Posts Tagged ‘alcoholism’
Dealing With An Alcoholic Husband – How Counseling Can Help!
Even though there are many warnings, and people see the bad effects of alcoholism, millions still become alcoholics. Recent statistics show the extent of the effect that alcoholism has on our society. Men and husbands are more prone to becoming alcoholic.
An alcoholic is not your everyday social drinker. No, the alcoholic is a person who craves and drinks excessive amounts of alcohol to the point of being addicted and out of control. It is even said that after someone has come off alcohol, all it takes for the process to start again is a single drink.
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There are many reasons that people become alcoholics. Environmental, social, sexual abuse, physical abuse, depression, emotional immaturity, anxiety, means of escape, and brokenness in relationship are a few of the reason a person becomes an alcoholic. There are other reasons that people become alcoholics, which could be very innocent, but as pressure builds and alcohol is seen as the way of coping with it, it becomes hard to stop. Many marriages that have been deemed hopeless have been helped by marriage counselling.
Solutions
An effective tool for an couple struggling with alcoholism is marriage counselling because the counsellor can give advice and suggest ways to overcome the problem. The counselor also has the ability to reveal the problem, embrace the problem, and allow God to deliver and comfort him throughout the process.
Some of the recommendations and strategies often suggested are the following:
Communication
Talk to your husband in a non-threatening way about alcohol consumption, the amount of time spent drinking, your feelings and other questions. He may decide not to answer or refuse to admit there is a problem. Be patient and tell him your observations about his behavior.
Click here, if your husband is an alcoholic and you find coping and saving your marriage difficult!
Love
Lovingly communicate that you love him and that he is very important to both you and others. Listen objectively.
Believe
Let your husband know that you believe that God possibly could repair your marriage and heal any hurt that is there. Insist that you are willing to help him because you believe in him also.
Intervene
Intervene by motivating the alcoholic to change. Ask your husband if he wants to be free from his alcoholism. Would he like to ask for help? Does he want you and others to assist him? It is very important the he express an affirmative belief at this stage for changes possibly could occur. Do not give up if at first he says no. Be persistent and patient as change is difficult.
Support
Provide support to your husband and help him to develop a means to change. Remind him that God will give him strength and grace to change.
Involve others
In most situations it can be very helpful if you involve your family because family can offer much support. Remind them that need them for encouragement for you and for your husband.
Forgive
It is important that your husband knows that you and God have forgiven him. Just by praying, reading scriptures on forgiveness and showing it by your actions healing possibly could come.
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The Relevance Of Alcohol Counseling And How Alcohol Dependency And Mental Health Difficulties Frequently Result In Relationship, Friendship, Divorce, And Marital Problems
Miss Benning was a health instructor at the most underfinanced co-ed high school in the county. Even though she had been teaching for only three of four years, she had already achieved a reputation as an educator with teaching approaches that motivated and encouraged her students to learn and to think.
As an illustration, one Wednesday morning at 11:30 she addressed the pupils in her class and articulated the following: “For the next two or three days we are going to learn about some basic alcoholism facts from a general viewpoint and we are also going to learn about a number of the most highly researched signs of alcoholism from a more specific viewpoint.”
“Not all of these alcoholism signs will undeniably substantiate that an individual with a drinking problem is an alcohol dependent individual, but the more signs that a person manifests, the greater the likelihood that he or she is an individual who is addicted to alcohol.”
Miss Benning then explained to the the students that each pupil would be accountable for investigating three alcohol addiction signs and then presenting his or her findings to the other members in the class via a eight minute oral presentation.
The Students are Thrilled About Giving A Thorough Presentation to Their Fellow Classmates About Alcohol Dependency Signs
After learning about the various signs of alcohol dependency for several days, the time had come for the oral presentations. It was immediately apparent that the pupils were wound up about the subject because the material that they presented was exceptional. To say that Miss Benning was pleasantly surprised with the enthusiasm manifested by the students in her classroom concerning this subject matter could not be overstated.
