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The Power Of Group Support For Alcoholism

Med — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:52:52 +0000

Alcoholism is a disease that requires a treatment program. That program should include both individual counseling and group support. These two are important ingredients to the recovery and ongoing management of the disease. The individual help is a given and most will agree with it’s importance. The group support system is a powerful aid to staying sober and tool to meeting your maintenance goals.

Group Support Provides:

Support groups are a safety net that exposes those who need help with caring professional who have a compassion for those suffering from this disease

An environment to share experiences with others who are going through the same disease.

There is a common trust factor where you can feel safe in expressing your thoughts, feelings and fears.

You may feel comfortable about sharing something about your addiction that you may have previously kept hidden from others. In the group, the comfort level allows for these types of revelations. In revealing these situations, additional help can be realized.

There is a moral victory gained from being in the company of peer who really do understand.

Professional group settings can foster opportunities to investigate and resolve possible family conflicts and alcoholic issues.

Source of information

Some support groups offer in addition to help for the alcoholic, support for their families as well. These family support groups offer educational aids so that they can understand the disease and what it does to the one who has it. Relationships run smoother when understanding can be achieved about why people behave the way they do.

How To Find Support Groups:

1. Your physician or treatment center is one good source for finding support groups.
2. Recommendations from others you know who have gone through treatment.
3. Local phone books, community centers, or churches often have lists of local support groups.
4. Organizations have links on their Website to local groups.

Listing of some Support Groups:

Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
This is a popular National group with local groups. They have well-known 12 step program for men and women who share their experiences, strengths and encourage each other to remain strong and to continue to resolve their common problems associated with alcoholism. There are no dues or fees for AA membership

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Recovery Connection offers look up services for meetings in most areas around the United States. You can call them if you have a drug or alcohol problem and are seeking a local group to join 1-800-993-3869.

Al-Anon and Alateen (for teens) has been in existance for over 50 years.
There are no dues or fees.

http://www.al-anon-alateen.org

Managing your disease should not be a lonely journey. Gathering as many support networks as possible will be beneficial to the goal of staying sober. As the saying goes: No man is an island. We all need human contact, understanding and compassion as we go through our life experiences. When a chronic disease is part of that life, it can be uplifting to know that you are not alone.

Children Of Alcoholics

Med — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:01:52 +0000

Children of alcoholics are at risk from two different fronts. The first results from being raised around alcohol and by an alcoholic while the second risk comes from the genetic aspects of what causes someone to become an alcoholic. Regardless of whether children of alcoholics are raised by alcoholics, they are at risk for alcoholism or alcoholism-related problems. Children of alcoholics may exhibit some of the following characteristics:

* Higher risk for alcohol and other drug problems
* Pervasive tension and stress
* Higher levels of anxiety and depression
* Poor performance in school
* Problems with coping

The problems that come from being raised by an alcoholic are generally environmental and with a lot of hard work can be overcome. Generally, when a child is raised around alcohol and excessive drinking there is a tendency for that child to use alcohol as adults. Many times children grow up and conduct themselves and their families in a way that is very similar to the way they were raised. It takes a conscious effort to “break the cycle” of addiction that they have witnessed and not carry on that same lifestyle to their children.

The problems that are genetic are more difficult to overcome but once the child is aware that her or she will have a tendency toward addiction they can change the way they deal with stress and other risk factors to help avoid alcoholism. A gene can determine whether a person will have a tendency toward an addiction toward alcohol. In addition, there are personality and mental health examinations that can be done that can let a person know if they are at risk of being an addict. Professional addiction counselors recommend that if a person has the gene or tests positive on the examinations they should abstain from the use of alcohol. The genetic push toward addiction is so strong that to tempt the body by using addictive substances is considered risky behavior and should not be attempted.

As adults, children of alcoholics tend to have similar characteristics. Adult children typically have to guess what normal behavior is because it was not modeled for them as children. Adult children also have a tendency to lie in situations when it would be just as easy to tell the truth. No one knows why this happens exactly but it is a common characteristic of this people group. Because of lack of trust of others, they often have problems forming intimate relationships and if developed, they have trouble nurturing the relationships. Adult children of alcoholics also tend to constantly seek approval from others and feel like they have to super responsible. Adult children of alcoholics are often accused of acting like children. This is most commonly because people who never really grew up themselves raised them. It is suggested for anyone who grew up with alcoholic parents to seek professional counseling. There are many ways that people can be taught to break the cycle of dysfunction that is caused by alcoholism.

