Breaking Free From Alcohol
Beating Alcoholism ..One sip at a time!
Published at Smashwords:
Toby Russell
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Table of Contents..
What Symptoms Should I Look For?
Approaching Alcoholism Treatments
Introduction..
Firstly, and most importantly, welcome to 'Breaking Free From Alcohol'. Whether you have decided to read this e-book for self-education, because you have a loved one who you are worried about or even because you yourself have recognized the signs of alcoholism, this e-book has been sensitively and objectively written with you in mind.
It doesn't matter why you've found yourself here, or what has happened to bring you to this point, the first and most important step to beating alcoholism is a sincere acceptance and determined desire to address the problem you or your loved one has. Before you begin to absorb the information within this e-book, all we ask is that you clear your mind of any preconceptions of alcoholism and sufferers. Sobriety is a tangible possibility and nothing alcoholic sufferers face cannot be overcome.
As we became subjects of King Alcohol, shivering denizens of his mad realm, the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down. It thickened, ever becoming blacker. Some of us sought out sordid places, hoping to find understanding companionship and approval. Momentarily we did - then would come oblivion and the awful awakening to face the hideous Four Horsemen - Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair.
(Alcoholics Anonymous)
Alcoholism is defined as excessive and uncontrollable consumption of alcohol, usually accompanied by physical and psychological dependence upon the drug. Typically, sufferers of this addiction will display symptoms including (but not limited to, depending on the severity of the condition) discoloured skin and eyes, increased/decreased tolerance to alcohol, shaking and high blood pressure. These physical symptoms are also normally accompanied by a variety of emotional and psychological issues that can be triggered both by the presence and absence of alcohol.
Alcohol is a depressant of the central nervous system, and the side effects of imbibing the substance vary massively by dose- from impaired judgement and increased sociability, to vomiting and unconsciousness. In addicts, because GABA receptors in the brain are physically altered to a significant extent, withdrawal from alcohol is an anxious and potentially dangerous prospect! Alcohol addiction is a condition which builds progressively during periods of frequent, heavy use of alcohol- more often than not with the express intention of becoming intoxicated or ”drunk”. The root causes can be complex and are often related to trauma and depression (see: “drowning your sorrows”).
The extreme mental and physical stress involved with giving up alcohol is a deciding factor in most sufferer's failure to do so. Importantly, the disruption to sleeping patterns (alcohol moderate to high doses of alcohol can cause insomnia, or inhibit the Slow Wave Sleep phase, which is deeply restful) caused by intoxication can become more severe during abstinence!
Alcoholism is distinct from alcohol abuse in the characteristic refusal of its sufferers to change their behaviour based on the consequences of their drinking and subsequent behaviour. Whereas an abuser of alcohol might experience some adverse effects following heavy intoxication, they are unlikely to continue drinking heavily in the short term. An alcohol addict, on the other hand, will often ignore the repercussions drinking has on their physical health, work and family life and continue drinking!
Addiction to alcohol does take some time to occur. There are certain factors (such as access to significant quantities of alcohol, and an environment where prolonged consumption is feasible) that can assist the formation of an addiction, but undoubtedly one of the most important contributors is a lack of understanding of the dangers of alcohol prior to consumption. There is some disagreement over whether alcoholism is a disease or simply a vice: If it is a disease, then people who suffer from alcoholism are unable to treat themselves (i.e. to quit drinking) and require medical assistance as part of their recovery. If the opposite is true, and alcoholism is a vice, then there are individuals who choose to continue drinking too much because they lack the willpower or inclination to stop.
Neither argument has been proven to be true beyond doubt, but whilst the debate continues, complications arising from alcohol use are the cause of 1.8 million deaths per year (according to the World Health Organisation)! Add to this the countless injuries and illnesses that do not lead directly to a fatality, and clearly we have a severe risk to vulnerable individuals and a huge drain on healthcare resources that could be spent elsewhere.
There is some evidence to suggest that predisposition towards alcohol addiction may be passed on genetically from alcoholic parents to their children. Some studies seem to suggest that individuals from households where alcohol abuse or addiction has occurred will be more likely in later life to develop the condition themselves! However, whilst this shows correlation, it does not show causality. It may well be that the environment in which these individuals are raised is the deciding factor in their relationship with alcohol rather than any specific genetic trait.
In this case, it is not necessarily an either/or argument. It is entirely possible that a genetic trait exists which makes it difficult for the bearer to resist the pull of addiction, but that certain experiences during developmental stages of childhood are the origin of a person's penchant for alcohol. Admittedly, this does nothing to bring conclusion to the argument. This argument, whilst a little circular, is an important one. In order to properly diagnose, prescribe medication for, and ultimately cure alcoholism, it is necessary (as with other medical conditions) to establish a root cause. Over-simplifying the explanation for this addiction is risky because of the inherent dangers we already know are associated with withdrawal. Alcoholism as a disease seems to call for treatments that are medicine-based, whereas presumable alcoholism as a vice requires behavioural and cognitive therapy to rid a person of their habit.
What Symptoms Should I Look For?
Alcohol addiction is a condition which affects all sections of society, regardless of race, wealth or age. Left untreated, it can quickly become a debilitating illness which leaves the sufferer unable to live a normal life because going anywhere or doing anything where access to alcohol is limited becomes impossible! Recognising early indications of alcoholism and beginning an appropriate course of treatment is imperative in order to minimise the lasting damage done by alcohol to the body. This, of course, does rely on the will and desire of the sufferer to start on the road to recovery.
Identifying alcoholism is initially very tricky. This is due, in part, to the fact that the 'classic' and aesthetically obvious symptoms of alcohol addiction tend to occur in the later stages of the disease. Again, the sufferer's role is crucial here because they are initially unlikely to recognise their own illness without outside interference. Even then, denial is a very common response by addicts when first faced with the proposition that they might have a problem. With time, however, the illness will worsen and more obvious symptoms will become apparent.