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Alcoholic Behaviour
Alcoholism is a progressive degenerative disease that can be broken down into four
stages of classic alcoholic behavior. Unfortunately, classic alcoholic behavior typicallyincludes an increase in drinking problems, deteriorating health, denial, and a loss ofcontrol as an individual's alcohol dependency progresses.
Classic Alcoholic Behaviour in the First Stage of Alcoholism
In the first stage of alcoholism, drinking is no longer social but becomes a
means of psychological escape from inhibitions, problems, and stress. Stated
differently, early in the disease the problem drinker starts to depend on the
mood altering capabilities of alcohol.
Also at this first stage of alcoholism, a gradual increase in tolerance develops,
meaning that increasing amounts of alcohol are required in order for the person
to "feel the buzz" or to "get high."
It is typical for people in the first stage to start gulping a few drinks before
attending a social function and increasing social drinking to 3 to 5 drinks per
day.
The following represents some of the classic alcoholic behaviors, alcohol
effects, and drinking problems experienced by problem drinkers in the first
stage of alcoholism
Boasting and a "big shot" complex
Gross Drinking Behavior - more frequent drinking of greater amounts
An ability to drink great amounts of alcohol without any apparent
impairment
Increasing tolerance
Drinking is not social but a psychological escape from stress and
problems
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Lack of recognition by the person that he or she is in the early stages of a
progressive illness
A conscious effort to seek out more drinking opportunities
Classic Alcoholic Behavior in the Second Stage of Alcoholism
In the second stage of alcoholism, the need to drink becomes more intense. And
as the drinking becomes more extreme, the person's drinking problems usually
increase.
Typically at this stage, the problem drinker starts to drink earlier in the day. As
tolerance increases, the person drinks because of dependence on alcohol, ratherthan because of psychological stress relief. During this stage, loss of control
does not yet happen on a regular basis; it is, however, gradually observed by
others such as friends and family members.
Also at this stage of the disease, the person with the drinking problem may
begin to feel shame and to worry about his or drinking. Frequently, problem
drinkers in this stage unsuccessfully attempt to stop drinking. At times they
may change brands of alcohol to switch from hard liquor or wine to beer. To
help quiet the internal conflict they now experience, they start to resort to denial
of their drinking problems.
During this stage, physical symptoms such as hand tremors, blackouts,
hangovers, and stomach problems increase. Rather than focusing on their
drinking as the cause of the many drinking problems they face, many problem
drinkers start to blame others and things external to themselves.
The following represents some of the drinking problems, classic alcoholic
behaviors, and alcohol effects suffered by problem drinkers in the second stage
of alcoholism:
Denial
Chronic hangovers
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Drinking because of dependence rather than for stress relief
More frequent blackouts
Blaming problems on others and on things external to themselves
Physical problems increase
Feelings of guilt and shame
Sneaking extra drinks before social events
Sporadic loss of control
Gulping the first few drinks to feel the "buzz" faster
Increasing tolerance
Unsuccessful attempts to stop drinking
Classic Alcoholic Behaviour in the Third Stage of Alcoholism
In the third stage of alcoholism, the loss of control becomes common, meaning
that the person with the drinking problem is unable to drink according to his or
her intentions. For instance, once the problem drinker takes the first drink, he
or she can no longer control what will happen, even though the intention might
have been to have two or three drinks. During this stage of the disease, the
individual with the drinking problem starts to experience serious employment,
financial, and relationship, and legal difficulties that are directly associated with
the person's drinking problems.
In addition, the problem drinker starts to avoid friends and family and
experiences a loss of interest in things that used to be important. Also common
during this stage are "eye-openers," that is, drinks that are taken whenever the
person with the drinking problem awakens. Eye-openers are usually taken to
calm the nerves, lessen a hangover, or to quiet their feelings of remorse the
drinker experiences after a period of time without a drink.
