What is Alcohol Dependence?
When someone becomes addicted to alcohol, it is much like any other form of addiction in that it takes a predictable course and a person will experience alcohol dependency. What is alcohol dependence? In short, being dependent upon alcohol means a person will struggle with cravings and urges of a physical and psychological nature and cannot resist the compulsion to drink. Having an alcohol dependency issue means a person will have no choice but to drink or will not feel or function normally and in severe cases of addiction, the individual may experience withdrawal symptoms if the substance is withheld.
Alcoholism is very similar to any other type of addiction whether it may be to prescription or illicit drugs. When someone begins to use alcohol it can be done to relieve stress, help a person relax or in order to get rid of anxiety. Some people that grow up in a family with an alcoholic think it is normal to drink alcohol habitually and can justify the behavior in a number of different ways. No matter how much creative avoidance a person can manage, when alcohol dependence becomes a problem, it is very important to seek professional help.
The cycle of becoming addicted to alcohol is just the same as it is with drug addiction, a person changes physically, psychologically and emotionally because of being influenced and controlled by the alcoholism. When alcohol has been used for a considerable length of time and it becomes habitual, the person can develop alcohol dependence. If someone becomes dependent upon alcohol it means the body has become used to it and needs it to function and feel normal. Dependency on alcohol brings with it another set of circumstances and negative consequences, there are effects on health, family, relationships and society and without treatment, a person will not likely get sober.
Alcoholism is a disease which has affected many individuals and because of how it makes a person feel, many will keep using in order to experience relaxation. Drinking to the point of continuous intoxication not only causes serious problems for an individual, but it can lead to accidents, alcohol poisoning, coma and death. Alcohol is considered a drug and as such, it is a substance which should be used with absolute discretion and never abused. Not only does abusing alcohol lead to alcohol dependence issues, and it ruins any chance a person ever has of living a normal and fulfilling life. The only true way to escape from the burdens and clutches of alcohol addiction is by seeking treatment at a rehabilitation center and learning how to stop drinking.
There are many signs which can show if someone is suffering from alcohol dependence, however, not everyone will exhibit the same things. Signs can include a person may drink in risky situations like while driving a car or possibly have legal issues due to alcohol consumption. Perhaps an individual is having problems at work or school because of drinking and is late to work, injured on the job or not being responsible, which can be signs that alcohol use is becoming a problem. If a person continues to drink despite having health complications and friends and family members are concerned about the situation, the best thing to do is seek help from a professional treatment program.
Alcohol dependence is a psychiatric illness which means a person uses alcohol despite significant areas of dysfunction, physical dependency and other negative consequences. At least 3 out of 7 criteria must be met within a one year period in order to be considered an alcoholic. Some of the signs include tolerance, time spent acquiring alcohol and recovering from the effects of habitual intoxication, withdrawal symptoms, using larger amounts of alcohol or drinking for longer than intended, cannot stop drinking despite a strong desire to do so, social and personal problems due to drinking and continued consumption, despite the consequences.
Approximately 12% of adults in the United States have experienced alcohol dependence and it is acknowledged as a disease, because the signs and symptoms associated take a progressive course. Alcohol dependency syndrome has a cluster of several different elements which will vary in intensity, depending upon the overall severity of the addiction. Alcohol dependency is an entity unto itself and means a person is only addicted to this substance and nothing else, there are no other drugs involved. In severe cases, the only way to effectively deal with the problem, most people need treatment and without it, many will not survive.
To someone that experiences alcohol dependence; there will be nothing else that matters except feeding the body’s need for consuming. A person will continue drinking even in spite of ignoring needs and responsibilities, even though an individual knows how serious alcoholism has affected their life, the drinking will continue. Even in the face of withdrawal symptoms and negative health consequences, until a person receives treatment for alcohol dependency the disease will continue raging out of control. Just because someone has an alcohol problem does not mean they need to handle the problem alone, the choice of receiving professional help is brave and allows the person a chance to live a better life.
The only way to avoid going through alcohol dependence is to realize when the situation is getting to that point. There are signs and symptoms which a person needs to be aware of, but even in spite of knowing deep down something is very wrong, many people are still not able to stop drinking alcohol. When the situation graduates to the point that a person is experiencing personal harm and problems related to drinking alcohol, it is important for an individual to get professional help. Because of the deep guilt and shame an alcoholic will carry with the disease, many believe they are not worthy of getting help, but this is not true.
Treating alcohol dependence does not have to be something a person needs to be frightened about. For someone in the throes of severe alcoholism, a person should go through a detoxification program in order to get the body clean and stop the individual from experiencing cravings for the substance. In rare cases, if a person tries to stop drinking alcohol and is not able to do it, drinking excessively can result in a series of potentially fatal complications such as delirium tremens, alcohol poisoning or acute intoxication. When someone requires immediate medical attention due to alcohol dependency, it is very important for them to be in a detox or rehab program in order to avoid the situation becoming deadly.
Because someone has alcohol dependence, when they stop drinking the body will likely go through withdrawal symptoms. How severe and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms become will depend on how long the person had been addicted, how much alcohol was regularly consumed and the overall health of the individual. At times, going through withdrawal symptoms can be painful and it results in a person drinking alcohol in order to make it stop. When truly serious about getting sober, the best way to do it is with the help of an alcohol treatment center.
At a professional treatment program, a physician will first assess the severity of alcohol dependence symptoms in order to determine the best course of action. Treatment for alcohol dependency can consist of hydration and replenishing fluids to prevent hallucinations, delirium tremens and convulsions. Without having professional help, a number of alcoholics going through delirium tremens may die, which makes treatment and medical attention vitally important. When addicted to alcohol someone could experience serious health complications, which is what makes professional help highly recommended.
Though the thought of going through alcohol detoxification can be frightening, however, when someone has alcohol dependence it must be done. Only through detoxing the body will the cravings stop and the individual be able to make clear and healthy decisions. Some people will fare well with an outpatient program, but for others that have tried and failed; the need for an intensive inpatient program might be in order. With the benefit of professional help, an alcoholic will be able to participate in counseling, therapy, 12-step meetings, group therapy, life skills training and many other services which will make the transition to sobriety much easier.
When in an inpatient program for alcohol dependence treatment, the person is generally in a residential program or hospital. An inpatient program usually lasts for about a month, but in severe cases it could be much longer. A treatment program will provide the individual with alcohol education, different types of therapies and these types of services are necessary for people with an unhealthy social network or for those with limited family support. Whatever methods happened to be used for getting someone sober, the main goal is to accept treatment and to put in the hard work and dedication needed to experience recovery.
Alcohol dependence is a serious condition which requires treatment from a highly skilled and professional treatment program. Because of the serious side effects and dangers involved in trying to become sober, it is a situation which should be handled by the experts of an alcohol rehabilitation center. Contact a treatment program now and finally experience the prosperity, happiness and fulfillment that come from living a sober life.
Alcoholism Treatment Center | | 
September 5, 2010 8:48 pm
