Alcohol Dependence Is Not A Habit. It’s A Disease!

Alcohol Dependence is not a habit that a person can overcome with willpower.  For people, alcohol is a medium to get relax, to have fun, to hang-out with friends and reminisce about old times.  It can be used to deal with stress or enjoy.  Drinking may feel good, relaxed and make forget about tensions, But the repercussions of this are many.

People usually think that one is under stress either at work or home and so drinking alcohol and it’s just a matter of some time and they will stop. People often miss understanding that it’s a matter of willpower or in their hands, alcoholic people could have stopped. But the case when a person finds himself/ herself, unable to stop, they are treading towards addiction. Having excessive alcohol and not being able to refuse is an actual disorder. When alcohol intake increases in the person’s body, it makes certain changes in the brain that makes it hard to abstain or quit.

Symptoms Of Alcohol Dependence:

This disease is stated as a problematic pattern of drinking that leads to situations as mentioned below within a 12-month period:

• Consuming alcohol for a longer period than intended.
• Wasting a lot of time recovering from the after-effects of alcohol consumption.
• Urging or thinking about a drink.
• Unable to complete a major work, school, or home responsibilities.
• Unable to avoid even though it causes relationship troubles with family or friends.
• Drinking during situations like while driving a car, operating machinery, swimming, or having unsafe sex.
• Unable to give up drinking even when it is leading to depression.
• Having withdrawal symptoms like trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, a seizure.

Impact On The Safety:

Alcohol Dependence can decrease judgment skills and lower inhibitions, results in poor choices and dangerous situations or behaviors, as given below:

• Car accidents and other accidental injuries, such as drowning
• Trouble in Relationship
• Unable to perform at work or school
• Increased violent crimes or being the victim of a crime
• Problems of employment or finances occurred
• Alluring in unprotected sex, risky acts, or becoming the victim of sexual abuse or date rape
• Increased of suicide or harming themselves

Lifestyle Changes:

During the treatment for Alcohol Dependence, a person needs to make some lifestyle changes that would help in continuing the abstinence from alcohol. It may also help to lead a healthier life.

Avoid triggers that would draw a person to alcohol.

Avoid meeting or contact with people who would encourage to drink.

Adopt a healthier living, in terms of healthy foods and exercise.