When Drinking Causes Problems With Your Health and With Your Life

August 18, 2009 at 5:17 am · Filed under Health & Fitness

How do you know that you have a problem with your drinking? When is it clear that you are engaging in alcohol abuse?

If you have unproductively struggled to stop drinking or if you sworn to yourself that your drinking days are behind you and then you recognized that you were drinking in an excessive manner just a few days later, the probability is exceedingly good that you have a drinking problem. The bottom line is that if you have attempted to terminate your drinking and cannot bring this about, then your drinking is controlling you, instead of the other way around.

Similarly, if it takes greater amounts of alcohol to get the same “high,” you probably need to realize that you have a problem with your drinking.

You may be telling yourself that the justification for your drinking is so that you can decrease your stress or get rid of the distress that you feel. In much the same way, you may be trying to stay away from an unsafe circumstance and may be looking for something better, more constructive, or less sorrowful.

As you continue to drink, then again, you will grasp the fact that drinking does not bring about the same high and you will also understand that drinking doesn’t help eradicate whatever was causing your distress in the first place.

As you continue to drink in a hazardous way, unfortunately, you may become addicted to alcohol and, as a consequence, you may add another essential problem to cope with rather than unearthing more successful and wholesome ways of dealing with your alcohol induced predicament.

When an Alcohol Assessment is Required

If you have figured out that you have a problem with your drinking, perhaps the most practical thing you can do for yourself is to call your medical doctor or healthcare practitioner and arrange for an appointment for a physical and for an evaluation of your drinking activities.

If you truthfully think that you have a crucial problem with your drinking, it may be a good idea to get prepared to find out that you need to get alcohol counseling.

At this point in your life, what are your choices? You can definitely say no and refuse to see your doctor and continue your pattern of hazardous drinking.

It certainly doesn’t take a nuclear physicist, nevertheless, to understand that long-term, heavy drinking, if left untreated, will worsen over time and more likely than not result an early death. For that reason, your most beneficial alternative is to confront your drinking circumstance and get the alcohol rehab you need.

The Deception of the Functioning Alcohol Addicted Individual

It is somewhat paradoxical to note the fact that many alcoholics lead busy and active lives and have families, jobs, houses, vehicles, pets, and any number of material possessions similar to people who are not alcohol dependent.

Many of these “functional” alcohol dependent people may have never been apprehended for a DUI and may have been lucky enough to avoid all alcohol induced legal issues. Despite this good fortune, on the other hand, these alcohol dependent people need to drink in order to function on a day by day basis while keeping up their facade as they interact with people outside their family.

Ask anyone who has seen them when they are out on a drunken binge or in a drunken stupor or ask a family member about the problem drinker’s alcohol dependency, nevertheless, and they will be quick to state the legitimacy of the drinker’s situation and the whole story about the alcoholic’s drinking condition and about his or her alcohol produced predicaments.

Why Do Alcohol Addicted People Fail to Acknowledge Their Drinking Problems?

As alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse research has stressed, no matter how noticeable the alcohol induced problems seem to those who interact with the alcohol dependent person, alcohol addicted individuals characteristically deny that drinking is the cause of their alcohol induced problems. Not only this, but alcohol addicted individuals normally blame their alcohol induced problems on other individuals or upon other circumstances that surround them rather than seeing their part in the issue.

The origin of the problem is that alcohol addiction is a disease of the brain. Once the person has become addicted to alcohol, he or she normally resorts to denial, manipulation, and lying as a way of coping with the fact that his or her drinking is out of control. And to make things more problematic, the experience of alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically circumvents the alcohol dependent person’s rare attempts to abruptly stop drinking. As bleak as the alcohol addicted individual’s existence is, to the contrary, the encouraging news is that competent help is generally accessible – if the alcohol dependent individual reaches out and gets alcoholism rehab.

Conclusion

Conceding the fact that drinking is triggering problems in your day by day functioning is conceivably the most trouble-free way to determine if you have a drinking problem. More to the point, if your drinking is eliciting difficulties with your health, at work, in your relationships, with your finances, at school, or with the law, then you have a drinking problem that needs to be resolved.