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As the drinking increases the person starts to neglect most things of importance,
even necessities such as food and shelter. Ironically, at this stage of the disease,
rather than experiencing an increase in tolerance, the problem drinker
experiences a DECREASE in alcohol tolerance, meaning that less alcohol is
needed to feel the effects of alcohol.
And finally, during this stage, the drinker with the drinking problem frequently
makes half-hearted attempts at seeking medical aid. Due to the fact that
problem drinkers will not admit the extent of their drinking problems, however,
they rarely receive any lasting medical treatment. Even when they disclose a
small part of the "truth" regarding their drinking behaviors with their doctor or
with a health care practitioner, moreover, they usually fail to follow through
with the medical instructions, thus accomplishing little, if anything of value
regarding their disease.
The following represents some of the alcohol effects, drinking problems, and
classic alcoholic behaviors experienced by problem drinkers in the third stage of
alcoholism:
Loss of interests
Half-hearted attempts at seeking medical aid
The start of physical deterioration
The development of an alibi system - an elaborate system of excuses for
their drinking
Increased tremors
Aggressive and grandiose behavior
Loss of willpower
Avoidance of family and friends
Frequent violent or destructive behavior
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A decrease in alcohol tolerance
Loss of willpower
Unreasonable resentments
Problems with the law (e.g, DUIs)
Neglect of necessities such as food
An increase in failed promises and resolutions to one's self and to others
Eye-openers
Serious financial, relationship, and work-related problems
Loss of control have become a pattern
Classic Alcoholic Behavior in the Fourth Stage of Alcoholism
The fourth and final stage of alcoholism is characterised by a chronic loss of
control. In the earlier stages of the disease, the problem drinker may have been
successful in maintaining a job. Now, however, drinking starts earlier in the day
and usually continues throughout the day. Few, if any, full-time jobs, however,
can be maintained once a person is in this state. In the earlier stages of
dependency, the alcoholic had a choice whether he or she would take the first
drink. Once the alcoholic had the first drink, he or she usually lost all control
and would then continue drinking. In the last stage of alcoholism, however,
alcoholics no longer have a choice: they must drink so they can function
throughout the day.
During the last stage of alcoholism, benders are typical. That is, in this stage,
the alcoholic gets helplessly drunk and may remain in this condition for days at
a time. The unattainable goal for the alcoholic at this time is to find the feeling
of euphoria they once experienced. In this stage, the alcoholic manifests an
utter disregard for everything, including food, shelter, family, and job. These
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occasional flights into oblivion are best described as drinking to get away from
the problems caused by drinking.
In the second or third stages of alcoholism the alcoholic's hands may have
trembled slightly on mornings after getting drunk. In the final stage of
alcoholism, however, alcoholics get "the shakes" whenever they try or are
forced to abstain from drinking. These tremors are an indication of a severe
nervous disorder that now affects the entire body. When "the shakes" are
combined with hallucinations, the result is known as "the DTs" or delirium
tremens, a potentially fatal form of alcohol withdrawal if the alcoholic does not
receive medical attention. After an attack of the DTs, many alcoholics promise
to never drink again. Sadly, most of them do not and can not fulfill their
promise, and so they eventually return to drinking, and the process starts all
over again.
In the final stage of alcoholism, having an easily accessible supply of alcohol
close at hand (to avoid "the shakes") becomes the most important thing in the
life of the alcoholic. During this stage, the alcoholic will do almost anything to
get the alcohol they require. Once the alcohol is secured, the alcoholic will
usually hide their bottles so that they can get a drink whenever they need it,
which usually means any hour of the day or the night.