The day after all of the pupils completed their presentations, Miss Benning passed out a piece of paper with a list of all the alcohol dependency signs that were presented and discussed in the presentations and in class. Miss Benning then asked the students in her class to go over the list and rank the top six alcohol dependency signs that were most indicative of alcoholism. After approximately ten minutes, Miss Benning collected the pieces of paper and informed the students in her class that after she examines the results, she will reveal her findings the next school day.
There was a real buzz by the pupils while they were leaving Miss Benning’s class. One could swear that her pupils couldn’t wait for the next day to arrive so that they could find out the results of their in-class research.
The Students Match Their Numbers Against the Appraisals From A Panel of Drug and Alcohol Addiction Authorities
When the next school day finally arrived, Miss Benning handed out a piece of paper that listed the top four alcoholism signs as per the pupils’ rankings. Next to these results, she included another column that was labeled “experts’ answer.” She then explained to her students that the numbers in the new column she added signified the conclusions that were given by a panel of alcohol dependency authorities.
Miss Benning told the pupils in her class to go over the numbers and then to raise their hand if they had any issues, concerns, or questions. Within 40 or 50 seconds, virtually every pupil in the classroom raised her or his hand. It was noticeable that the pupils had some issues, concerns, or questions about their results versus the answers given by the professionals. For instance, just about every pupil disagreed with the highest ranked answer given by the experts, specifically, “Do you feel exceptionally sick when you stop drinking?”
The Main Difference Between Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction is the Physical Addiction That is Experienced With Alcohol Dependency and Not With Alcohol Abuse
Miss Benning then explained to the pupils in her classroom why this answer was the most precise sign of alcoholism. She emphasized the fact that the major difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction is the physical dependency that is experienced with alcohol addiction and not with alcohol abuse.
For all intents and purposes this means that when an alcohol dependent person suddenly stops drinking, he or she will go through alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Miss Benning then told her students that alcohol withdrawal symptoms are responses by the body and by the brain to the lack of alcohol to which they had become acclimated. Stated more precisely, alcohol withdrawal symptoms are messages from the brain and from the body telling an individual who is addicted to alcohol that something is dreadfully wrong and needs to be rectified. These messages consist of several dangerous, uncomfortable, and painful withdrawal symptoms that can possibly result in a person’s death if the proper therapy is not promptly received.
Miss Benning then discussed the host of alcohol withdrawal symptoms that can be experienced when an individual who is addicted to alcohol suddenly stops drinking.
The point that Miss Benning tried to underline was this: an alcohol abuser can experience almost any and every one of the alcohol addiction signs that the students had ranked, but the one symptom or sign that few, if any, alcohol abusers ever experience is alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
To explain this as plainly as possible, Miss Benning pointed out that alcohol abusers, unlike individuals who are alcohol dependent, are not alcohol dependent and accordingly, when they stop drinking, they almost never go through alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
The Pupils Think They Have Discovered A Dissimilarity With the Findings From The Board of Chemical Dependency Experts
The students also some difficulty with the second ranked answer given by the alcoholism specialists, to be precise, “Have you ever had a drink the first thing in the morning to get rid of a hangover or to steady your nerves?”
Miss Benning informed the pupils in her class that this sign does not automatically signify that the problem is alcohol dependency, but that it does underline the need that alcohol addicted individuals have to drink in order to avoid alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
After Miss Benning explained the significance of alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the life of the alcohol dependent individual, the students started to appreciate the essential difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency.
To add a sense of closure to the topic, Miss Benning asked the pupils in her classroom to take out a piece of paper and answer the following question: “if every individual who is addicted to alcohol knew about every one of the alcohol addiction signs and alcohol withdrawal symptoms we have studied, what percentage of them do you think would seek alcohol dependency rehab?”
After approximately one or two minutes, Miss Benning asked for the pupils’ responses. While many students reasoned that about 70 to 80 percent of alcohol dependent people would obtain alcoholism rehab if they knew about the facts related to alcohol addiction signs and alcohol withdrawal symptoms, most of the students thought that this number would not be less than 60 percent.