The Truth About Alcoholism

Med — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:11:52 +0000

Alcoholism is a disease. The alcoholic craves an alcoholic beverage as strongly as a person who is hungry craves food, or a person who is thirsty craves a glass of water.

There is a genetic connection discovered by scientists who have studied the disease. In other words, alcoholism can run in families; much the same way as other diseases can. There are other factors that are present just as even though Diabetes may run in your family, not all siblings contract the disease. So, it is with Alcoholism. Not all family members will become alcoholics. The other factors may be the presence of peer pressure, availability of alcohol, etc.

It is not true that Alcoholism can be cured. There is no such accuracy in the thinking that “a person who has been drinking for just a short period of time can be cured”. The length of time the person has been drinking has nothing to do with the disease being a part of that person’s physical makeup. An alcoholic can through professional help and a system of support be able to stay dry/sober over a period of time; but the disease will still be there and the person must always remember that. Understanding the disease and that there is no cure is an important part of being able to be in control of the disease.

Even though there is no cure for Alcoholism, a person can be helped to stop drinking by using the tools of counseling and medications prescribed by a physician who is experienced in treating Alcoholics. Some of the more commonly used prescriptions used to treat Alcoholism are disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate. These medications are used to both reduce the occurrence of drinking and to help avoid a relapse into heavy drinking. These medications are also used to foster abstinence in the person who suffers from Alcoholism. Treatment for Alcoholism is like the treatment for any other chronic disease; there are varying degrees of success. The degrees can vary from total success in that a person undergoes counseling, and medication therapy and never touches a alcoholic beverage again, to someone who experiences several relapses to someone who cannot stay sober despite counseling, support and medications.

There are things that family members, friends and others who care about Alcoholics can do when the person who is suffering refuses to get help. Some of these things are:

Do not protect the person by covering up the consequences of their drinking. The person needs to be forced to be responsible for the consequences of his/her disease and the actions they partake in while drinking. Sometimes the court will force a person into a treatment center, this is a difficult way to have help come about; but for some it is a blessing in disguise.

Speak of your concerns to the person as soon as you can following an alcoholic event. Make sure that the person is sober before approaching them, so that they have the ability to understand what is being said. Any discussion should be conducted in privacy and when all involved have had the chance to calm down. During the discussion there should be a listing of what consequences occurred or what the results of the drinking event were. Be as specific as you can in regard to these results and consequences. Using examples can help the person relate to your concern regarding the drinking problem.

It is important to get help for the person suffering from Alcoholism. Have counseling, treatment and support information ready and available when you decide to discuss or confront the person.

Discussing and offering information with the alcoholic is called “intervention”. It is where you intentionally confront the person with the issues involved in the drinking problem, but in a way that is helping to solve the problem and not just to be critical or as a form of punishment.

There are support groups for all members of the family of Alcoholics: spouses, significant others, teens and children. These support groups help those close to an alcoholic to understand the disease better and to be able to connect with others who have similar experiences.

Treating All Three Issues Involved In Alcoholism

Med — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:01:52 +0000

The American Medical Association defines the term Alcoholism as: “alcoholism is an illness characterized by significant impairment that is directly associated with persistent and excessive use of alcohol. Impairment may involve physiological, psychological or social dysfunction.” The treatment for alcoholism must therefore address all of these issues: the physical needs of the body, the psychological issues and the social dysfunction.

The physical issues revolve around how the person’s body is processing and coping with the drug – alcohol.

The psychological issues revolve around how the person is responding cognitively and emotionally while under the influence of alcohol and in-between periods of drinking.

Alcohol comes from an Arabic word that mean “essence” and has been used over the ages and in many different cultures to celebrate the essence (substance or spirit) of occasions like weddings, births, coming of age, even passing of loved ones. Alcohol has been used for medicinal purposes and for drowning out sorrows and pain. Alcohol is a common beverage for sporting events and social gatherings. It is abundantly available in any neighborhood.