The following represents some of the classic alcoholic behaviors, alcohol
effects, and drinking problems in the fourth stage of alcoholism:
The realization of being out of control
Continual loss of control
Indefinable fears
"The shakes"
the "DTs"
Devaluation of personal relationships
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Persistent remorse
Loss of tolerance for alcohol
Unreasonable resentments and hostility toward others
Nameless fears and anxieties such as feelings of impending doom or
destruction
Auditory and visual hallucinations
Impaired thinking
The collapse of the alibi system
Moral deterioration
Vague spiritual desires
Benders, or lengthy intoxications
The possibility of alcoholic psychosis
Obsession with drinking
Alcoholics Information
People with a "drinking problem and who are addicted to
alcohol are defined as "alcoholics." When some of the basic
alcoholics information is revealed from substance abuse
research, the following characteristics of alcoholic behavior are
observed: alcoholics suffer from alcohol withdrawal symptoms
when they stop drinking; they continue drinking despite
negative consequences such as employment, legal,
relationship problems.
Not only this, but alcohol dependent people also exhibit the
following alcoholic behaviors: their drinking behavior is out of
control; they experience increased tolerance over time; they
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drink more at each sitting and they drink more frequently; their
drinking interferes with their family, friends, or work; and they
experience unsuccessful efforts to reduce their drinking.
If this alcoholic behavior sounds like an unpleasant set of
circumstances, you are correct. The effects of alcoholism are
not only unhealthy and debilitating, but in many instances,
they are lethal. This leads us to articulate the following
message to alcoholics: "alcohol addiction doesn't get better.
It gets worse until someone dies. You need to take action and
get professional alcoholism treatment and you need to take
action now. And by the way, your alcoholic behavior is probably
destroying the lives of those who care for you the most."
A Basic But Essential Question: What is An Alcoholic?
For most people who drink, alcohol is a pleasant experience,especially when engaged in social activities. Moderate alcohol
use can be defined as having up to two drinks per day for men
and one drink per day for women. In most instances, drinking
in moderation is not harmful for most adults.
A large number of people, however, simply cannot drink
because of the problems they encounter when drinking. In fact,
approximately 14 million Americans are alcoholics or chronic
alcohol abusers.
In fact, according to recent studies, it has been discovered that
approximately 53% of adults in the United States have reported
that one or more of their close relatives has a "drinking
problem."
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Definition of Alcoholic. People with a "drinking problem" and
who are addicted to alcohol are defined as "alcoholics." Simply
put, alcoholics, through their irresponsible, excessive and
abusive drinking behavior have developed alcoholism. With
this in mind, some of the characteristics ofalcoholic behavior
are the following:
Withdrawal, that is, unpleasant symptoms similar to having the flu when
drinking is stopped
Unsuccessful efforts to cut down drinking
Drinking larger amounts or over longer periods of time
Continued drinking in site of negative consequences such as a DUI
conviction, divorce, or loss of job
Drinking that interferes with one's job, family, or friends
Increased tolerance, meaning that over time more alcohol is required to
get drunk
Alcoholics Need Help
It is important to point out that if you observe your friends,
relatives, or family members displaying any of these
characteristics, consider them as symptoms or signs of
alcoholic behavior. And if your family members, friends, or
relatives exhibit some of these signs or symptoms, they may
need professional alcoholism help.
Stated differently, they may need alcoholic treatment or they
may need to enter an alcohol rehabilitation facility so that they
stop drinking and get sober. In short, without achieving
sobriety, alcohol recovery is virtually impossible.
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The Alcoholic Personality
Do some people possess an "alcoholic personality"? The notion
that the personality of an alcoholic exists before the onset of
the disease is most strongly articulated by those who advocate
a concept known as the "addictive personality." According to
supporters of this concept, the addictive personality is a
distinct psychological trait that predisposes particular people to
addictions.
In spite of the debate in the psychological, medical, and
neurobiological research communities about the existence as
well as the character of this trait, it is, however, observable and
verifiable that brain functions contribute to various addictions.
Building on this framework, many experts currently believe that
the predisposition to addiction is more accurately a
combination of environmental, psychological, and biologicalfactors.
