Unfortunately, the number of people who suffering from alcoholism is outstanding in more and more countries, and in recent times, due to the pandemic and quarantine situation, perhaps even higher growth rates have been observed. Almost everyone has a family member, friend, or acquaintance struggling with alcoholism, so we need to talk about the problem.
The numbers are worrying, and the gender ratio of patients is also shifting, as the proportion of women with alcohol problems has been increasing recently. Unfortunately, along with this, there has also been a growing trend of the increasingly younger age group to use alcohol regularly, so it is not uncommon today for young people in their early twenties to become alcoholics.
People with alcoholism consume alcohol on a daily basis, which also causes physical, mental and social symptoms. The development of the disease can be traced back to several factors, but inherited traits (from parents, ascendants) certainly play a role in it. People with a depressed, anxious personality type, a “dependent figure” can become alcoholics more easily than average and it is much harder to quit for them.
Most alcoholics start as a problem drinker: they can only endure the trauma and stress experienced in life with alcohol. However, with regular alcohol consumption, tolerance to alcohol develops over time, which means that more and more must be consumed to achieve the same effect, thus entering the vicious circle. Unfortunately, this is already a more serious phase of the disease: personality changes are taking place, the main goal of the alcoholic individual is to get a daily dose of alcohol, and everything else can only follow this goal, such as family, work, social relationships, hobbies, and so on.
This is followed by a state where the goal is no longer just to achieve the desired effect, but to avoid withdrawal symptoms. By this time, the degree of addiction is such that in the absence of alcohol, severe physical symptoms occur: vomiting, dizziness, tremors, hallucinations, possibly seizures, psychiatric disorders, depression, mood swings, aggression.
Complications of alcoholism include liver damage, varicose veins, heart problems, malabsorption, nervous system damage, and various life-threatening deficits.
Treating alcoholism is not an easy task, the key to successful recovery may be the maximally committed patient, without it, without the will of the patient, unfortunately, even the best treatment combinations are not effective. Therapy includes medication as needed, and individual and group psychotherapy.
It is important to talk about the problem of alcoholism, whether it concerns you or a relative, as it is one of the basic elements of successful treatment. If you feel that you or a loved one is suffering from alcoholism, feel free to contact me!
2021.02.04.
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