If you have a drinking problem, furthermore, this means that you are engaging in abusive drinking.

While some drinkers may be able to pinpoint their alcohol abuse problems and substantially decrease the amount and frequency of their drinking, other drinkers, conversely, need to address their drinking difficulties by getting quality alcoholism counseling. What is more, due to their inclination to deny the facts and twist the truth, alcoholics absolutely need proficient alcoholism therapy for their abusive drinking.

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Alcoholism, Alcohol Relapse, and Enabling

August 18, 2009 at 5:17 am · Filed under Health & Fitness

It is fascinating to bring up something that family members who have been unfavorably affected by the alcoholism of another family member clearly do not realize. It seems that by protecting the alcohol addicted individual with untruths and dishonesty to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in reality created a situation that makes it easier for the alcohol dependent individual to persist and advance with his or her harmful, devastating lifestyle.

To be sure, rather than helping the alcohol addicted person and themselves, these family members have in reality become enablers who have mistakenly helped worsen the alcohol dependent person’s drinking problem even more.

The Possibility of a Relapse is Real

Another key alcoholism issue has to do with alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol addicted person has effectively gone through alcoholism therapy and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first glance, this predicament flies in the face of rational thinking and appears to be so doubtful that it forces a person to wonder why anyone who has gone through the awfulness of alcoholism can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol treatment and in turn after attaining sobriety. There are, to be sure, more than a few plausible reasons for this.

It should be noted, however that alcoholism research that has centered on the enduring consequences of alcohol addiction has shown that long after the alcohol dependent individual has stopped his or her drinking, significant transformations in the way in which the alcohol dependent person’s brain works are still present. As a consequence, all a recovering alcoholic has to do to involve himself or herself in behaviors that correspond with the modifications that have taken place in the brain is to engage in drinking again.

The Necessity for A Fundamental Lifestyle Modification

There are even more reasons why quite a lot of recovering alcohol addicted individuals return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after attaining sobriety. According to the alcohol dependency research literature, to make a successful recovery, the alcohol dependent person needs new ways of responding and thinking in order to deal more competently with demanding alcohol-related situations that will take place.

Conditions such as returning to the same alcohol addictive atmosphere or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the time when the alcoholic was drinking in a hazardous manner; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring forth memories that can prompt psychological tension or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol dependent individual to engage in hazardous drinking once again. Unfortunately, all of these situations may not only work against long standing sobriety for the alcohol addicted person but they can also result in relapse and consequently cancel out one’s sobriety.

Summary

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcoholic, family members can in fact cause unintended harm by enabling the unsafe drinking behavior of the alcoholic.

The addiction research literature validates the fact that most people who effectively complete alcohol rehab experience at least one relapse. Alcohol dependent individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get dejected or beleaguered when a relapse takes place.

Fortunately, participation in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up rehab and education have resulted in more effective, long lasting alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency rehab outcomes, have helped diminish alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol addicted persons reach long standing alcohol recovery.

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Alcohol Relapse, Alcoholism, and Enabling

August 18, 2009 at 5:17 am · Filed under Health & Fitness

It is worthy of note to articulate something that family members who have been unfavorably affected by the alcoholism of another family member clearly do not understand. It seems to be that by protecting the alcohol addicted person with falsehoods and deceit to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in actual fact created a condition that makes it easier for the alcohol addicted individual to persevere and proceed with his or her harmful, destructive existence.

Indeed, rather than helping the alcohol addicted individual and themselves, these family members have in reality become enablers who have involuntarily helped deteriorate the drinking problems of the problem drinker even more.

Relapses Can and Do Happen

Another key alcohol addiction issue involves alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcoholic has effectively gone through alcohol dependency treatment and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first glance, this predicament seems contradictory to logical thinking and sounds so doubtful that it forces one to wonder why anyone who has lived through the dejection of alcohol addiction can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol treatment and in turn after achieving recovery. There are, for sure, more than a few plausible reasons for this.

It should be noted, nevertheless that alcohol dependency research that has focused on the long-term effects of alcoholism has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcohol dependent person has halted his or her drinking, key transformations in the way in which the alcohol dependent person’s brain works are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol addicted individual has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the changes that have come about in the brain is to begin drinking again.