The Consequences of Alcoholic Behavior
According to alcoholics information from the alcoholism
research literature, the consequences of alcoholic behavior are
not only serious, but in many cases, fatal. Excessive drinking
can increase the risk for certain cancers, such as cancer of the
throat, esophagus, larynx, and of the liver. Chronic, heavy
drinking can also lead to cirrhosis of the liver, brain damage,
harm to the fetus while the mother is pregnant, and problems
with the immune system. Abusive drinking also increases the
risk of death from motor vehicle accidents as well as
recreational and work-related injuries.
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Additionally, abusive drinking increases the risk of death from
motor vehicle accidents as well as recreational and work-
related injuries. Not only this, but suicides and homicides are
more likely to committed by people who have been drinking.
In simple economic terms, alcohol-related issues and problems
in the United States cost society almost $200 billion per year.
In human terms, the cost of the following alcohol-related issues
cannot be calculated: broken homes, child abuse, fatalities,
injuries, illnesses, wife battering, failed health, and destroyed
lives. Moreover, the consequences of alcoholism do not
necessarily stop with the recovery or the death of the
alcoholic. Indeed, evidence to support this claim can be
substantiated by children of alcoholics or adult children of
alcoholics. It is alcoholism and alcoholics information like this
that truly reveals how extensive and how devastating alcohol
addiction is.
The Causes of Alcoholic Behavior
A question that has entered the minds of many people is the
following: why can some people drink alcohol without problems
or any negative consequences while others cannot? In short,
what causes alcohol behavior?
One answer to this question involves genetics. More
specifically, researchers have discovered that having an
alcoholic family member increases the risk of developing
alcoholism.
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In fact, there may be a genetic predisposition for certain
individuals to become dependent on alcohol. In addition,
behavioral scientists have found that various environment
factors can interact with one's genetics. Examples include the
relative ease of obtaining alcohol, peer pressure or peer
influence, where and how a person lives, and one's family and
friends
The Alcoholic Rehab Center: Counseling, Medications, and
Support
Most of the non-12-step alcohol rehab methodologies take
place in an alcoholic rehab center, a rehabilitation hospital, or
in a drug and alcohol clinic.
Healthcare professionals in these treatment facilities emphasize
therapeutic practices that focus on the use of doctor prescribed
medications, extensive counseling, education, and training, and
staff support.
In addition, more than a few these non-12-step rehab
approaches treat alcoholism and alcohol abuse from both a
physiological and an emotional vantage point.
Some of the more effective alcohol treatment programs are
more inclusive than others and accordingly direct their
attention to how alcoholics and alcohol abusers will respond to
and manage their finances, employment issues, and
relationships after they complete rehab, become sober, and
return home.
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Finally, some of the more successful alcoholic rehab centers
operate from a holistic standpoint that helps alcohol abusers
and alcoholics single out and cope with various circumstances
that most probably led to their drinking problems in the first
place.
Some of these important and potentially hazardous issues
include the following:
Poor interpersonal relationship skills
A sense of loss
Pain
Poor anger management skills
Grief
Unemployment
Poor financial management skills
Spirituality issues
Poor coping skills
Career indecision
The Need for Outpatient Follow-Up Treatment
When a problem drinker undergoes alcohol rehab, it becomes
vitally important to concentrate on what he or she will do after
he or she has finished treatment.
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Indeed, overcoming one's alcohol withdrawal symptoms and
getting through the detoxification process are indispensable to
the treatment process, but so is the follow-up counseling,
training, and education that highly competent alcoholic rehab
centers commonly begin as soon as the problem drinker
completes inpatient, residential treatment.
Some of the more successful non-12-step alcoholic rehab
centers, for instance, provide follow-up outpatient counseling,
education, and training for one year after the residential part of
rehab is finished.
Simply put, the higher quality and more broad-based alcoholic
rehab centers focus their rehab on methodologies that are
developed and put into practice for long-lasting success rather
than on short-term, quick and easy therapeutic results.
