There are strong symptoms that invite chaos into your personal life in just about any imaginable way. You feel you must have this drink, and you must have it right now! This unmistakable craving for the taste of alcohol does not go away and blocks any other pleasure you may have.
However, when you do begin to satisfy that craving, you become unable to set a limit as to how much alcohol to consume.This loss of control leads you into the desire to indulge as much as you wish, and if you stop, you will have withdrawal symptoms, like nausea, sweating, and shakiness until you drink greater amounts as time goes by in order to 'get high.'
When Alcoholism Begins
Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, has similar effects as other sedative-hypnotic drugs, acting on the human brain, like the barbiturates and benzodiazepine tranquilizers similar to Valium, Xanax, and Ativan, among others. Alcoholism begins when the body craves the alcohol to obtain a desired feeling. When the person learns to rely on that feeling to overcome certain life problems, he drinks until the feeling of success is deep within his heart and soul. It is at this point that it becomes a full-blown problem.
Alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism because it does not include the extremely strong craving for alcohol or loss of control over physical dependence, BUT many effects of alcohol abuse are experienced by alcoholics.
Alcoholics are in the grip of a powerful uncontrollable need for alcohol that overrides their ability to stop drinking. This need can be as strong as the need for food or water.
Contributing Factors to Alcoholism
A person may believe he is drinking to feel better about his or her life. There is no single known cause of alcoholism, but there are some situations that can open the door to addiction. Peer pressure has its difficulties causing some people, especially teens and young adults, problems feeling comfortably adequate with others. Low self-esteem is not helped by drinking, even though the effects of the alcohol may mask it for awhile. Soon the same inferior feeling returns even stronger than it was before.
Along with low self-esteem may be easy access to alcohol which is an understandable complication. If in a situation where alcohol is commonly accepted, there is little help for restraint. Depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety, or schizophrenia are obvious roadblocks as well which provide no relief. Relationship complications even add more to this already heavy problem and tend to encourage one to drink more, not less, as does a stressful lifestyle.
There are several groups more susceptible to alcoholic excess than the general population. Men imbibing 15+ drinks a week, women having 12+ drinks weekly, anyone having five or more drinks per occasion once a week, or having a relative who is an alcoholic because of similar genes.
In these situations, one drink is defined as a 12 oz. bottle of beer, a 5 oz. glass of wine, or a 1 1/2 oz. shot of liquor.
Just a Warning
Before one is sufficiently aware, he or she can be tossed into the twin worlds of both alcohol dependence, commonly known as alcoholism, and alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse, without the craving, is defined as a pattern if certain situations occur within a 12-month period.
The failure to fulfill major work, school, or home responsibilities may be a signal you are on dangerous ground. Another possible danger sign involves drinking in physically dangerous situations, such as while driving a car or machinery. If recurring alcohol-related legal problems are frequent, take measures to avoid or seriously limit alcohol use. Stay within the legal limits since continued drinking can lead to worsening relationship problems
Use Alcohol in Moderation
The use of alcoholic beverages calls for moderation and self-control. If this advice is heeded, alcohol can evolve into an occasional good friend, but be cautious. President Ronald Reagan’s father had a problem with alcohol. As a child, he often saw his father drunk and, upon reaching adulthood, made a responsible vow. Later, when drinking during social occasions, he had a rule of imbibing at the maximum, only two drinks. His own personal limit was his safeguard against alcoholism.
An interesting story involved Dana Andrews, a movie star during the ‘40’s and into the ‘80’s. He had a bout with alcoholism. It almost cost him his life on the freeway and reduced him to the mostly B-movie roles during the ‘50’s. Crediting the example of then-actor Ronald Reagan’s disciplined attitude towards liquor, Dana Andrews finally brought his alcoholism under control. In 1963, Andrews was elected President of the Screen Actors Guild, and got more movie roles. A good example can change a life, maybe even yours.
Interesting and True Alcoholism Statistics
Persons who die in fires often have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication. Sometimes the percentage can be as high as 64 percent.
In all top ten causes of death, heart disease, cancer, and strokes, excessive drinking has made a negative impact.
In emergency room admissions, more than 50 percent of all homicides are alcohol-related.
A true fact is many people who drink heavily have a chance of developing cirrhosis of the liver (scarring of the liver).
Several million people a year drive under the influence of alcohol.
Drinking strong coffee, or taking a cold shower has no effect on a person who is drunk.
It takes time to become sober.
An Exceptional Health Benefit for All
A small amount of red wine has healthful benefits. If interested in maintaining, and even improving personal health, consuming one very small amount of red wine after dinner will literally flood your body with hundreds, even thousands, of healthful phytochemicals and flavonoids providing safeguards,which scientists are only now beginning to discover. Besides aiding circulation, red wine has antioxidants which protect not only against heart disease but other diseases as well. If you feel that drinking red wine will be a temptation to drink to excess, DON’T. Instead eat red grapes to get the same protection.
Sources:
- Alcoholism Statistics
- Dana Andrews
- Medicine Net
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