A Requirement for An Essential Lifestyle Change

There are even more reasons why quite a few recovering alcohol addicted persons return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after attaining sobriety. In accordance to the alcohol addiction research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcohol dependent individual needs new ways of responding and thinking in order to deal more effectively with taxing alcohol-related circumstances that will take place.

Conditions such as returning to the same alcohol addictive atmosphere or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcohol addicted person was drinking abusively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these conditions can bring about memories that can set off psychological anxiety or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol dependent individual to engage in hazardous drinking once again. Regrettably, all of these situations may not only counteract long standing alcohol recovery for the alcohol addicted person but they can also result in relapse and therefore short-circuit one’s alcohol recovery.

Summary

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol addicted person, family members can in fact cause unintended damage by enabling the harmful drinking behavior of the alcohol addicted individual.

The substance abuse research literature demonstrates the fact that most people who successfully complete alcohol rehab go through at least one relapse. Alcohol addicted individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get dejected or beleaguered when a relapse occurs.

Happily, participation in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up treatment and training have resulted in more productive, long-term alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction treatment outcomes, have helped decrease alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol addicted persons reach long lasting sobriety.

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Alcohol problems

August 14, 2009 at 3:36 am · Filed under Health & Fitness

alcohol

There are lots of ways that alcohol consumption can affect our health and our social skills; After 1 or 2 drinks you may feel more your self and more loud as the alcohol reaches the brain and affects the way you think.
Alcohol misuse causes your heart rate to heighten and you may experience a warm glow. This is caused by alcohol making the small blood vessels in the skin enlarge, allowing blood to flow nearer to the surface and lowers blood pressure.

The Effects of Alcohol on your health

The results of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can be extreme. The effects of alcohol abuse include anxiety, slowed breathing and heartbeat, impaired judgment leading to accidents and injuries, loss of consciousness, suffocation through choking on your own vomit and potentially fatal alcohol poisoning. There are also many mental effects, making you feel guilt or anger for no apparant reason and even making you paranoid. Your words may slurr, often don’t recognise your surroundings and drinking too much alcohol can result in memory loss.

Drinking heavily increases your calorie intake, suggesting why alcohol is a large factor in adult obesity. In a medium-sized (175ml) glass of wine there are 125 calories and over 500 in a bottle. So thats about one quarter of your guidline daily calorie allowance!

The morning after – hangover unpleasantries

Drinking alcohol may cause you to have a hangover the next day, often being undesirable to experience. You may get stomach ache, sometimes diarrhea, sickness and nausea, Alcohol consumption also has a dehydrating effect. Alcohol consumption can also make you feel sad, guilty

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Drinking more than the guideline units regularly you are putting your health in damger. Consuming alcohol in large quantities increases blood pressure.

Alcohol is regularly linked with mental health problems. A recent British survey found that people enduring anxiety and depression were twice as likely to be heavy drinkers.

Extreme quantities of drinking could sometimes cause ‘psychosis’, a harsh mental illness where the person beleives others are out to get them. Consuming large amounts of alcohol can lead to lonliness and hopelessness.

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The Basic Issues in An Effective Alcoholism Intervention

August 12, 2009 at 3:39 am · Filed under Health & Fitness

What are the key elements in an effective alcohol intervention? Why do some alcohol dependency interventions go well while others flop?

The Need for a Celebrated Reputation of Intervention Success

Scientific inquiry demonstrates that an effective addiction intervention needs to be overseen by an intervention expert who has an established record of intervention attainment.

Basically this means that instead of opting for an “everyday” alcohol abuse therapist or psychotherapist for an alcoholism intervention, the individual who is hand picked to conduct the intervention needs to be instructed in alcohol intervention techniques and needs to possess a history of productive alcohol interventions.

A Few Uncomplicated Illustrations of The Best Time For an Alcoholism Intervention

Scientific investigation has also demonstrated that the most favorable time for an alcohol abuse intervention is following a significant event in the life of the alcohol addicted individual or abusive drinker. The following represents a few illustrations of these types of significant happenings:

• The alcohol addicted individual or abusive drinker has been caught stealing something of worth
• The abusive drinker or alcohol addicted individual has been caught lying about something of substance
• The alcoholic or abusive drinker has been confined for a DWI or DUI.