How to Treat Alcohol Withdrawals At Home
One of the first things that many alcoholics ask others about
when they are trying to quit drinking is how to treat alcohol
withdrawals at home. The answer to this question is very
simple: you don't.
Do Not Treat Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms At Home!
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When people who drink excessively try to stop drinking, they
experience withdrawal symptoms.
One of the first things that many of these people ask others
about is how to treat alcohol withdrawals at home. The answer
to this question is very important:
People who are experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms
should not treat these symptoms at home.
Instead, they need to seek medical assistance immediately so
that their doctor, emergency room personnel, healthcare
provider, or urgent care center personnel can assess the
severity of their withdrawal symptoms and suggest the best
option for treatment.
To understand all of the reasons why people suffering from
alcohol withdrawal symptoms should immediately seek medical
assistance, consider the following.
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms exhibited
by individuals who stop drinking alcohol after a pattern of
continuous and excessive consumption. These symptoms can
range from mild to moderate to severe and include both
behavioral and psychological aspects.
The following represents mild to moderate psychological
withdrawal symptoms that typically occur within 6 to 48 hours
after the last alcoholic drink: anxiety, feeling nervous or jumpy,
depression, fatigue, irritability, nightmares, rapid emotional
changes, and difficulty thinking clearly.
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The following represents mild to moderate physical withdrawal
symptoms that typically occur within 6 to 48 hours after the
last alcoholic drink: loss of appetite, nausea, rapid heart rate,
vomiting, pulsating headaches, clammy skin, abnormal
movements, sweating (especially on the palms of the hands or
on the face), sleeping difficulties, tremor of the hands, looking
pale, involuntary movements of the eyelids, and enlarged or
dilated pupils.
The following represents severe withdrawal symptoms that
typically occur within 48 to 96 hours after the last alcoholic
drink: muscle tremors, extreme confusion, severe autonomic
nervous system overactivity, black outs, convulsions, high
fever, seizures, delirium tremens (DTs), visual hallucinations,
and agitation.
Most Withdrawal Cases Don't Require Hospitalization
Recent research demonstrates that it is important to treat
every person who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. Having
said this, it can be pointed out that around 95% of the people
who quit drinking alcohol suffer from mild to moderate
withdrawal symptoms and can usually be treated on an out-
patient basis by a healthcare professional.
The remaining 5% of people who experience withdrawal
symptoms, however, suffer symptoms so severe that they must
be treated in a hospital or in an alcohol rehabilitation facility
that specializes in detoxification.
Non-Drug Detox Programs
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A number of different techniques exist for treating alcohol
withdrawal. While some of these treatments use medications,
many, however, do not. Indeed, according to current research
studies, the safest way to treat mild withdrawal symptoms is
without medications. Such types of non-drug detoxification use
screening and extensive social support throughout the
withdrawal process. Other non-drug detoxification programs,
moreover, use vitamin therapy (especially thiamin) and proper
nutrition in treating mild withdrawal symptoms.
Detoxification with Drugs
Alcoholism researchers claim that chronic alcoholics who
cannot maintain abstention should receive drug therapy to
treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms. By using medications,
these alcoholics are less likely to experience possible brain
damage or seizures.
Recent research demonstrates that the drugs most likely to
produce effective results when treating alcohol withdrawal are
the benzodiazepines: the longer-acting benzodiazepines like
Valium and Librium or the shorter-acting benzodiazepines such
as Ativan and Serax.
Traditionally, when administering benzodiazepines, physicians
have employed a progressive decrease in doses over the time-
frame of the withdrawal process. In addition, due to the fact
that these drugs allow for measurable dose reductions and do
not linger in the person's system numerous authorities have
suggested that intermediate to short half-life benzodiazepines
should be used for treating withdrawal symptoms.
