An alcoholic is someone who takes alcohol without any restraint or control. They end up getting drunk in the process, and they mess themselves up. The next day, if given the chance, they pick up from where they stop with their alcohol usage.

An alcoholic might either be abusing alcohol or addicted already, but one thing remains certain, they find it difficult to quit alcohol.

An alcoholic cannot be regarded as someone who has a properly functioning mind. The reason for this is, the excessive intake of alcohol has the capacity to remodel the brain, causing it to abnormally function.

Hence, an alcoholic would not have the willpower to think properly because their brain is in the model of remodeling. So, what looks normal to someone who is not an alcoholic, would be abnormal to an alcoholic.

This is one of the reasons why an alcoholic and someone who doesn’t drink alcohol would find it difficult to be on the same page.

Providing help for an alcoholic is not easy because they will not readily want to accept that they have alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction problem.

The mistake most people make when talking to alcoholics is, they treat them with prejudice, instead of exercising ample care and love.

When you show an alcoholic that you care about them genuinely, it becomes easier to convince them to try out a recovery option. Usually, they might be defiant at first, but with time, they will opt for it.

Also, it is important that you are well versed in the knowledge of alcohol abuse and addiction because it makes it easier for you to convince them.

To wrap it up, an alcoholic who opts for treatment is sure to have his or her life back on track. This is assured if he or she accepts their alcoholism problem, and they are willing to put that aspect of their lives aside.

Depending on the severity of the alcohol problem, the individual might be required to remain within the treatment facility, or come for treatment based on a schedule.

Alcoholism is another name for alcohol abuse, and it simply refers to a condition whereby an individual is under the influence of alcohol, and he or she cannot seem to quit.

Not everyone has the tendency to be an alcoholic. There are some people who drink minimally and they can control themselves, while there are others who cannot.

Alcoholism has unpleasant effects on the body and many people are not aware of this. It affects both the physical and mental aspects of an individual. This is why it is always important to seek help when you discover that you are an alcoholic.

Usually, the end results of alcoholism is alcohol addiction, and when it gets to this stage, it is usually very bad because the individual would be unable to quit. The only way to break free from this chronic stage of alcoholism, is to seek help.

Alcoholism affects the internal organs of the body like the brain, liver, kidney, heart, pancreas and the likes. One reason why alcoholics do not know this is because, the short-term damage is usually not evident.

It is only in the long-run that they would realize that much damage has been done to their internal organs, and by then it would be tougher to fight off alcoholism.

Also, alcoholism affects the personal life of an individual. If a chronic alcoholic is in the workplace, it would be difficult for them to fully concentrate on work.

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Alcoholics would put their drinking first over their work, and this is why some of them run into debts because they use their salary to fund alcohol abuse.

In addition, an alcoholic would not be able to see properly, alongside with absence of proper coordination in the brain. An alcoholic’s productivity would reduce greatly because it would become difficult for them to focus.

For alcoholics to get better, it is important for them to seek help as soon as possible. So that they will be able to combat it effectively.

Sometimes, alcoholism is said to be the most hazardous drug in the world. It is not usually freely available to people, and it is fully accepted in some cultures and societies. However, this is not the only reason why it is dangerous, the side effects are also known to adversely affect the relationship of the individual.

When it comes to one of the most essential aspect of the life of an individual, it is the relationship which he has with others.

They do not only give him the needed support and companionship; they are also major contributors to the kind of person he would eventually turn out to be. However, with the presence of alcohol, all the benefits of a good relationship are short-lived.

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Starting off with trust, it is the needed foundation for building a firm relationship, as it allows two or more people to come to the understanding that they have someone who they can always count on.

Now, when one of the parties happen to be abusing alcohol, it would affect the trust which has been built already. The addict in question would become so consumed with the alcohol, that he would have little or no time for the emotional and physical expectations of the people they love.

When the dependence of the addict on alcohol worsens, he becomes someone who is less reliable, because his mind would be more occupied with other things, which majorly includes the use of alcohol. If care is not taken, it could cause conflict and friction in the relationship, as other normal individuals would be forced to distance themselves from the alcohol addict.

Communication too, is also likely to be affected, because it is a primary ingredient needed in building a good relationship. Alcohol can make someone to forget important discussions, and supposed meetings.

It could induce arguments at any point in a conversation, and it could make the individual violent towards the other. Hence, it could adversely affect the communication level between both parties, thereby affecting the relationship.

Conclusively, alcohol can also cause sadness, frustration, anger and other emotional vices for both parties. Alcohol addiction is a disorder which must be combatted and resolved promptly.

Alcoholism is a gripping addiction that has severe consequences on a person’s life. It is capable of ruining jobs, reputations, health and livelihoods. Life with an alcoholic is not easy for anyone. Despite knowing that alcoholism is not a person’s fault, expecting them to take responsibility for it can be a long bumpy road, that does not necessarily end happily all the time. Those who have lived with an alcoholic know how trying it is and how desperate it can make a person feel. A few of the common problems of living with an alcoholic include:

Frequent alcohol consumption causes mood instability, especially in people who have a mood disorder, mental disorder or personality disorder, which many alcoholics have. This may range from crying and irritability all the way to physical violence. Obviously, this has tremendous negative influences on the person’s mental health who lives with the alcoholic.

Alcoholics want to escape completely into their addiction, which drinking enables them to do. As a result, alcoholics become largely unavailable to their relationships and responsibilities. People cannot be functional and participate in escapism at the same time. This leaves too heavy a burden on the person living with the alcoholic to be responsible in their place.

Alcohol costs money. In fact, alcoholism is a very expensive habit. A majority of alcoholics end up with financial issues because they will invest financially into their addiction at all costs. This is obviously a strain on the person they are living with because they are forced to compensate for the alcoholics financial inadequacies.