In situations like these, the alcohol dependent individual or abusive drinker is more likely to be remorseful or to be embarrassed, thusly making him or her more open to getting the quality alcohol rehabilitation that is required.

At this juncture, additionally, it is also important to mention that the abusive drinker or alcohol dependent individual needs to be alcohol-free during the alcohol intervention. In sum, if the alcohol abuser or alcoholic is “under the influence” during an alcohol addiction intervention, failure is effectively assured.

Moreover, scientific study has also made evident the fact that the abusive drinker or alcohol-dependent person has to at least try to listen to what is said in an alcohol intervention. That is, during an alcohol abuse intervention, the abusive drinker or alcohol addicted person needs to listen to what his or her drinking problems have done to those who care for him or her the most.

The Significance of Alcohol Treatment For the Hazardous Drinker

And finally, scientific inquiry reveals that the key reason for an alcohol intervention in the first place is to convince the hazardous drinker or alcohol-dependent person to get the professional alcoholism therapy that is necessary. Stated more exactly, even if the individual who supervises the intervention has a superior reputation of effective interventions and even if the abusive drinker or alcohol addicted person openly listens to every word that is stated all the way through an intervention, if the hazardous drinker or alcohol-dependent person is not encouraged to request professional alcohol dependency rehabilitation after the alcoholism intervention, then the intervention will be a fiasco.

Obviously all of these factors are needed for an effective alcohol abuse intervention. If, alternatively, the hazardous drinker or alcohol addicted individual is not stimulated to request alcoholism treatment after listening to his or her family members put into words the grief, anger, and regret they feel about the hazardous drinker’s or alcohol addicted person’s careless drinking behavior and the care they feel for the problem drinker, then every other facet of the alcoholism intervention will essentially be inconsequential.

Even Fruitful Alcohol Dependency Interventions Can Fail Down the Road

It also needs to be accentuated that regardless of the fact that the alcohol abuse intervention can be identified as successful in that it helped put the abusive drinker or alcoholic in a more “open” way of thinking and in all honesty helped the alcohol addicted individual or alcohol abuser reach a decision that he or she required alcohol counseling or professional help for alcoholism or alcohol abuse, the plain fact that the intervention took place might lead to acrimony, anger, and suspicion down the road.

In a few words, even when alcohol dependency interventions are seen as effective in the short term, in the long run, however, they may flop and, accordingly, might make the family and/or the alcohol dependent person’s situation even worse than it was before the alcohol abuse intervention was undertaken.

No matter how unwarranted or paradoxical this seems, try to keep in mind that it is essentially one of the main alcohol facts that has to be dealt with when doing an alcohol intervention.

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The Key Features in A Successful Alcoholism Intervention

August 12, 2009 at 3:39 am · Filed under Health & Fitness

What are the central factors in an effective alcohol intervention? Why do some alcohol addiction interventions happen as expected while many bomb?

The Requirement for a Celebrated Reputation of Intervention Achievement

Scientific research makes evident the fact that a productive addiction intervention needs to be managed by an intervention specialist who has a celebrated track record of intervention success.

Basically this means that rather than choosing a “typical” addiction healthcare practitioner or psychologist for an addiction intervention, the individual who is chosen to manage the intervention needs to be educated in drug abuse intervention techniques and needs to possess a record of “winning” alcohol abuse interventions.

A Few Primary Illustrations of The Best Time For an Alcohol Addiction Intervention

Scientific inquiry has also shown that the most fruitful time for an alcohol abuse intervention is following a special occasion in the life of the alcohol addicted person or hazardous drinker. The following represents a few examples of these types of noteworthy happenings:

• The alcohol dependent individual or abusive drinker has been caught stealing something of importance
• The abusive drinker or alcohol dependent individual has been caught lying about something of substance
• The alcohol-dependent person or abusive drinker has been locked up for a DUI or DWI.

