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Tips For Beating Alcoholism

By: Chris Channing Due to the results of certain studies, it has been postulated that an adult who drinks 1-2 alcoholic beverages per day may live longer than someone who does not drink at all. But we all know alcohol is in no way a safe drug, and alcohol can cause a variety of health problems. These health problems, to name a few, include pancreatitis, cognitive problems, and various afflictions of the liver. So when does having a good time get taken overboard? And just how many drinks are too many? The fact is that although alcohol remains legal, it is comparable in addictive qualities to illegal substances such as heroin and methamphetamines.

The disease alcoholism is a progressive disease in which a person feels compelled to drink in order to lead what they consider a regular life. As a person continues to be an alcoholic, their health will continually diminish until they become sober. As you know, one must first drink alcohol to be an alcoholic, but most people who decide to drink are not binge drinkers.

Alcoholics may be excessive drinkers, or they may choose to drink at entirely inappropriate times and places such as before church or while driving. People who drink in these situations can be considered mild alcoholics by refusing to stay sober when sobriety is called for.

At first, problems stemming from alcohol related crimes may cause a person to end up in court because of alcohol related offenses such as public intoxication or driving drunk. They may end up disappointing their family and friends because they show up to events while inebriated or act foolish while drunk around them. If these sorts of things occur and the person continues to drink, then that person is an alcoholic.

It is at this stage that the person either decides to stop drinking, or they continue to drink. Once a person continues to drink, they have become dependent on alcohol. If someone is dependent on alcohol they often spend large amounts of time doing alcohol related activities, incorporate alcohol into activities where one does usually not drink, and they begin to develop a tolerance to the alcohol they are drinking.

With tolerance comes the need to drink more to stay drunk. A chemical dependency is soon added to the list of the alcoholic's problems, and in order to feel well, the alcoholic must have alcohol in their system.

The first sign of a chemical dependency on alcohol can occur with something called "the shakes". After not drinking, the chemically dependent alcoholic may begin to shake visibly and become nauseous. Headaches, sweating, anxiety, and increased blood pressure take place. Although this stage of alcohol withdrawal is uncomfortable, it is not life threatening.

After anywhere from six to twenty-four hours without alcohol, an alcoholic may go into delirium tremens. Delirium tremens can include hallucinations, unstoppable shaking of the limbs, and extreme confusion and discomfort. There is no cure or way to stop a DT other than to tough it out. Potentially deadly seizures, strokes, and heart attacks can take place at this point. With the help of a licensed professional, a physically dependent alcoholic may become sober, but without help an alcoholic will find it extremely difficult to quit without some sort of help.