Our exposure to the drug alcohol, is evident, how much we understand about it and what to do when we ourselves, or someone we love has become dependant upon alcohol is of vital importance.

Treatment:

The purpose of treatment is to evaluate the problem, to help the person understand the disease and how to manage it. Initiation of treatment may be voluntary, or court ordered, if the person has encountered legal problems associated with his or her drinking. Treatment starts with the understanding that there is cause to explore how alcohol is affecting someone. The person, who is drinking, must be evaluated to determine if they are indeed suffering from the disease – Alcoholism. A physician, preferably someone who has the medical history of the person in question, can do the evaluation or refer them to someone who is competent to do the evaluation. If the doctor is unfamiliar with the person, a complete medical history will be assessed at the time of the first visit. Even if there is a medical history, a form to be filled out will assess some alcohol related information about the person and his or her drinking habits and consequences experienced. After evaluation and possible testing, a diagnosis will be made and a treatment plan fashioned to address the three issues.

Support Groups:

If a determination has been made that the person is suffering from alcoholism – a disease where the person is dependant on alcohol; a detoxification process will be initiated. Detoxification is usually done while under careful medical supervision at centers or hospitals. Medical and mental health professional are involved in the detoxification process to address all of the issues faced by the patient.

Support groups will be recommended to help the person stay in control of their disease.

Some support groups are:

Alcoholics Anonymous http//www.aa.org

Smart Recovery http://smartrecover.org

Al-Anon and Alateen – http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/

This is aa support and a place to form discussion groups for the relatives of people suffering from alcoholismj. Alateen is for teens.

Rational Recovery http://www.rational.org

Ongoing Care:

Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease. That means that it will not disappear because it has been diagnosed, or because it has been treated. Everyone who suffers from alcoholism must understand the lifelong commitment involved in managing the disease. All three issues must be monitored on a routine basis and treatment plans adjusted accordingly. As of the date of this article, there is no known cure for alcoholism.

The Bold Hard Facts About Alcoholism

Med — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:07:52 +0000

Alcoholism is not a symptom of a problem or an indication of emotional trouble. It is a chronic, progressive disease. Alcoholism can lead to death. It is able to create such a grip on the body, because of the chemical makeup of alcohol. It permeates nearly every type of cell contained in the human body; especially those of the nervous system. The nervous system contains two distinct parts: the central (spinal cord and brain) and the peripheral (our nerves and the electrical impulse system). Alcohol is an addictive drug that induces the brain to crave it. These cravings can be very damaging to the body as well as to the relationships of the person suffering from Alcoholism.

The first clue that alcoholism may be responsible for what is happening is that the person will experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when they try to abstain from drinking. Another clue is that they will have very little ability to control how much they drink, the frequency of their drinking or how long the bouts of drinking last; the cravings and addictive nature of the disease determines these factors. The alcohol controls the person to such a degree that they may be in denial of their drinking problem or they may drink despite their awareness of the dangers that exist for them.

Alcoholism has a direct affect on the person’s performance at work. They usually miss workdays due to hangovers and blackouts. It is not unusual for Alcoholics to experience job loss due to absences, the inability to perform required tasks, or coming to work drunk. Work is not the only area of their life affected by their disease. They often are involved in alcohol related accidents involving machinery or vehicles. It also has a huge impact on all their relationships.

Alcoholism has a direct affect on personal relationships, usually destroying them like a bowling ball knocking down pins. It is difficult for others to recognize that what they are witnessing is a person with a disease. It is much easier to be patient with a person with cancer or cerebral palsy as those are recognizable as diseases. In the eyes of the majority of people, the person who suffers from Alcoholism is usually criticized and shamed as a result of their drinking and resultant behavior. Over time, the alcohol controls the person’s behavior, thought processes and emotions. Their drug of choice has consumed the one doing the consuming. The end result will be that they will lose everything; career, respect, loved ones, perhaps even their very life.