In events like these, the alcohol dependent individual or abusive drinker is more apt to feel apologetic or to feel guilt-ridden, thereby making him or her more willing to get the professional alcohol treatment that is needed.

At this time, moreover, it is also imperative to emphasize that the abusive drinker or alcohol dependent individual needs to be sober during the alcohol dependency intervention. In short, if the alcohol abuser or alcohol addicted person is drunk during an alcohol dependency intervention, the lack of success is virtually assured.

Moreover, scientific study has also displayed the fact that the abusive drinker or alcohol-dependent person has to at least try to listen to what is articulated in an alcohol abuse intervention. Stated more accurately, during an alcohol intervention, the abusive drinker or alcohol addicted individual needs to listen to what his or her drinking difficulties have done to those who care for him or her the most.

The Value of Alcohol Therapy For the Problem Drinker

And finally, scientific research demonstrates that the essential reason for an alcohol dependency intervention in the first place is to convince the abusive drinker or alcohol-dependent person to get the professional alcoholism rehabilitation he or she requires. Stated another way, even if the individual who administers the intervention has an exceptional track record of effective interventions and even if the abusive drinker or alcohol addicted person genuinely listens to every word that is mentioned during the course of an intervention, if the alcohol abuser or alcohol addicted individual is not encouraged to seek professional alcohol abuse rehabilitation after the alcohol intervention, then the intervention will be a failure.

Obviously all of these factors are needed for a fruitful alcohol intervention. If, nonetheless, the abusive drinker or alcoholic is not stirred to seek alcoholism counseling after listening to his or her family members state the hurt, anger, and dissatisfaction they feel about the hazardous drinker’s or alcohol dependent individual’s careless drinking behavior and the care they feel for the problem drinker, then every other aspect of the alcohol abuse intervention will effectively be irrelevant.

Even Fruitful Alcoholism Interventions Can Backfire Down the Road

It also needs to be underlined that in the face of the fact that the alcohol intervention can be viewed as fruitful in that it helped put the abusive drinker or alcohol addicted individual in a more amenable framework and honestly helped the alcohol addicted person or alcohol abuser reach a decision that he or she required alcohol counseling or professional help for alcoholism or alcohol abuse, the simple fact that the intervention transpired may result in resentment, irritation, and mistrust down the road.

In sum, even when addiction interventions are seen as effective in the short run, in the long run, however, they may fail and, as a result, may make the family and/or the alcohol dependent individual’s situation even poorer than it was before the alcohol intervention occurred.

No matter how unfair or ironic this seems, try to keep in mind that it is simply one of the main alcohol facts that has to be faced when performing an alcohol intervention.

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The Basic Components in A Productive Alcoholism Intervention

August 12, 2009 at 3:39 am · Filed under Health & Fitness

What are the necessary elements in a successful alcohol intervention? Why do some alcoholism interventions go well while quite a few bomb?

The Need for an Acclaimed History of Intervention Achievement

Scientific research shows that an effective alcohol intervention needs to be supervised by an intervention professional who has a time-honored history of intervention accomplishment.

Essentially this means that rather than choosing a “typical” alcohol dependency healthcare practitioner or psychotherapist for an alcohol abuse intervention, the person who is chosen to carry out the intervention needs to be instructed in substance abuse intervention techniques and needs to exhibit a reputation of fruitful alcohol dependency interventions.

A Few Key Illustrations of The Most Optimal Time For an Alcohol Intervention

Scientific inquiry has also demonstrated that the most worthwhile time for an alcohol intervention is following a noteworthy incident in the life of the alcohol dependent person or alcohol abuser. The following represents a few examples of these types of meaningful happenings:

• The alcohol addicted individual or alcohol abuser has been caught stealing something of importance
• The alcohol abuser or alcohol addicted person has been caught lying about something of consequence
• The alcohol-dependent person or alcohol abuser has been confined for driving under the influence.

In circumstances like these, the alcohol addicted person or alcohol abuser is more likely to feel contrite or to be embarrassed, therefore making him or her more amenable to getting the quality alcohol rehabilitation that he or she requires.