The Pupils Were Astonished to Learn That Only 25% of People Who are Alcohol Dependent in the United States Get Alcohol Treatment
To the surprise of most of the pupils, Miss Benning confirmed that according to the research literature, only 25% of the alcohol addicted people in the U.S. seek alcoholism treatment. This amazed most of the students because they reasoned that exposure to the deplorable statistics and facts related to alcohol addiction would motivate most of the alcohol addicted
people to get alcohol dependency rehab.
Miss Benning then explained that alcohol addicted people not only need alcohol everyday in order to function but they also require alcohol everyday so they can avert possible alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Clearly, the alcohol addicted person’s need to drink on a daily basis is stronger than facts or logic. Without a doubt, due to the fact that the desire for alcohol is “reality” to the person who is addicted to alcohol, this is hard to undo.
The Occurrence of Mental Health Issues and Alcoholism Frequently Leads to Marital, Relationship, Divorce, and Friendship Problems
Lastly, Miss Benning told pupils that it is relevant to conceptualize that alcoholism and a range of mental health difficulties like depression are highly related. Additionally, the occurrence of alcoholism and mental health difficulties frequently result in marital, friendship, relationship, and divorce problems.
The Students are Excited to Learn About Alcohol Dependency Signs and Symptoms in Today’s Society
A few minutes later the bell rang, signifying the end of the class. Based on the enthusiasm displayed by the students when they were leaving the room, Miss Benning knew that she had motivated and inspired her students to stop and think about a significant health and social problem that exists in our country.
When Excessive And Irresponsible Drinking Results In Serious Health Problems And Divorce, Affairs, Sexuality Problems, And Marital Problems
For several years alcoholism exploration has revealed the fact that there is strong relationship between alcoholism and critical health conditions and mental health issues such as depression.
As an illustration, in 2005, scientific research and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics showed that alcohol abuse and alcoholism cost the United States an estimated $220 billion annually. It may be noted that this very large alcohol-related expenditure was significantly more than the cost linked with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is important to give emphasis to these facts, it is also important to emphasize the point that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health conditions.
More precisely, chronic alcohol abuse and alcoholism are also highly associated with obesity and with cancer.
Definitely, substance abuse investigation has shown that alcohol addiction can boost the risk for different forms of cancer, particularly cancer of the colon, voice box (larynx), liver, rectum, throat, kidneys, and the esophagus. Hazardous and repetitive drinking can also lead to immune system issues and deformity to the fetus during pregnancy.
Excessive and Irresponsible Drinking Deteriorates the Individual’s Systems and Organs
Furthermore, if alcohol dependency continues over a period of years, the individual’s body organs will more likely than not be affected in a harmful manner. For instance, chronic, hazardous drinking is particularly hurtful to the liver since the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been ingested. Unwarranted amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and eradicates the ability of liver cells to redevelop. This condition results in a progressive inflammatory disease of the liver that can in the long run lead to cirrhosis of the liver, a serious and potentially incurable disease. Heavy, long-term drinking not only can lead to dangerous liver damage, but it can also result in damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this serious may be unalterable and may, in turn, result in severe disease or an untimely death.
The Significance of Alcohol Rehab
It is imperative, consequently, to know how to recognize the different alcoholism symptoms and the “alcohol signs” so that the alcoholic can be given the opportunity to seek the quality alcohol therapy he or she requires.
Alcohol Dependency and Technologically Advanced Brain Exploration
Fortuitously, medical exploration is constantly uncovering novel and significant information. Recent alcoholism exploration offers an excellent example. More accurately, for approximately the last ten years, sophisticated brain-imaging scanning devices have verified that repetitive and chronic excessive drinking transforms the makeup of the brain to a substantial extent, consequently resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or conceivably as long as the person exists.
More specifically, medical investigation has revealed that people who have been drinking excessively for a substantial length of time increase their risk for developing long lasting and substantial modifications in the brain.
This type of damage may be directly related to severe liver disease, to the alcohol’s effects on the brain, or might be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health.