It is only a matter of time before an alcoholic will develop health issues. Excessive alcohol is toxic to a person’s system and extended saturation in alcohol will make a body under perform and become diseased. Minor health problems caused by alcoholism included weight gain, lethargy, insulin problems and digestion issues. Major health problems caused by alcoholism include diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver and heart attack.

It is impossible to love an alcoholic correctly by enabling. If anything a person does for an alcoholic that gives them an opportunity to drink, they are enabling. Enabling harms an alcoholic, takes away their self esteem and keeps them dependent on their enabler. It is a very unhealthy cycle to be stuck in, for both parties. An alcoholic will never grow out of their alcoholism so long as they choose to remain dependent on their enabler. Someone has to break the cycle, and typically it has to be the enabler as they are the one who is not in the grasp of addiction.

Being firm on this point is difficult, as the alcoholic will try a number of tactics to get their enabler to comply with their desires, such as guilt trips, tears, anger, threats and more. Plus, there is often a genuine loving bond between an alcoholic and their enabler. Enabling someone does not mean you do not love them, it simply means you are not doing a good job of loving them.

Anyone who cares about an alcoholic knows there is nothing you want more for them than to stop drinking and feel whole. Unfortunately, it is not as easy as all that. Helping someone let go of alcohol is a very delicate process with no guaranteed outcome. A person can invest an incredible amount of love, time and energy into trying to help someone stop drinking, and it may not have any effect. This leaves the supporter devastated, angry and dejected. The question is, how do you support an alcoholic in a healthy way, without enabling, chastising or stigmatizing their addiction?

The answer is one that takes some careful consideration, even though it is fairly straightforward. Logically, it makes perfect sense, but applying it to your personal situation can present challenges. The key to supporting an alcoholic in a healthy manner is by offering to support them through recovery but refusing to take part in their addiction with them. This philosophy, when applied, will influence an addict in a positive direction ultimately, even if their initial reaction to it is one of anger.

Recognizing when you or a loved one has developed alcoholism can be confusing as there are mixed messages about what constitutes alcoholism in the media and in society. Those who believe in sobriety might fear any alcohol use at all, while those who defend the use of alcohol may excuse addictive behavior. Alcohol use is so prevalent that it is common to be desensitized to the very real physical, mental and social threats of alcoholism, but fortunately, substance abuse professionals have compiled a list of signs and symptoms so you can know when to seek treatment for yourself or a loved one in the fight against alcoholism. These signs include:

• Drinking in order to destress, to cope with a problem or to relax. Alcoholics often don’t feel normal unless they are drinking.
• Being unable to give up or limit alcohol consumption, even if the alcoholic is aware it is having a negative impact on their life
• Building a physical tolerance to the effects of alcohol and in turn consuming more of it, which is especially recognizable if the addicts level of consumption has noticeably increased.
• Being prone to black outs, or experiencing memory loss of something that happened while intoxicated. Alcoholism can affect other memories as well, even if the alcoholic wasn’t intoxicated at the time.
• Withdrawal symptoms take place when the alcoholic does not drink or limits the amount they drink; symptoms may include anxiety, depression, shaking, sweating, nausea and more
• Drinking becomes ritualistic and the alcoholic turns irritable toward anything that inhibits the ritual. Alcoholic will also become irritable if alcohol isn’t available.
• Encounters with the law have taken place as a result of inebriation, such as DUIs or disorderly conduct
• Work performace, school performance, finances, personal relationships and/or life obligatons are failing due to alcoholism, often paired with the reprioritizing of activities to place alcohol above all other matters
• Alcoholic is observed drinking alone, trying to hide their habit, or keeping alcohol hidden in their working or living space

The effects of alcoholism can be devastating, and you do not have to go through it alone. There are a variety of alcohol addiction treatment facilities that are able to house, counsel and rehabilitate addicts, restoring them to a healthy lifestyle. Contact a reputable rehabilitation center to learn more about treatment for alcoholism.

Rehabilitation for Alcoholism

You’ve read the articles, you know the warning signs, and you have come to the realization that you are an alcoholic. What comes next? First of all, congratulations on beating denial, one of the hardest stages for an addict to move out of. It is not uncommon for an alcoholic to go years without seeking treatment because they are either unaware of the problem or they don’t want to admit it to themselves or loved ones.

Now that you have confronted the truth, it is time to reach out for help. You will discover a variety of alcohol addiction rehabilitation treatment options, ranging from counseling to support groups, outpatient treatment to residential rehabilitation. Statistically speaking, residential rehabilitation, or inpatient addiction treatment, is the most successful and intensive. It involves the addict moving into the treatment center to be under surveillance as they begin their recovery, and submitting to the rules of the treatment center in order to maintain sobriety. Inpatient stays usually begin with a thorough, medically supervised detox to enure that you are in good health and thinking clearly about your recovery. Good quality alcohol addiction facilities will offer therapy sessions, counselling, group activities, therapeutic activities, meals, and after care, specializing in alcohol addiction. There are a range of inpatient treatment options located throughout the United States and Canada, such as rehab centers of CA, treatment facilities of NY and BC alcohol rehab and detox centers.

If inpatient treatment is not your preference, there are many other options available to you through outpatient treatment centers, support groups and addiction resource centers. Outpatient treatment centers can connect you with a specialist who will help you develop a recovery plan to execute in every avenue of your life. They can also provide you with counselling for your addiction and for underlying mental and medical issues, connect you with proper medical care for any side effects of alcoholism you are experiencing and help you obtain any medications you need in order to prevent a relapse. Support groups and sponsors are available to recovering addicts to keep the recovery network in tact, and involvement in spiritual groups are often encouraged to maintain sobriety. Whatever your preference may be, there is an alcohol addiction treatment program available for you.

What is Alcoholism?