At this juncture, additionally, it is also essential to note the fact that the abusive drinker or alcohol addicted person needs to be free of alcohol during the alcoholism intervention. In a nutshell, if the alcohol abuser or alcohol dependent individual is inebriated during an alcohol abuse intervention, the lack of success is effectively assured.

In the same way, scientific inquiry has also shown the fact that the abusive drinker or alcohol dependent individual has to at least try to listen to what is articulated in an alcohol dependency intervention. Stated more precisely, during an alcohol addiction intervention, the abusive drinker or alcohol addicted individual needs to listen to what his or her drinking difficulties have done to those who care for him or her the most.

The Value of Alcohol Rehab For the Alcohol Abuser

And finally, scientific study makes evident the fact that the key reason for an alcohol intervention in the first place is to induce the hazardous drinker or alcoholic to get the professional alcohol rehab he or she requires. Stated more explicitly, even if the person who supervises the intervention has an untouchable record of effective interventions and even if the abusive drinker or alcohol addicted person in truth listens to every single word that is articulated during an intervention, if the alcohol abuser or alcohol dependent individual is not inspired to ask for quality alcohol therapy after the alcohol intervention, then the intervention will be a failure.

Unmistakably all of these factors are needed for a fruitful alcohol dependency intervention. If, conversely, the abusive drinker or alcohol addicted person is not stirred to seek alcohol dependency treatment after listening to his or her family members communicate the sorrow, wrath, and frustration they feel about the hazardous drinker’s or alcohol dependent individual’s hazardous drinking behavior and the care they feel for the problem drinker, then everything else that is part of an alcoholism intervention will to a large extent be a waste of time.

Even Productive Alcohol Abuse Interventions Can Flop In the Long Term

It also needs to be accentuated that notwithstanding the fact that the alcoholism intervention can be seen as successful in that it helped put the hazardous drinker or alcohol addicted individual in a more amenable outlook and genuinely helped the alcohol-dependent person or abusive drinker reach a decision that he or she needed alcohol therapy or professional help for alcoholism or alcohol abuse, the simple reality that the intervention happened may lead to acrimony, irritation, and skepticism in the future.

In brief, even when alcohol interventions are seen as successful in the short term, in the long term, then again, they may boomerang and, for that reason, might make the family and/or the alcohol dependent person’s circumstance even poorer than it was before the alcohol intervention occurred.

No matter how unjust or odd this seems, try to keep in mind that it is simply one of the main alcohol facts that has to be addressed when undertaking an alcohol intervention.

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Alcohol Addiction, Enabling, and Alcohol Relapse

July 21, 2009 at 3:50 am · Filed under Health & Fitness

It is worthy of note to point out something that family members who have been harmfully affected by the alcoholism of another family member evidently do not realize. It appears that by shielding the alcohol dependent individual with lies and deceit to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have actually created a condition that makes it easier for the alcoholic to carry on and advance with his or her injurious, destructive daily life.

Without a doubt, rather than helping the alcoholic and themselves, these family members have essentially become enablers who have involuntarily helped negatively affect the alcohol addicted person’s drinking problem even further.

The Chances of a Relapse are Real

Another key alcoholism issue has to do with alcohol relapses.  Relapses take place when an alcohol dependent individual has effectively undergone alcohol dependency rehab and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later.  At first thought, this circumstance flies in the face of sound thinking and sounds so unbelievable that it forces an individual to question why anyone who has experienced the wretchedness of alcohol dependency can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol treatment and in turn after achieving sobriety.  There are, for sure, many reasonable reasons for this.

It should be explained, conversely that alcohol dependency research that has focused on the long-term outcomes of alcohol addiction has revealed that long after the alcoholic has terminated his or her drinking, fundamental transformations in the way in which the alcoholic’s brain functions are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol dependent person has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the modifications that have taken place in the brain is to start drinking again.

The Necessity for An Important Lifestyle Transformation

There are other reasons why quite a few recovering alcohol addicted individuals return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after achieving sobriety. In accordance to the alcoholism research literature, to make a successful recovery, the alcohol dependent individual needs new ways of reacting and thinking in order to deal more successfully with demanding alcohol-related situations that will take place.

