What is Alcoholism?

This can be described as a chronic disorder which can be characterized by dependence on alcohol and the repeated excessive use of alcoholic beverages which leads to the development of withdrawal symptoms especially when one reduces intake of alcohol.

This is followed by morbidity which has been known to include liver cirrhosis and the reduced ability to act normal especially in terms of social interaction and related workplace tasks.

It can also be described as a form of disease which is commonly referred to as alcohol dependence syndrome which is the most severe stage of drinking problems and usually starts with binge drinking and alcohol abuse.

When people engage in alcohol consumption, they usually do so with the mind set that they are celebrating or they doing so in order to eliminate stress or depression from their lives.

The worst thing is that when you drink alcohol in order to fight problems or avoid feeling bad, you will be directing yourself in a dangerous territory.
The various effects of the condition can sneak up on you without your knowledge therefore in order to avoid it, you need to be aware of the symptoms and signs of the condition.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism

The signs and symptoms can be either mild, moderate or severe and they include:

• The inability of an individual limiting the amount of alcohol they are consuming.
• Constant trials of getting rid of the habit leading to several unsuccessful attempts.
• An individual keeps binge drinking day in and day out.
• The person will be feeling a strong craving and the urge to drink alcohol.
• One continues to consume alcohol regardless of knowledge that it will destroy their lives. The alcohol will cause physical, social as well as relationship problems.
• An individual uses alcohol especially in areas where it is not safe such as around a swimming pool and even when driving.
• One has been able to develop tolerance towards the alcohol therefore they end up consuming more in order to feel the effects of it.
• The start of withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating and shaking therefore indicating the start of eliminating the behavior.

What is alcohol withdrawal?

This is a situation where an alcoholic who has been undergoing heavy and prolonged drinking ceases the habit with the purpose of kicking it out of their life. Withdrawal has been found to start occurring a few hours to a few days after one has stopped drinking or reduced the amount they used to drink before.

Some of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include sweating, rapid heart beat, hand tremors, sleeping problems, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations and agitation. There are times when seizures may occur and could make the symptoms to be severe therefore impairing one’s ability to work or even interact with others socially.

What is alcohol intoxication?

This is a situation where the amount of alcohol in your blood increases which means that the higher the concentration, the more intoxicated one is. The condition is known to cause problems especially when it comes to behavior and mental capabilities.

Some of the behavioral and mental changes that will occur due to alcohol intoxication include unstable moods, impaired judgement, slurred speech, impaired attention, impaired memory and poor coordination.

There are periods where one will experience the so called “blackouts” therefore leading one not to remember events.
When the levels of alcohol are very high, it could lead one to be in a coma or death.

Causes

In order for one to become an alcoholic, they have to spend months or even years abusing alcohol. As time goes by, the condition will disrupt the chemical balance in the brain specifically the GABA which is known to control impulsiveness.

Family history

According to experts, genetics is one cause of the problem especially in families where they have a history of addiction. These are as a result of certain genetic factors which experts have been able to find out.

Stress

It has been found out that people who have emotional problems that lead to stress usually result in the condition. This is because when people have problems, they will seek solace in alcohol therefore starting binge drinking.

Peer drinking

When you start spending time with friends who drink regularly, you will be tempted to try it out an within a short time,you will be hooked and you will start drinking yourself.
Low self esteem
People who have low esteem will likely result to drinking alcohol in order to boost their confidence especially when around people.

Depression

Depression has been found to result in the deliberate use of alcohol as a means of treating their condition. Drinking alcohol will not eliminate one’s problem but will escalate it instead.

Treatment

When it comes to alcoholism, there are a number of treatment methods that are meant to support you in abstaining. The treatment may be provided in stages and includes:

• The process of detoxification. This is done in order to get rid of the alcohol in the body.
• Rehabilitation. This is done to allow an individual to learn new coping skills and behaviors.
• General counseling where an individual speaks to a counselor therefore being able to address various emotional problems which usually prompt one to drink
• Support via available programs such as the 12 step program from Alcohol Anonymous.
• Medical treatment of the condition.
• Provision of medication.

When it comes to medication, there are several which are used to treat the condition and they include:

-Naltrexone which is also referred to as Vivitrol and is used on individuals who are have detoxified from the alcohol. The drug works by blocking specific receptors which are usually associated with being high. The drug together with counseling will help to decrease one’s craving for alcohol.
-Campral is a medication which helps one to re-establish their brains original chemical state before they start being dependent on alcohol.