Do you need help to quit drinking alcohol or reduce your intake? Drinking alcohol is a very common phenomenon among many people in the world. Some drink alcohol occasionally, some binge drink every now and then, but some drink alcohol without any reason and in large amounts every day. Many of us drink alcohol to relax, but drinking too much can affect your physical and mental health. Doing so can cause a dependency to develop, which can lead to the inability to function in daily life without drinking.
Alcohol addiction is a chronic and relapsing disorder. Research on substance addiction has led to one clear conclusion: there is no “cure” for addiction. However, the condition is treatable with intensive behavioral treatment, medications, and ongoing recovery efforts. If you have a physical need to drink alcohol and are unable to stop on your own, you may need professional treatment at an alcohol rehab.
So how do you know if you are considered to be an alcoholic? According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, drinking is considered to be high risk if a woman consumes four drinks or more in any one day and eight drinks or more per week. For men, it is five drinks a day and fifteen drinks per week.
What are the Adverse Effects of Alcoholism?
Alcohol affects everyone. How it affects you depends on how much you drink, your health, your age, and other factors. Drinking too much over time can cause chronic physical and mental health issues. Severe alcohol dependence may lead to even death.
Physical Effects
- Changes in sleeping and eating habits.
- Compulsivebehavior and intense cravings
- Withdrawal symptoms such as feeling nausea, shaky, sweating, or sick when trying to stop drinking.
- Unintentional injuries such as car accidents, falls, etc.
- Risk for cancers, such as cancer of the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver, and breast.
- Weakened immune system i.e. you are more likely to catch colds, flu, or other illnesses more frequently.
- Increased blood sugar levels, hypertension, malfunctioning nervous system, etc.
Psychological Effects
Due to alcoholism, various psychological changes occur in the patient’s brain, affecting the way they think and behave. These changes can be long-lasting and can lead to different cognitive behavioral dysfunctions.
- Obsessive thoughts about obtaining and drinking alcohol. It seems like it is impossible for them to function without alcohol.
- Experiencing mental disorders such as anxiety or depressive symptoms.
- Unable to cut back and continuing to use alcohol despite knowing that it has serious consequences.
- Showing signs of irritability and extreme mood swings when unable to drink.
- Making excuses for drinking such as to relax, deal with stress, or just to feel normal.
Ways to Beat Alcoholism
Is it possible to recover from alcoholism? The tips below are the best ways that will help you on your road to recovery from alcohol addiction.
- Setting short and long-term goals to change your drinking habits.
- Keeping a journal of your urges to drink and drinking habits e.g. how much and how often
- Avoiding circumstances that may lead you to drink, i.e. keeping little or no alcohol at home
- Keeping busy by finding hobbies and activities to fill your time.
- Making an effort to drink more slowly.
- Planning coping strategies.
- Attending mutual support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Beating alcohol addiction can be done as long as you have the right help. https://thailandrehabreviews.com/ is an independent website offering free advice and consultations on addiction recovery and treatment options in Thailand.