There are a lot of people who think that they are not alcoholics just because they have the ability to consume large amounts of alcohol without losing control of their senses, but in the true sense of the word, these people are also alcohol dependent. First Step: Once you are sure that you are an alcoholic, then the first step to take in order to kick the habit is to abstain from drinking as much as possible. While it is easy to tell somebody to cut down on consumption of alcohol, it is impossible for the alcoholic to follow this advice because of the condition that he or she is suffering from. Therefore, it is important for alcohol dependent people to seek support at these times from people who have managed to or are in the process of kicking the habit and this is the core group forming Alcohol Anonymous. Alcohol Anonymous is the best kind of support group that anybody can ever think of joining, because it is one of those rare organizations in the world that is apolitical non-denominational and multiracial. The group has absolutely no social, political or religious leanings and the only leaning the group has is towards reaching a collective goal of non-alcoholism.
Double Fist Your Drinks: If you are drinking an alcoholic beverage it is a great idea to have a glass of water there as well and drink the two together. Drinking the water in between sips of your alcohol can help to keep the concentration of the alcohol down in your blood stream. You are also less likely to have a hangover the next day if you keep hydrated as well. Designate a Driver: If you are going out and plan on drinking, always make sure that someone is designated to drive and that they have no alcohol whatsoever. If there is no designated driver, you should be the responsible one and abstain from drinking. Remember that driving under the influence, no matter how little, can kill. Having responsible drinking habits is very important if you are planning to consume alcohol. Being responsible while drinking can keep you healthy, keep you out of embarrassing situations, and most important of all - it can save your life.
Because alcohol affects many organs in the body, long-term heavy drinking puts you at risk for developing serious health problems, some of which are described below. More than 2 million Americans suffer from alcohol-related liver disease. Some drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, as a result of long-term heavy drinking. Moderate drinking can have beneficial effects on the heart, especially among those at greatest risk for heart attacks, such as men over the age of 45 and women after menopause. But long-term heavy drinking increases the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and some kinds of stroke. The pancreas helps to regulate the body’s blood sugar levels by producing insulin. The pancreas also has a role in digesting the food we eat. Long-term heavy drinking can lead to pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. This condition is associated with severe abdominal pain and weight loss and can be fatal.
Stopping long-term, regular, heavy drinking requires a major life change, and the difficulty of doing this should never be underestimated. The first step in the healing process for these patients is to admit that they are alcoholic and that they have a drinking problem. The second step is to truly want to stop drinking. The third step is to accept the fact that they must never drink again. For most people, the next step is to admit that they need help to stop drinking and maintain abstinence. It is important to note that there is no such thing as a “cured” alcoholic. Alcoholism is a chronic disease that can go into remission, sometimes indefinitely, but relapse can be provoked by many life situations, both good and bad. Will these problems go away? No. These problems will last for a child’s whole life. People with severe problems may not be able to take care of themselves as adults. They may never be able to work. What if I am pregnant and have been drinking? If you drank alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, stop drinking now. You will feel better and your baby will have a good chance to be born healthy. If you want to get pregnant, do not drink alcohol. You may not know you are pregnant right away. Alcohol can hurt a baby even when you are only 1 or 2 months pregnant.
There are psychical and mental diseases. Alcoholism and drug addiction are mental diseases. It falls into the category of obsession - compulsion disorder. Is O.C.B. classified as a disease? There is evidence of studies that has been going on for years that show it can be hereditary. Studies in the 90’s show there is a gene that predisposes one to be a alcoholic, but they have a chose. Sometimes all it takes is a few times drinking to unleash the obsession, the compulsion to have a drink comes next. Over time that O.C. becomes stronger and they give up the ability to stop on their own. Some people do stop on their own, very few, most continue on the road where their lives are centered on getting and using more. They may cover it up with denial,that “I can handle it” or ” I can stop when I want to”, as they pour another drink. Some people feel they control their drinking by only having a few when they come home from work, but through out the day that’s all they think about (obsession) the compulsion is when they come home from work “to unwind”, and they may do this for years and never miss work and their life is not unmanageable, They are called functional alcoholics. Over time they will be taking “liquid lunches”, just a few to hold them over, or it may be in their desk,locker or car. It is not a personality or weak will person as to why they drink. Look how many presidents, C.E.O.’s, famous people are alcoholics.?
An alcoholic can neither refrain from drinking nor control the amount of alcohol he consumes. Once the addiction has set in, physical and psychological dependency on alcohol are expected. There is an estimated 5.6 million people in the United States alone that are alcohol is and about one fourth of them are suffering from serious complications. There is a varying rate of alcoholism among populations from various geographical locations. The country with the highest incidence of alcoholism among its population is France followed by the United States, Switzerland and Sweden. There is a lower incidence rate of alcoholism in rural areas compared with urban areas. Most of these alcoholics are found in homes, factories and offices and only very few of them are the “skid row” type of people.
Craving alcohol is a complicated process that involves several different factors. We are usually first introduced to alcohol at a young age (in our teens). Since no-one under the age of 21 (in the US) is allowed to purchase alcohol, it becomes “cool” and desirable for young adults under 21 to give drinking a try. Later on people grab a bottle of booze to feel better, gain more confidence in a social setting or to forget about their problems. Since the alcohol makes them feel better, at least temporarily, they start to crave it.
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