to make it clear “Who is Alcoholic?”

Yet, too many doses at one sitting for a longer period of time like 18 months can lead you to alcohol addiction. Which is hazardous for mental and physical health as it may damage the ruling parts of the brain. This could be very serious and irreversible as it causes liver inflammation, cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy which is an ultimate kill for a person who is alcoholic if unchecked. For first timers, it’s just the easy deal. They might have a hangover in the morning with the strong feeling of nausea or diarrhea sometimes. With the nonstop drinking one who is alcoholic can easily step up to the addiction level. There is no doubt that if the person would know well that what is alcoholic then he/she must be able to avoid it.

What is Binge Drinking?

Almost everyone thinks excessive drinking as a feature of an alcoholic. Another term Binge drinking is sometimes associated with alcoholics which are not so true. Binge drinking is something like having more than 3,4 shots in one sitting. It’s no doubt an act of heavy drinking, but it still doesn’t mean that person is alcoholic. Alcoholism means a person crave for alcohol and are not able to get hold on his habit, whereas, a binge drinker is someone who drink too much. Three or more shots for 2 or 3 times in a week and can withhold his craving anytime when wanted. Though, binge drinkers might get alcoholic with time.

Some Facts and Figures Regarding Alcoholics

The ratio of alcoholics is continuously growing up unfortunately. In USA alone,  15% population is alcoholic, and around the world almost 140 million people are alcoholics. Majority of them is not well treated and suffering from health hazards. According to a recent research, it has been found that almost 1700 plus teens die because of much drinking. Another study states 1 death out of 25 is due to alcoholism. Study also concluded that women alcoholics face worst health risks than male ones. However, women alcoholics are less than male alcoholics.

Can We Differentiate Social Drinking and Alcoholism?

Nearly it’s quite impossible to differentiate that “what is social drinking” and “what is an alcoholic”. The purpose is same that is to have a boastful and relaxing time. The difference is a person who is alcoholic knows when and how to stop drinking whereas an alcoholic can’t do that himself. Even he thinks that he is going to a wrong way and should stop at once, but he loses control over himself. He might try to quit drinking but can’t. His thirst can’t be quenched easily and end up drinking more than expected. He always defends himself with lame excuses about heavy work load, depression, relation instabilities and so and so forth. He thinks he can quit, but the reality is always far worst.

There are certain signs and symptoms that can show whether the person is alcoholic or not. Let’s have a look:

  • The first and foremost symptom is the disturbance in routine life.
  • The individual “who is alcoholic”, hardly takes care of himself
  • His appetite decreases and stomach doesn’t work properly
  • His work routine differs. Always late and very less concentration on his work and house hold matters. He often come late at home and sleeps tight and gets up late with hangover symptoms sometimes
  • He doesn’t even focus on any previously existing healthy activities. His life gets totally upside down
  • Moreover, he offends a lot and shows no tolerance in terms of behavior. Check for the tolerance level of alcohol. A person “Who is Alcoholic” shows more tolerance to alcohol. He can drink more than a normal person
  • An alcoholic lies a lot if you ask him question about his drinking routine. Because somewhere, deep down he knows he has been doing wrong to his family or himself. That’s why he covers up his drinking time for any knitted lie
  • Another sure shot sign includes the time duration. An individual “who is alcoholic” will always be missing at that particular time when he needed to fill up his bloodstream with alcohol level
  • The person who is alcoholic can never abide by the law. He sometimes gulps it down just to do rebellious acts or driving drunk as a publicity stunt. It’s called law breaking just for fun sake
  • The individual “who is alcoholic” is a person who is in apt to take in excess of alcoholic substances and that habit can’t be beaten easily
  • The person gets dependent on alcohol with time. If it is kept abandoned, it can lead to many health risks and further progress can become deadly over time

Being alcoholic is not much like a pest. A person who is alcoholic is just like another citizen who has right to be respected and treated just like the others. It’s just a state that can turn him into some criminal or an abuser. In the early stage, an alcoholic might not appear so sick. They look like normal ones. They keep their posture normal until the cravings set them mad. So if, you notice anyone with these signs and symptoms, do offer him help. It’s your moral duty to educate him and let him know “who is alcoholic”. After all, that’s his choice to get better or not. Many want to get help. For them, many rehab centers are there to help them out.

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What is Alcoholism?

What is Alcoholism? – Deadly Venom

Alcohol is, without any doubt, a nasty drink that makes you feel better while sipping your first few sips. These few heavenly sips or even a glass or two can’t take you far away from your loved ones or yourself. Instead, it relaxes you a bit and helps you pick up your gravity after a hard and wearing day. However, the soul key to everything is moderation. Excessive use of anything will surely lead to fatal consequences in terms of alcohol use. Alcohol use turns into alcohol abuse and cause many injurious health results and even deaths.