Being physically dependent on alcohol is not the only factor involved in being diagnosed with Alcoholism. Other factors are: the person’s culture, genetics, physiological and psychological elements. A medical doctor who examines the patient, conducts necessary tests and evaluates the patient’s history makes the diagnosis. Once the patient has been diagnosed with Alcoholism, the doctor will establish a treatment plan that will include follow-up appointments, treatment, and support. Similar to other chronic diseases, the patient will require long-term care and a constant vigilance kept for returning symptoms. The patient will need to understand the disease and be willing to accept responsibility for getting proper treatment. The prognosis good or bad has a lot to do with early intervention, proper treatment, acceptance and patience.

What Is Alcoholism

Med — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:10:52 +0000

Surprisingly, many people wonder what an alcoholic is and what is alcoholism. There is much information to be covered on the subject of alcoholism. The coverage here of this disease will be but a glimpse of the condition.

The term alcoholism is given to a disease which creates a strong craving for alcohol. The person that has this condition is considered to be an alcoholic. These people seem to have varying degrees of need in their drinking desires. While some seem to need the alcoholic beverage constantly others only seem to crave a drink when something goes wrong for them or causes them a degree of stress which is more than they feel they can handle on their own. Still, others are what are known as a social drinker.

While the medical world does not know the exact causative factor in alcoholism there is a suggestion that social factors, genetic factors and psychological factors all contribute to the development of this condition. Additionally, the term alcoholism is not simply equivalent to excessive drinking of any magnitude. It is more a relationship of severity and to the extent of the disorders related to alcohol use along a progressive course.

And while the person with a drinking problem might even realize they could harm their health or circumstances in their life caused by excessive drinking, they seem to not have the ability to control the drinking and cravings for the alcohol. They can grow to depend on that alcoholic drink as a means to support their psychological well being. They have become dependent on alcohol. But to what magnitude?

Well, the magnitude of a drinking problem varies with each affected person. As such, there have been some terms created to signify to what degree a person is affected by the need for alcohol. What are these terms or levels of disorder?

* Social Drinker
* Heavy Drinker
* Problem Drinker
* Alcohol Dependent

The least severe of the alcohol disorder is: Social and the most severe is a dependent drinker. Furthermore, with each increase in drinking needs, the health risks also will increase. Let’s look at what these levels basically mean…

* A social drinker is defined as a person who drinks to enhance their experience at a social gathering but the drinking is not the focus of their activity.
* A heavy drinker is basically defined as a person who incorporates alcoholic drinking into more and more activities with the focus being on drinking.
* A Problem drinker is basically defined as a person who does not recognize that drinking alcoholic beverages and getting the resulting intoxicating effects have become a goal in itself. They often will deal with a problem by drinking even if it was originally caused by having too much to drink.
* An alcohol dependent person is a drinker that can not control or resist the urge to drink an alcoholic drink period. This is the stage or level that a doctor considers a serious disease.

So, there you have a brief explanation of what qualifies someone as an alcoholic and a brief look at alcoholism.

Alcoholism And The Holiday Survival Guide

Med — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 03:18:52 +0000

Holidays happen most every month, if not national ones, than personal ones like birthdays, job-related celebrations, anniversaries, and birthdays. These are all events where alcohol may be a part of the scene and a temptation to the person trying to manage the disease, alcoholism. This is an especially trying time of year for someone struggling with alcohol dependency, because alcohol is a traditionally expected part of some celebrations. Where that fact may have been a happy one while partaking of alcoholic drinks; as someone who cannot partake, it can be a nightmare.

Here are some tips that may help to guide you safely through these events and allow you to celebrate them with a minimal amount of anxiety.

Tip #1

Plan to stay sober. You must put some thought into this plan. This plan should include several key parts.