Mental Disorders, Malnutrition, and Hazardous Drinking
As a final illustration of different medical problems that are to a great extent correlated to alcoholism, take into account the fact that in accordance with medical examination, the excessive and repeated abuse of alcohol can lead to erosive gastritis, a medical condition that diminishes the absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
This kind of organ breakdown is correlated with malnutrition and to a variety of acute mental and neurological syndromes including sleep disturbances, memory loss, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter medical problem is a long lasting incapacitating condition that is exemplified by continual memory and learning complications.
Abusive and Hazardous Drinking Also Leads to in Relationship and Friendship Problems
In addition to critical health problems, irresponsible and hazardous drinking also leads to friendship and relationship difficulties. For instance, people who have drinking problems routinely go through divorce, sexuality problems, affairs, and marital problems.
Conclusion: The Importance of Education
It is apparent that continued, excessive drinking is directly or indirectly associated with a variety of dangerous medical problems that can and do result in dangerous ailments and premature death. Such information needs to be underlined and presented to everyone in our society, especially to all students, so that most individuals will be able to refrain from excessive drinking while others who have a drinking problem will get the professional treatment they need.
Let us look at this pragmatically. Yes, alcohol counseling is important, but alcohol rehabilitation is something that is often done AFTER the fact. Education, from a different perspective, is something that is done BEFORE the problem emerges. Stated a different way, whereas alcohol rehabilitation is “reactive,” education is “proactive.” It is asserted that both approaches are necessary when discussing alcoholism and alcohol abuse.
A Married Couple Gets Anxious About Their Hazardous And Abusive Drinking And Then Feels A Fortified Sense Of Communication And Commitment As They Confront Their Alcohol Problems
Jerry and Sarah have been married for seven years. They wanted to have some fun and excitement before they made up their minds to have a family and so they intentionally developed an incredibly dynamic social life.
The key problem, it needs to be stressed, is that nearly everything they do with their family and friends somehow involves drinking. As an illustration, all of the dinner engagements, happy hours, family get-togethers, parties with friends, and sporting events they patronize somehow involve drinking.
Jerry and Sarah Begin to Perceive Some Instantly Recognizable Alcohol Related Difficulties That Come From Their Hazardous Drinking
If they were moderate drinkers, this wouldn’t be a major problem. Due to the fact they drink quite heavily, nonetheless, they are starting to become aware of some noticeable alcohol-related issues in their lives.
As an illustration, just a week ago Jerry got a third DUI and has been ignoring responsibilities at work due to alcohol-related health problems. Moreover, Jerry’s last two performance evaluations at the office have been less than admirable and he has begun to forget what he does or says when he drinks. Finally, Jerry has been having sleep-related problems and his family has begun to exhibit some uneasiness about his drinking situation.
Similar to Jerry’s circumstances, Sarah has been feeling down in the dumps about life and to cope with this, she has been drinking more frequently than any time in the past three years. Furthermore, Sarah has been getting quite a few painful migraines and having intense hangovers due to her drinking. Lastly, Sarah has been feeling substantially less energetic when she awakens in the morning, she has been getting to work late at least every other day, and she has been getting some harsh criticism from her friends, coworkers, relatives, and family members about her hazardous drinking.
Watching the TV and Flipping the Channels and Discovering A TV Special About the Signs of Alcoholism
One Friday evening while watching the television, Jerry and Sarah stumbled upon a special documentary about the signs of alcoholism.
This TV special was a real eye opener to Sarah and Jerry because many of the alcoholism signs that were emphasized appeared as if they were unwaveringly related to many of the alcohol-related drinking problems Jerry and Sarah had been suffering through.
A Candid Dialogue About Drinking Situations Brings to Light Alcohol Related Legal, Health, Financial, Relationship, and Employment Problems
After watching the TV program, Sarah and Jerry arrived at a decision to have an open chat about their drinking activities. They both were in agreement that most, if not all, of their social activities had something to do with drinking, that they were drinking excessively, and that as a couple, they were beginning to make note of alcohol related health, legal, relationship, financial, and employment problems for the first time since they were married.