Having known the fact that you have been consuming on too much could be depressing for an alcoholic. Even if he tries to cut it down, he can’t because the alcohol is so much getting over him and won’t let him sign off this habit easily unless he seeks passionate help. Youngsters and teens start hitting it up for the sake of fun without knowing what is alcoholism and its bad results. Most of them end up falling for it idiotically. That turns them into parasites for this society.

In order to have more precise idea, it is very important to understand what is alcoholism? Alcoholism, by definition is an illness. An alcoholic state is called as alcoholism. Alcoholism is a disease in which an alcoholic person can’t keep himself from drinking alcohol. This crave makes them dependent upon heavy amount of alcohol. It makes them physically as well as physiologically dependent upon consuming alcohol. An alcoholic seem very much normal when his levels are up and normal according to his needs. He gets up performs his daily routines with a little disturbance at start but later the situation gets very out of control and fatal if unchecked.

According to some studies of what is alcoholism, it is known that alcoholism rests in society at dangerous level. It’s a progressive disease and especially teens are very much involved in alcoholism. The youth should really be cleared about what is alcoholism before it gets too late for them to realize. Many of them don’t even realize the hazardous effects. Alcoholism takes control of an alcoholic in some years. It is very important to know about what is alcoholism and about its stages. It has 3 stages. Early, middle and end stage alcoholism.

Early Ages of Alcoholism

In early stages, the person starts taking alcohol as a result of some dispute or just relaxing himself up. Others might not think that the person is getting into the dangerous alley. Even the person himself won’t realize. Tolerance increases and body demands more amount of alcohol slowly and gradually. This is the best time to teach the person what is alcoholism, otherwise it will too much late. At this stage, there are higher chances that person can easily get rid of it.

Middle Ages of Alcoholism

Middle stage creates a little tense desire about drinking alcohol. The person unknowingly consumes more amounts. He becomes unaware about the amount that can be handled easily. He became more or less aware in the deep down that something has been wrong but can’t figure out the habit. Stomach pains, frequent hangovers and diarrheal problems occur frequently.

Last Stage of Alcoholism

Last stage alcoholism is the state of being obsessed with alcohol. He might take it for 3 or 4 times even. His mental and physical health gets worst and his relationships face severe disputes. That makes him drink even more just for the sake of relaxing and forgetting every bad memory. At this stage, you would realize the fact. You would be thinking, “perhaps you would have taught him/her “what is alcoholism” and it can ruin the lives”.

Alcoholism comes with a few intense causes. Some people gets victim in a matter of months and other takes years.  Genes are one of the risk factor that’s involved in alcoholism. There are some genes that are responsible for making a person addicted. Some people who have a family history of alcoholism are highly vulnerable to become addicted. Another cause is the age at which people start drinking. As it is the matter of months to years. So if a person starts drinking at early stage, like 15 or above, there is a chance that the person would be addicted fast.

How People May Get Addiction of Alcoholism

  • Stress is a very notorious cause of starting drinking and becoming a victim of alcoholism. A person starts drinking just to get rid of tension and depression but then eventually it gets on the nerves and leads to alcoholism.
  • Media and advertising is another issue about starting of drinking at early age.
  • Family lifestyle matters a lot that can lead a person to the addiction of Alcohol. Knowing what is alcoholism is important to understand what lifestyle people should adopt.

Effects of Alcoholism

√  Alcoholism follows many risky health problems. It leads to the mental problems and other liver problems that can lead to the metabolic problems and eventually death. There are many long term and short term consequences of alcoholism.

√  Short term effects includes amnesia, blurred eyesight, vomiting, diarrhea, droopy eyes, eye bags and circles around eyes, impaired judgments, slurred speech, blackouts, hangovers etc.

√  Long term effects are unintentional injuries resulting from drunk driving. Other serious ones are nerve impairment, hepatic problems, liver cirrhosis, high blood pressures, ulcers, gastric upsets, coma and death.

Alcoholism comes in millions of people worldwide. So it is necessary to know clear cut answer to the question what is alcoholism? It can help anyone in detecting whether the person is alcoholic or not. An alcoholic might not singles out easily when in early stage but the person stand out clearly when he is in last stage. If an alcoholic person left untreated, he can slip easily at the verge of deadly fangs.

Bottom Line

Finally, here we go with a response to the question, “what is alcoholism”. Alcoholism is a sticky web that creates invisible lines of hazards and the person is unaware of it. In this fast growing world, especially youth needs a clear concept about what is alcoholic and what is alcoholism. We must teach them the signs, symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatments. Further the role of educationists and literates can’t be denied in bringing this youth to the path that’s exact and making headway.

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Alcoholism Treatment

Alcoholism is Not Curable; Yet It’s Preventable

Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive condition that is characterized by uncontrollable craves about drinking on alcohol. You can’t get hold on yourself even if you want to cut down or quit on alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms like tremors, shocks, nausea and gastric upsets are associated with it. Alcoholism is always associated with fatal consequences which if treated can be averted in a few months. If you are consuming alcohol it’s not bad. A few shots won’t do you any considerable harm but check yourself if you are consuming a lot or not. Moderation is better and its excess is toxic. Alcoholism is not an immediate type of illness and does not occur in a few weeks. Sometimes it might take a few months and years to progress to a considerable level. Therefore, you must consider going for alcoholism treatment at any stage.