1. An escape plan for if the temptation becomes too great to resist and you need to leave the celebration quickly. A confident and non-drinking buddy is important to have along with you.
2. When accepting the invitation to the celebration assure the host/hostess that you will attend for a short while.
3. Drink non-alcoholic beverages and be sure you trust the person giving you the drink, better yet make your own drink if possible.
4. Now is the time to attend your support group(s) more often, not less.
5. Stay knowledgeable about your disease, including the addictive part of it. Don’t be fooled into thinking that because you have gone through treatment that the pull will lessen. You must always be aware and on guard.
6. Surround yourself with non-drinking friends and acquaintances whenever possible. Avoid the temptation. Non-alcoholic celebrations can be just as jovial.
7. Seek help through prayer or mediation to gather inner strength.
8. If date/partner/spouse is a drinker (not wise, but sometimes unavoidable) then insist on driving by yourself to the party and meet them there. This way if they start to drink and have a good time and you need to leave, you can.
9. Always remember that you have a disease that can be fatal if not managed properly, that glass or bottle of alcohol is so not worth it!
10. Keep loved ones or your sponsor close to you during holidays and any other trying times. Make sure you surround yourself with those who understand your treatment program enough to remind you about your plan or steps, even if doing so normally irritates you. You will be glad during the holidays to have this extra support. Keeping in mind also, that ultimately sobriety is a personal responsibility.
11. Stay active and involved in holiday activities that your support group will be having to assist you in surviving the holidays.

Understand that your first holiday season (Thanksgiving through New Year’s) sober, will be your toughest and you really need to have a huge arsenal of support lined up and a iron-clad plan, before they begin. Get assistance making your plan from your doctor, treatment facilitator, sponsor, support group, best friend, or relative.

Lifetime Alcoholism Risk Is Linked To Early Aged Drinking According To Survey

Med — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:35:52 +0000

The survey appeared in Volume 160, of the July issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, pages 739-746. The article states “of those 43,000 participants in a survey of U.S. adults who had developed the disease, Alcoholism; 47% of them had met the criteria for alcoholism by age 21.” That is almost half of those involved in the survey. This is important information that will support the theory that alcohol use by our youth is a risk factor for developing alcoholism and for developing it at a quicker rate and at a younger age, usually within 10 years of when they started drinking. The survey took into account other risk factors for alcohol dependence to further validate the evidence.

The survey was very specific regarding terms such as “starting to drink” did not mean tasting or sipping but actually consuming the drink. The survey involved personal interviews that were face to face. The participants in the survey were age 18 and older. The data used in the survey was gathered from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), according to the article.”

While interpreting the survey results, one may surmise that as the world ages, our youth are exposed to more intense pressures and temptations are inclined to be “in their face”. Youth may see alcohol as an answer to escape these pressures. As the survey suggests, turning to alcohol at an early age will hold lifelong consequences (namely alcoholism). The Internet is a prime example of how the trials and temptations of the day can come right into our homes. The Internet exposes our kids at an earlier age to a barrage of advertising, Websites and chat rooms that are of an adult nature. If not supervised or monitored closely enough this exposure will continue without the benefit of safeguards for health or safety. Not only are kids bombarded with stress but also they are exposed to the inappropriate ways to handle stress, especially drugs like alcohol. Communication is at lightening speed, and involves more than local participants, as the Internet is a global medium.

There is a 2005 survey that supports the finding of the previously mentioned survey. The 2005 survey is the Youth Risk Behavior Survey that was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It found that in the U.S., “26% of high school students had already consumed at least one alcoholic beverage, before the age of 13.” Based on this it would seem that there is enough evidence that youth are indeed drinking, not just experimenting with alcohol and that this could contribute to the existence of younger alcoholics. These younger alcoholics would have obviously a longer time to deal with this devastating and chronic disease. There is no telling what the ramifications of contracting Alcoholism earlier and having longer affects of the disease would have on the body and mind of those who suffer from it; one might guess that it would not be good.

Alcohol Abuse On The College Campus

Med — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:23:52 +0000

College can and should be an exciting and enriching experience. The first step toward protecting students from alcohol abuse while away at college is to investigate various colleges stand on drinking and encourage students to choose those schools that focus more on academics, social development and campus community safety. Each year the consequences of college drinking are more significant, more destructive, and more costly than most Americans realize. Fortunately, more and more colleges are adopting aggressive measures to conquer the problem of alcohol abuse on the college campus.