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Outpatient and Inpatient Detoxification Programs
The research on inpatient and outpatient detoxification
programs is also important. Studies have shown that inpatient
detoxification is more effective and longer-lasting than
outpatient detox programs. The important issue here is the
following: the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal
symptoms, the more likely that inpatient detox programs
should be used.
Perhaps the most important lesson to be learned from the
above discussion is this: When experiencing alcohol withdrawal
symptoms, always see your healthcare provider or your doctor
immediately so that he or she can assess the severity of your
situation and suggest the best option for treatment.
What Health Problems Can Alcohol Cause
Short Term and Long Term Alcohol-Related
Problems
Some alcohol-related drinking problems, such as interpersonal
relationship issues, driving impairment, and negative
interactions with medications can manifest themselves after
drinking over a relatively short period of time.
Other drinking problems, conversely, can develop more
gradually over time and may become noticeable only after
heavy drinking for an extended period of time.
These are the drinking problems that represent the long-term
effects of alcohol abuse and help answer the following
question: what health problems can alcohol cause?
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It is important to note that women may develop alcohol-related
health problems after consuming less alcohol than men over a
shorter time period.
Since alcohol affects many organs in the body, long-term
excessive drinking puts a person at risk for developing serious
health problems.
Stated differently, the long term effects of alcohol abuse can
lead to a gradual breakdown of different organs and systems in
the body that can result in serious, if not fatal, health problems
and issues.
Alcohol-Related Heart Disease
One of the few verifiable positive aspects of drinking alcohol is
that drinking in moderation can actually have positive effects
on the heart, especially with individuals who are at the greatest
risk for heart attacks, such as women after menopause and
men over the age of 45. Long-term excessive drinking, on the
other hand, increases the risk for certain kinds of stroke, high
blood pressure, and heart disease.
Alcohol-Related Pancreatitis
The pancreas helps regulate the body's blood sugar levels by
producing insulin. In addition, the pancreas is instrumental in
digesting the food people eat. Long-term excessive drinking
can lead to pancreatitis (that is, an inflammation of the
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pancreas). Pancreatitis is associated with excessive weight loss
and severe abdominal pain and can lead to death.
Alcohol-Related Cancer
Long-term heavy drinking by problem drinkers increases the
risk of developing certain types of cancer, especially cancer of
the esophagus, mouth, throat, and the voice box. Research has
shown, moreover, that women who drink two or more drinks
per day slightly increase their risk for developing breast cancer.
Excessive drinking may also increase the risk for developing
cancer of the colon and of the rectum.
Alcohol-Related Liver Disease
More than 2 million problem drinkers in the U.S. suffer from
alcohol-related liver disease. For example, some people with a
drinking problem develop alcoholic hepatitis (that is, aninflammation of the liver) as a consequence of long-term heavy
drinking.
The symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis include the
following: fever, jaundice (an abnormal yellowing of the urine,
skin, and the eyeballs), and abdominal pain. If the individual
persists in drinking, moreover, alcoholic hepatitis can be fatal.
If the problem drinker stops drinking, however, alcoholic
hepatitis is frequently reversible.
Approximately 10 to 20 % of the problem drinkers who drink
excessively develop cirrhosis of the liver (that is, a scarring of
the liver). Alcoholic cirrhosis can be fatal if the person with the
drinking problem continues to drink. Even though cirrhosis is
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irreversible, if the problem drinker stops drinking, his or her
chances of survival can improve dramatically.
Although some people with a drinking problem may eventually
need a liver transplant as a last resort, numerous problem
drinkers with cirrhosis who abstain from drinking alcoholic
beverages can receive treatment and may never require liver
transplantation.
Other Long Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse
In addition to the diseases outlined above, excessive drinking
over time is also associated with the following drinking
problems:
nerve damage
epilepsy
irritated stomach lining and bleeding from stomach ulcers
loss of brain cells
Excessive drinking has also been linked to the following:
vitamin deficiency
muscle disease
obesity
sexual problems
infertility
skin problems