Another term is Binge Drinking; it’s a pattern of drinking alcohol in which a male takes 4, 5 shots and female takes 3, 4 shots in one sitting. It’s not that risky if you are following this pattern 4 or 5 times in a month but its surely dangerous when you make it a frequent habit or crave for many pub-crawls almost every another day. This binge drinking in teens and adults can lead to alcoholism rather fast. In a nutshell, if you drink alcohol, alcoholism might be your fate. One just needs to be very vigilant while consuming it. If you feel to have alcoholism treatment, then you are advised not hesitate at all. Alcoholism is not a big deal until you go to the roots and start cutting it out. Its fatal if keep unchecked for a long period of time and leads to several deadly attacks of liver and gastric disorders.

 Alcoholism treatment can lead to the possibility this disease. There exist so many organizations at government and private level that are helping these patients and the people are returning to their peaceful life. However, governments are trying hard to focus on media related campaigns in order to create awareness among the people about the fatal results of alcoholism. Governments always encourage and promote the institutions which have been established for the alcoholism treatment. Initiating alcoholism treatment needs a dedicated patient, who wants to quit on any more alcohol. Otherwise he will get treatment and will be back to the same life. It’s very tough but craze and commitment makes it easier to pass by and you can recover addiction no matter how deep you were in it.

First and foremost step in treating alcoholism is the strongest desire and a promise to self about quitting alcohol. Here, one needs to make a clear cut decision whether one want to quit drinking or just want to cut down on drinking. This decision means a lot in treating alcoholism. Both choices have different solutions and treatment regime. After making up mind, start the alcoholism treatment. One should be very clear in the start of this program that it’s not an easy go and have strong notion about benefits of alcoholism free life. Person will have to pass through many procedures that can only be handled if he is a man of commitment.

Alcoholism treatment is divided into 3 categories depending upon the level of person’s alcoholism. Some people just need counseling, an inpatient program, an outpatient residential program or just simple detoxification.

The major categories are:

  • Alcohol with drawl and detoxification
  • Alcohol rehab centers
  • Pharmaceutical treatment
  • Support programs.

Alcohol Withdrawal and Detoxification

Almost 95% alcoholics undergo alcohol withdrawal symptoms when he suddenly stops drinking alcohol. Hardly the symptoms like hallucinations, tremors and shakes are fatal. They are always treated inpatient hospital in the controlled supervision of registered medical person. The sedatives (benzodiazepines) are used to calm down shakes and tremors. Detoxification is always done in the proper vicinity in the hospital. Sometimes strong emetics are used with alcohol. A person feels sick after drinking alcohol and start avoiding any alcohol use.

Alcohol Rehabilitation Center

In US and world over there are many rehabilitation centers which help the patients. It’s the separated place from outside where the treatment is done through counseling and other cognitive behavioral therapies which tame them to a big level. These rehab centers arrange many group activities, teachings and more to comfort the patients and helping them quit drinking. Some rehab centers have their own detoxification process that is done under supervision and in controlled environment. This is the most effective way to treat alcoholism.

Pharmaceutical Treatment

Sometimes it gets necessary to treat the alcoholism with drugs as the other cognitive behavioral therapies do not do any good. There is no definite pill for curing alcoholism but a few one are given as combination with alcohol. These drugs create sick feeling in the patient so these drugs make them stop going after alcohol any more. Some are given before drinking alcohol and some are mixed in alcoholic drinks. These medications are approved from FDA and thus, are safe to use intravenously or orally. Each drug has different effect on the person:

  • Naltrexone reduces the alcohol desire because this drug blocks the alcohol receptors in brain and it’s given once in a month to combat any alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
  • Disulfiram  makes a person nauseated after drinking alcohol
  • Acamprosate relaxes the person when they stop taking any alcohol. It’s a tremor relaxer.

Other problems like hypertension or hypotension may occur and the drugs are used accordingly. A person might have liver problems at start. So the relative drugs are used to treat the disease.

Other Support Programs

Support programs include lectures from the persons who are living their lives happily after getting rid of alcoholism. They come and share their stories and experiences that make room for new hope among the patients. Besides meetings with family members, counseling and lectures are conducted periodically to boost up the spirits of patients. Alcoholism treatment is always supported by some support program. Cognitive behavioral therapy is used from time to time and this way the patients stop being idiot and come to sober life in the end. Spiritual practice is done which makes them to find peace in themselves and makes them to stand on their decision. Through spiritual practice the recovery is fast and quick.

Being alcoholic is not a curse but being addicted to it, is a dreadful practice. Alcoholism is not curable, yet it’s preventable. All you need is the strong dedication and clear know how on its hazards. With that you are all set for alcoholism treatment.

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