Research has shown that of all substances that are use on college campuses, alcohol causes the most problems. Studies show that 43% of all students report drinking in an unsafe manner at some point in their college career. Twenty percent of student report drinking in a reckless manner often or on a regular basis. It is important to understand that the consequences of this type of drinking are not confined only to the students doing the drinking but the responsible students who do not drink or who drink legally and safely can become victims as well. Some examples are:

* Sixty percent of students have had study or sleep disturbed on a regular basis.
* Fifty four percent have had to take care of a drunken fellow student.
* Twenty percent have encountered unwanted sexual advances from drunken students.
* Nine percent of students have been assaulted by a drunken student.
* Thirteen percent of students have been the victims of date rape at the hands of a drunken student.

Evidence suggests that the first six weeks of the school year are critical to a student’s academic success. It is also during this time that many students initiate the habit of excessive drinking. Aside from the physical harm this causes, it also inhibits the process of adapting to campus life. Many students who do not return to college for the second year are students who drink excessively during their first semester at college.

The primary influence that can keep students from drinking excessively is the parent. There are three ways a parent can influence a student in a way that can help keep him or her from college drinking.

1. Parents need to help their children choose the right college. This would include colleges with low rates of alcohol related incidences as well as colleges with an emphasis toward alcohol education and campus safety.

2. Once the student goes off to college it is important for the parents to stay involved in their child’s life and to be aware of what they are doing and what they are going through.

3. If a parent thinks that their child may be in danger of having problems with alcohol they should seek assistance immediately. Early intervention brings the best and most successful outcomes.

Parent and student education is key to keeping college campuses safe and keeping students from developing alcohol addictions. In recent years, campus administrators have realized the importance of campus involvement in the life of the student as well. Working together it is possible to conquer the problem of excessive drinking on college campuses.

Alcohol Related Health Risks For Women

Med — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:56:52 +0000

Women process alcohol differently than men. Women who are alcoholics or even occasionally drink too much alcohol face much greater health risks than men who drink the same amounts. Women who drink will get drunk faster than men get and become addicted to alcohol faster than men become. Although men are more likely to drink alcohol and drink in larger amounts, gender differences in body structure and chemistry cause women to absorb more alcohol, and take longer to break it down and remove. In other words, upon drinking equal amounts, women have higher alcohol levels in their blood than men, and the immediate effects occur more quickly and last longer. These differences also make women more vulnerable to alcohol’s long-term effects on their health.

Research has shown that they also suffer the consequences of abuse-related illnesses a lot quicker than men do. The effects on the liver are more severe for women than for men and women have a higher risk of having alcohol-related liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. Proportionately, more women die of alcohol related cirrhosis than men do.

Some alcohol-related illnesses that female alcoholics are at risk for include heart disease, ulcers, reproductive problems, pancreatitis, memory loss, and osteoporosis. In the late stages of alcoholism, women can develop hypertension, anemia, and malnutrition faster than men according to the Centers for Disease Control. Several recent research projects have determined that excessive alcohol consumption in women can result in breast cancer and different cancers of the digestive tract. A recent study showed that women who drink two to five alcoholic drinks per day have a 41 percent increase in their risk of getting breast cancer. Research has shown that excessive drinking in women actually causes the brain to shrink.

There are consequences of excessive alcohol use that are not illness related but are also specific to women. Women who drink in excess or binge drink are more likely to have unprotected sex with multiple or unknown partners which can lead to sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy. Binge drinking also puts women at risk for sexual assault and rape. This is a bigger problem on college campuses.

Menstrual disorders and fertility problems can be caused from heavy drinking. Even occasional drinking can cause infertility and make otherwise fertile women unable to become pregnant. Once pregnant, heavy drinking can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth and birth defects in the infant called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Research has shown that women who drink during pregnancy are more likely to have a baby die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Excessive intake of alcohol causes severe health consequences in both men and women but studies have shown that it takes less alcohol to cause the same ill effects in women. The long-term health risks coupled with the chances of death make alcoholism and binge drinking in women an activity with absolutely no benefits. Occasional drinking on holidays or special occasions is shown to be acceptable but women should take extra care to control their alcohol intake so they do not become addicted and they should never binge drink.