Some symptoms of alcohol addiction are:
Drinking problems can sneak up on you, so it’s important to be aware of the warning signs of alcohol abuse and alcoholism and take steps to cut back if you recognize them. Understanding the problem is the first step to overcoming it and either cutting back to healthy levels or quitting altogether. Using alcohol in situations where it's physically dangerous, such as drinking and driving, operating machinery while intoxicated, or mixing alcohol with prescription medication against doctor's orders. Drinking as a way to relax or de-stress. Many drinking problems start when people use alcohol to self-soothe and relieve stress (otherwise known as self-medicating). Getting drunk after every stressful day, for example, or reaching for a bottle every time you have an argument with your spouse or boss.
If someone with an alcohol addiction takes dangerous risks while drinking, they can also put others at risk. According to National Crime Records Bureau data, over 1.55 lakh lives were lost in road crashes across India in 2021 -- an average of 426 daily or 18 every single hour.
Drinking is also associated with an increased incidence of suicide and homicide. Treating alcohol addiction can be complex and challenging. In order for treatment to work, the person with an alcohol addiction must want to get sober. You can’t force them to stop drinking if they aren’t ready. Success depends on the person’s desire to get better
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can affect all aspects of your life. Long-term alcohol use can cause serious health complications,
affecting virtually every organ in your body, including your brain. Problem drinking can also damage your emotional stability,
finances, career, and your ability to build and sustain satisfying relationships.
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can also have an impact on your family, friends and the people you work with.
The effects of alcohol abuse on the people you love
Despite the potentially lethal damage that heavy drinking inflicts on the body—including cancer, heart problems, and liver disease—the social consequences can be just as devastating.
Alcoholics and alcohol abusers are much more likely to get divorced, have problems with domestic violence, struggle with unemployment,
and live in poverty.
But even if you're able to succeed at work or hold your marriage together, you can't escape the effects that alcoholism and alcohol abuse have on your
personal relationships. Drinking problems put an enormous strain on the people closest to you.
Often, family members and close friends feel obligated to cover for the person with the drinking problem. So they take on the burden of cleaning up your messes, lying for you, or working more to make ends meet. Pretending that nothing is wrong and hiding away all of their fears and resentments can take an enormous toll. Children are especially sensitive and can suffer long-lasting emotional trauma when a parent or caretaker is an alcoholic or heavy drinker.
Often, family members and close friends feel obligated to cover for the person with the drinking problem. So, they take on the burden of cleaning up your messes, lying for you, or working more to make ends meet. Pretending that nothing is wrong and hiding away all of their fears and resentments can take an enormous toll. Children are especially sensitive and can suffer long-lasting emotional trauma when a parent or caretaker is an alcoholic or heavy drinker.
Alcohol addiction can result in heart disease and liver disease. Both can be fatal. Alcoholism can also cause:
Risk factors for drinking problems and alcoholism:
Risk factors for developing problems with alcohol arise from many interconnected factors, including your genetics, how you were raised, your social environment, and your emotional health. People who have a family history of alcoholism or who associate closely with heavy drinkers are more likely to develop drinking problems. Finally, those who suffer from a mental health problem such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder are also particularly at risk, because alcohol is often used to self-medicate.
Alcohol addiction may involve several different treatment methods. It’s important that each person get involved in a recovery program that will support long-term sobriety. This could mean an emphasis on therapy for someone who is depressed, or inpatient treatment for someone with severe withdrawal symptoms.
Rehabilitation
A common initial treatment option for someone with an alcohol addiction is an inpatient rehabilitation program. An inpatient program can last anywhere from 90 days to a year. It can help someone handle withdrawal symptoms and emotional challenges. Inpatient treatment includes detoxification program. Detoxification program typically lasts 2 to 4 weeks with the help of medication. The acute phase is to first two weeks, in some cases it can be 4 weeks (according to the patient conditions).
Alcoholics anonymous and other support groups
Many people addicted to alcohol also turn to 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). There are also other support groups that don’t follow the 12-step model, such as SMART Recovery and Sober Recovery. Sober communities can help someone struggling with alcohol addiction deal with the challenges of sobriety in day-to-day life. Sober communities can also share relatable experiences and offer new, healthy friendships. And these communities make the person with an alcohol addiction accountable and provide a place to turn to if there is a relapse.
Someone with an alcohol addiction may also benefit from other treatments including:
Counselling Sessions: Counselling (Therapy) Sessions are useful to help teach someone how to manage the stress of recovery and the skills needed to prevent a relapse.
Yoga & Meditation Sessions : Improve health and focus.
Nutritional Changes : A healthy diet can help undo damage alcohol may have done to the person’s health, like weight gain or loss.
Detox ?
Men’s detox typically lasts 2 to 4 weeks. The acute phases of detox occur over about 2 week. Generally, withdrawal symptoms will begin within hours after someone stops drinking or using.
Common withdrawal symptoms include:
- - Depression and anxiety / Intense cravings
- - Irritability / Fever
- - Sweating and clammy skin / Sleep issues
- - Changes in appetite /
- - Nausea and vomiting / Diarrhea
Severe withdrawal symptoms can occur for patient, including:
- - Seizures / Hallucinations / Severe mental confusion
- - Respiratory issues / Elevated blood pressure
What causes alcohol-related disorders ?
Problem drinking has multiple causes, with genetic, physiological, psychological,and social factors all playing a role. Not every individual is equally affected by each cause. For some alcohol abusers, psychological traits such as impulsiveness, low self-esteem and a need for approval prompt inappropriate drinking. Some individuals drink to cope with or "medicate" emotional problems. Social and environmental factors such as peer pressure and the easy availability of alcohol can play key roles. Poverty and physical or sexual abuse also increase the odds of developing alcohol dependence.
