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Stop Drinking Alcohol - Occasional Indulgence Leads To Addiction

by: DavidPeters
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Word Count: 875

Once viewed as a simple lack of control over one's excesses, alcoholism is now recognized as one of the more debilitating diseases of modern society which affects millions of people all over the world. And yet this disease continues to be dismissed by many as an "It can't happen to me" malady until the individual is so intertwined in the clutches of alcoholism that desperate measures have to be resorted to. Society today, not only accepts consumption of alcoholic beverages at social events, but also seems to regard it with a favorable eye. And hence, an individual is almost encouraged to participate in social, celebratory drinking. However, when he finds himself unable to curtail the amount he drinks, or begins to long for these instances which call for the consumption of alcohol, or even begins to experience psychological symptoms such as feeling the urgent need to get drunk as soon as possible, and wanting to stay that way for every moment of his wakefulness, that his drinking habits are perceived as a threat, not only to himself, but also to others around him.

When can a drinking habit be termed an addiction? Alcoholism or an addiction to alcohol can be determined as an overwhelming urge to partake of excessive amounts of alcohol, even when an individual's consumption patterns begin to have physical and psychological implications on him. These implications could range from social to personal where the individual begins to negatively impact his social ties, begins to suffer from several physical illnesses which can be attributed to his intake of alcohol, and begins to neglect his social and personal duties and responsibilities as a result of his drinking excesses.

The most worrying of all symptoms of alcoholism is that the victim is more often than not, in the state of denial. This means that he is nor only defensive about his habit, but resentful about others commenting on it, simply because he himself is trying hard to convince himself that there's nothing wrong about how much he drinks, or worse, he just doesn't find anything abnormal about it. Also, many alcoholics are deceptively natural in their appearance and interactions, thus alleviating any cause of worry about just how dependant on alcohol they are until they're overcome by their addiction.

There are several factors which determine how susceptible you are to addiction. Although many of these causes are rooted in your psychological patterns of behavior, it could also depend on how genetically pre-disposed you are to teetering on the verge of alcohol abuse. Hence, if you have had several instances of alcoholics up your family tree then chances are that you're pretty close to becoming one yourself. Also, if you tend to restart to numbing yourself with a round of drinks when the stress is simply too high, or have been experiencing an emotional slump, then you are more likely to fall prey to alcoholism.

The consequences of alcohol abuse begin right when you down that first snifter. Your liver it is worst hit as alcohol steadily leads to inflammation, which soon develops into jaundice, if you keep up with the intake and ultimately Liver Cirrhosis. Here, the tissue is scarred forever, a change which cannot be reversed. Alcohol addiction also causes severe malnutrition on account of the impairment in the absorption of number essential nutrients it is responsible for. The habit of heavy drinking in women is also known to cause several pre-natal birth defects during pregnancy, an irregular menstrual cycle or even Amenorrhea. Alcohol addiction is also wont to cause several behavioral disorders which can start with marital discord and eventually even criminal and antisocial behaviors.

The best way to deal with a reliance on alcohol is to come out in the open about your dependence. This could be either through consulting your physician to have him recommend the necessary treatment, and being honest with him about your consumption patterns. You will either be asked to cut down on your drinking or abstain completely, depending on how severely affected you are. If your counselor finds that your dependence on alcohol is rooted in other psychological problems like chronic depression, marital discord or work-related stress, you will be advised to undergo counseling for the same, in addition to your detoxification treatment. You may even be prescribed medication to help curtail your withdrawal symptoms and recommended group therapy, to help you deal with the process of de-addiction. However, the key factor which influences how effective your treatment will be your determination and resolve to stick to your decision. This may also warrant that you keep away from any social gatherings and people where you may find yourself being coerced or even tempted to relax your rules for 'one tiny drink'. Once you've taken that first step, it is crucial that you stick to it at all costs. And when you begin to find other ways to deal with stress and involve yourself in more rejuvenating recreational activities, you'll find that there's no high you get from alcohol, that life itself can't give you. Your first step is just the beginning down a long and healthy walk through life and once you're down that path, you'll find a world of opportunities open up to you with every step that you take!

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