If you’ve ever been curious about your friends’ or relatives’ drinking habits, you might have wondered if those people can really be considered alcoholics. Are they just people who enjoy a glass of wine with dinner once in a while? Is it possible to become addicted to alcohol? Alcohol dependence is a medical condition that affects the brain and body.
It happens when you experience difficulty controlling the amount of alcohol you drink on a regular basis. A chronic pattern of drinking heavily and doing it often over a long period of time is also involved. As an alcoholic, you tend to overlook the harmful effects of alcohol on your body and mind. If you are wondering what makes someone become an alcoholic and not another person who enjoys drinking occasionally, here is everything you need to know about this addiction:
Table of Contents
What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a medical condition that affects the brain and body. It happens when you experience difficulty controlling the amount of alcohol you drink on a regular basis. A chronic pattern of drinking heavily and doing it often over a long period of time is also involved. As an alcoholic, you tend to overlook the harmful effects of alcohol on your body and mind. This is not a cravings and it’s not always about the amount.
It’s about the way we drink and how we feel when we are under the influence of alcohol. This can lead to many different consequences, like:
Physical: the risk of liver damage, accidents, impaired driving or sleep Depersonalization: loss of self-awareness Mental, poor decision-making, unsafe sex, poor work and school performance
Alcoholism and addiction: Is it a myth or a reality?
If you’ve ever been curious about your friends’ or relatives’ drinking habits, you might have wondered if those people can really be considered alcoholics. Are they just people who enjoy a glass of wine with dinner once in a while? Is it possible to become addicted to alcohol? Yes, it is possible to become addicted to alcohol. We call it alcoholism, and it is a serious medical condition. In order to be diagnosed as an alcoholic, you must meet specific criteria, such as:
- A persistent desire to drink alcohol that has resulted in problems in your life, such as missing work or experiencing anxiety when you don’t drink.
- A desire or extreme effort to drink regardless of consequences, such as driving while under the influence or causing trouble in relationships because you are trying to drink.
- A dependence on alcohol: you consistently drink more than you should, and it affects your ability to function normally.
How to Detect an Alcoholic and Recognize an Alcohol Abuse Problem
The most common type of drug testing includes- Blood test, Breath Test, Hair test, Saliva Test and Urine Test.
Is your friend or relative exhibiting some of these symptoms of alcohol dependence?
Unexplained behavior after drinking, such as blackouts, lying about their drinking, or reckless behavior
- Drinking despite being aware of the harmful effects
- Having trouble stopping when they drink
- Occasional unexplained emotional upheavals
A pattern of drinking that began when they were underage If you think someone you know might have a drinking problem, here’s what you should do: – Ask them directly if they have a drinking problem, or if they think they might.
- Be supportive, but also be honest and direct.
Be patient and supportive. Be willing to help them, but also let them know that they need to ask for help. There are resources available that can help you and your loved one find treatment. They might be able to recommend a treatment center or provide help navigating the process.
Treatment of alcohol dependence
If you are wondering how you can cure alcohol dependence, treatment can help you better understand what is going on inside your body and head. It can also help you manage cravings and stay in control of your drinking. Many treatment programs for alcohol dependence focus on helping you learn how to drink in moderation, develop healthy coping mechanisms for stress and pressure, and find healthy ways to express your emotions.
Additional treatment may include alcohol education, in which you learn how to limit your drinking, how to recognize if you have a problem, and how to plan for your future when you decide to stop drinking. You can also receive counseling or psychotherapy, which helps you understand how your mind and thoughts affect your behaviors, such as drinking and any triggers that may have caused you to start drinking in the first place.
Consequences of alcohol abuse
Alcohol dependence can have many serious consequences that may lead to death, such as:
Liver damage: Your liver is responsible for breaking down and releasing toxins from your blood. If you drink too much alcohol, it can become overworked and damaged. This can lead to scarring, which can cause your liver to stop working properly, which can be deadly.
Accidents: Driving under the influence is dangerous and illegal. Drinking too much can increase your chances of crashing your car, getting into an accident that injures others, or being arrested for reckless driving.
Poor work performance: You may also be at risk of missing work or experiencing poor job performance.
Signs of an Alcohol Dependent Person
Here are some behaviors that can indicate someone might be an alcoholic or become dependent on alcohol:
- Wears oneself out at the bars, clubs, or other social settings and does not want to come back home
- Shows up at work or school under the influence
- Has blackouts when drinking
- Has a constant need for alcohol
- Shows a drastic change in behavior, such as threatening their family or damaging their property
- Shows a change in their job performance
- Spends a lot of money on alcohol.
If you or someone you know shows one or more of these signs, it’s important to discuss this with them and figure out what they need. A doctor or counselor might be able to help.
Conclusion
Social media has played an amazing role in the public’s perception of what it means to be an alcoholic. With the constant stream of drinking culture ads, images, and misinformation, it is crucial to debunk myths and misconceptions about alcoholism. Alcoholism is a serious illness that can lead to death, and it needs to be taken seriously. It doesn’t matter if you only drink a glass of wine once a week or if you drink every day. If you are dependent on alcohol, you need to seek help as soon as possible.