With thoughts of the TV program still running through her mind, Sarah asked Jerry if some of the alcohol dependency signs they have been exhibiting could be an indication that they are alcohol dependent or possibly becoming alcohol dependent. Jerry didn’t know the answer to Sarah’s inquiry and so he recommended that they make an appointment with one of the therapists at the local drug and alcohol abuse rehabilitation clinic to find out more about the severity of their drinking difficulties.
Coming to Grips With Your Drinking Problems Might Reduce Your Anxiety and Give You A Sense of Calm
Strangely enough, even though their drinking situation hadn’t yet changed, it was evident that Jerry and Sarah were at the very least concentrating on their drinking problems, they were enthusiastic about finding out more about their drinking behavior, and they were interested in learning how they could substantially decrease or get rid of the alcohol-related problems that had started to intensify.
An Increased Sense of Commitment and Communication
When Jerry and Sarah went to bed that evening, they determined that the next afternoon, Jerry would call and schedule an appointment for both of them at the substance abuse rehabilitation facility located just North of the State Capital. After they made a promise to one another that they would do whatever it takes to overcome the drinking problems that had emerged in their lives, they truly had the best night’s sleep they could recollect in the last three years.
Just before he fell asleep, Jerry turned to Sarah and observed how effortless it is to lower one’s sense of dread and truly experience a sense of calm by facing one’s problems with personal integrity and coming to a decision to do something positive about them. Isn’t it amazing how one’s communication and commitment improve when difficulties are faced rather than sweeping them under the rug?
What I Learned About Drug Addiction and Alcohol Dependency in High School, the Motivation and Inspiration For My Increased Self Esteem and Self Worth, and My Enhanced Friendships and Relationships
When I was in the tenth grade in high school, I registered for a drug abuse class. At that time, I did not realize that alcohol abuse actually was a sub classification of drug abuse. While taking this class and learning more about drug and alcohol abuse and above all about alcohol side effects, I read a lot about Alcoholic Anonymous, their meetings, how their programs have twelve steps, and how successful the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery program has been for individuals all over the world. I also learned a lot about alcohol rehab and the various alcohol rehab clinics that are frequently available to individuals who engage in heavy drinking.
Damaging Results That are Correlated With Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse
Some of the dangerous consequences linked to alcoholism and alcohol abuse that I learned about in this class absolutely worried me. The ruined lives and frequent serious issues experienced by most alcohol addicted people made me feel like I never wanted to drink alcohol when I became old enough. In short, I did not want to face the wreckage and destruction that alcohol dependent individuals almost always encounter.
Reflect on this for a moment. What fifteen-year-old teenager wants to face premature death due to his or her drinking behavior? What young person wants to become so out-of-control regarding his or her drinking that ingesting alcohol becomes the object of one’s life? What teen wants to go to one of the local alcoholic rehabilitation centers to deal with alcohol-related issues before he or she becomes twenty-one?
What youth wants to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms when he or she tries to quit drinking? Why would an individual engage in drinking to such an extent that it would cause difficulties in every area of his or her life? Drinking later in life after an individual has a career, a family, and develops personal responsibilities makes sense. But why would a teenager want to sacrifice his or her education, employment, finances, and relationships for a life that revolves around irresponsible drinking?
These issues were so important that I talked about some of them in class throughout the school year. What was downright astounding to me was the number of students who essentially didn’t care about the damaging results of abusive drinking that I discussed. It was almost as if they couldn’t be troubled with reality and how these consequences can demolish their lives. For the first time in my life I started to comprehend a saying that my grandfather used to say to me all through my adolesence: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink.
It’s Invigorating, Important, and Beneficial to Keep Away From the Unhealthy and Debilitating Outcomes of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
And even at my young age, I also began to comprehend how liberating, beneficial, and important it is in life to keep away from the unhealthy and destructive outcomes of drug and alcohol abuse. Understandably, comprehending this not only led to various problems and conflicts in high school but also led to enhanced friendships and relationships.