Conditions such as returning to the same alcohol addictive atmosphere or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcohol dependent person was drinking irresponsibly; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring about memories that can set off psychological stress or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol dependent individual to engage in abusive drinking once again. Regrettably, all of these situations may not only get in the way of long standing sobriety for the alcohol addicted person but they can also lead to relapse and thus cancel out one’s sobriety.

Summary

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol dependent person, family members can actually cause unintentional damage by enabling the harmful drinking behavior of the alcohol dependent individual.

The drug abuse research literature demonstrates the fact that most people who successfully complete alcohol rehabilitation experience at least one relapse. Alcohol addicted persons and their family members need to know this so that they do not get down in the dumps or beleaguered when a relapse manifests itself.

Fortunately, taking part in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up rehab and training have resulted in more successful, long lasting alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction therapeutic outcomes, have helped decrease alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcoholics achieve lasting alcohol recovery.

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When Abusive Drinking Results in Serious Health Problems

July 17, 2009 at 4:16 am · Filed under Health & Fitness

For more than a few years alcohol dependency research has demonstrated the fact that there is strong correlation between alcoholism and life-threatening health conditions.

For example, in 2005, medical examination revealed that alcohol abuse and alcoholism cost the United States an estimated $220 billion annually. Interestingly, this gigantic alcohol-related expense was substantially more than the cost linked with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is relevant to stress these facts, it is also important to point to the fact that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health issues.

To be exact, chronic alcohol abuse and alcoholism are also highly correlated with obesity and with cancer.

Indeed, substance abuse exploration has shown that alcohol dependency can amplify the risk for various forms of cancer, especially cancer of the voice box (larynx), esophagus, liver, rectum, colon, kidneys, and throat. Abusive and recurring drinking can also lead to immune system issues and impairment to the fetus during pregnancy.

Hazardous and Heavy Drinking Destabilizes the Problem Drinker’s Organs and Systems

Furthermore, if alcoholism continues over a period of years, the individual’s body organs will likely be affected in an unhealthy manner. For example, repeated, excessive drinking is particularly hurtful to the liver since the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been ingested. Extreme amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and eradicates the ability of liver cells to redevelop. This medical condition results in a progressive inflammatory disease of the liver that can ultimately lead to cirrhosis of the liver, an acute and potentially lethal disease.

Excessive, long-term drinking not only can result in serious liver damage, but it can also lead to damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this severe may be irrepairable and may, in turn, result in serious llness or an early death.

The Critical Nature of Alcohol Treatment

It is vital, therefore, to know how to recognize the different alcohol dependency symptoms and signs so that the alcohol addicted person can be given the opportunity to get the professional alcohol rehabilitation he or she needs.

Alcoholism and Sophisticated Brain Research

Fortuitously, scientific exploration is persistently uncovering unique and important information. Recent alcoholism research supplies an excellent example. More exactly, for roughly the last ten years, technologically advanced brain-imaging scanning devices have confirmed that continuous and recurring hazardous drinking alters the configuration of the brain to a substantial extent, therefore resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or perhaps as long as the individual lives.

More accurately, medical examination has revealed that individuals who have been drinking in an irresponsible manner for an extensive length of time increase their risk for developing long lasting and serious adaptations in the brain.

This type of damage may be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health or directly related to severe liver disease or to the alcohol’s effects on the brain.

Malnutrition, Hazardous Drinking, and Mental Disorders

As a final example of assorted medical problems that are significantly associated with alcoholism, take into consideration the fact that in accordance with medical research, the excessive and repeated abuse of alcohol can lead to erosive gastritis, a condition that decreases the absorption of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

This kind of organ malfunctioning is correlated with malnutrition and to an array of acute mental and neurological problems including sleep disturbances, memory loss, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter medical problem is a long-term incapacitating condition that is epitomized by continual memory and learning problems.

Conclusion

It is clear that continued, hazardous drinking is directly or indirectly related to a variety of acute medical problems that can and do result in serious illness and premature death. Such information needs to be underlined and presented to everyone in our society so that a large number of individuals will be able to abstain from abusive drinking while others who have a drinking problem will get the quality therapy they require.

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