If you’re worried that you or someone close to you is an alcoholic, the fact this is on your mind indicates that it is something worth looking into. There are signs you can look out for that you or someone you know is addicted to alcohol.

Once someone accepts that they have an alcohol problem, they are one step closer to dealing with it. Remember that just one of the following behaviours or symptoms or a one-off event does not necessarily indicate that someone is an alcoholic, but could indicate that there is a problem.

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Is alcoholism an incurable disease or is it something that can be overcome? For millions of people this has been a topic that has been debated for years. Many people have been told that their alcoholism is something that they will always have and that by putting their faith in a higher power that they will be their only chance of recovery. Though even with this apathetic form of therapy, they are still told that relapse is part of recovery and that they will probably have slip ups on their way.

The truth is thousands of people have overcome their addiction to alcohol and never had a relapse since. Staying in the present and staying focused about life and goals is a much better approach. Staying stuck in the past and waking up in the morning thinking you “made it another day” is not the best approach because basically you are saying you are lucky for making it.

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Is alcoholism an incurable disease or is it something that can be overcome?  For millions of people this has been a topic that has been debated for years.  Many people have been told that their alcoholism is something that they will always have and that by putting their faith in a higher power that they will be their only chance of recovery.  Though even with this apathetic form of therapy, they are still told that relapse is part of recovery and that they will probably have slip ups on their way. 
 
The truth is thousands of people have overcome their addiction to alcohol and never had a relapse since.  Staying in the present and staying focused about life and goals is a much better approach.  Staying stuck in the past and waking up in the morning thinking you “made it another day” is not the best approach because basically you are saying you are lucky for making it.  Also being told that you are powerless and no control is certainly a pretty depressing thing.  If I was told that I would consider returning back to drinking alcohol because of such a bleak outlook.
 
The most important thing is finding an alcohol rehab that will work. Not just trying to locate a place to sober up or detox.  An effective alcohol rehabilitation center will not only help a person overcome their addiction medically but also physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Generally this will require a long term treatment center that offers a medical detox, cognitive counseling and life skills therapy.  A therapeutic environment that provides a healthy lifestyle has also found to be very effective.  A holistic doctor that offers vitamin and mineral therapy, a cellular cleansing process, which cleanses the body of alcohol and drug metabolites to eliminate physical cravings for the alcohol and an exercise program with a physical trainer are healthy lifestyle changes vital to successful recovery.   

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Alcoholism is a disease that effects brain chemistry in the body and as such it is far more difficult to give up drinking than many think. Many think that because they only drink beer or wine they aren’t in fact alcoholics or that they only drink at weekends so again they cannot be alcoholic. This is a myth as alcohol is a drug and as with any drug if you abuse its use you will have side effects and alcohol is no different. Drinking wine or beer merely means that you drink more of it and weekend drinking is binge drinking where you consume large quantities in a short period of time. All symptoms of alcohol abuse.

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i´ve tried repeatedly over & over again to get out of alcohol, hospitals, detox, rehab, getting married, changing geographical locations frequently, swearing to God & in my parent´s name I won´t drink anymore, going to AA meetings, etc……
But none of this has worked, I´ve tried ALL options, & it is like I know I am incapable of recovery. I´ve been thru various rock bottoms but right now life is good as I got a very good job, money, a nice house, a big car, etc. But I don´t know when & whether I´ll hit another rock bottom, i drink as good as everyday, it is no longer a question of whether I want to or don´t want to quit. My maximum will-power is of no use, pls don´t advise me get help b´coz I have tried that also, I´ve tried everything, but now I strongly believe it is my destiny to live & die as an alcoholic. Sometimes, death seems the only other option, or is there any other way out of this?

Alcoholics cannot resist the urge to drink alcohol, and then drink more alcohol. They are not stupid people (not always, anyway!). Most are aware of how bad excessive drink can be for the human body, but despite their knowledge they have lost their ability to control the amount of alcohol they drink. They drink beyond socially acceptable limits and are often a burden and embarrassment to their friends and family. This still does not stop them from drinking.

While alcohol-based mouthwashes are very convenient because you get to have a very good breath for a certain period of time, they can eventually dry your mouth. The easiest way is to rectify the situation is to stop using such mouthwash. Instead, get mouthwashes that are alcohol free.

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Information on Alcoholism and Interesting Facts How much do you really know about alcoholism? You probably know that it is a very common problem, but the truth is that alcoholism information doesn’t reach people who are not in some way involved with this disease. Thus, some of the facts and statistics might surprise you a lot. • It is estimates that annually more than 100,000 deaths, just in the U.S., occur because of alcoholism. • Almost half of the fatal car accidents are alcohol-related. • An average adult alcoholic drinks approximately 2.18 gallons of alcohol per year. • The more educate and wealthy a person is, the more likely is to drink more. • Luxemburg is the country with the highest per capita consumption of alcohol. It is followed by Hungary, Ireland, the Czech Republic, and Germany, while the U.S. comes 26th on this list. • Alcoholism costs the U.S. alone approximately 40 billion dollars per year. • Teens who receive some kind of education at home related to alcoholism and learn from their parents about the dangers of drinking alcohol, are less likely to drink , in comparison with those whose parents avoid discussing the issue with them. • There are more than 100,000 Alcoholics Anonymous groups worldwide. These are some facts and statistics related to alcoholism that might astound you, because people usually think that the more uneducated and poor someone is, the more likely is to become an alcoholic, although the truth is quite the opposite. The important thing though is not what we know, but how we address alcoholism and how we deal with this alcoholism information and facts. Knowing these alcoholism information and facts, we make the first step in addressing the actual problem. It is really very important for parents to talk with their kids, especially when teens about alcohol in a friendly and comprehensive way, because that is how they can persuade them to avoid this bad habit. Especially in Northern America there are numerous resources available, which can help treat and prevent alcohol abuse. Alcohol statistics and information is not just numbers; they have to be a motivation and fundamentals for action. In fact the statistics, like the ones mentioned above, should be used as action steps for preventing several situations relate to alcoholism, such as driving while drunk. If for instance parents discuss with their kids about drunk driving telling them how dangerous it is, kids are less likely to drink. If someone is an alcoholic, then he should have full support from his family and friends; this is quite critical, as well. The good news is that treatment based on the alcoholism information and statistical knowledge is most likely to be effective in a long term basis.

There are two different types of alcoholics. Type I are influenced more by environment than heredity. The onset of symptoms doesn’t usually occur until after the age of 25. They tend to admit and accept the root of the problem is alcohol, and can use this acceptance to avoid blame long enough to continue drinking for some time. The Type I alcoholic has a sense of denial, which includes a warped sense of blame.

The Type II alcoholic is more influenced by heredity. These alcoholics are usually younger and more antisocial. They have a more difficult time abstaining. Often they have grown up in a home with an alcoholic and have no understanding of how a functioning family life works.

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Generals

As far as the body is concerned, alcohol is a poison. Some of the effects of chronic alcohol consumption include damage to the brain (women may be more vulnerable to chronic alcohol consumption), liver, pancreas, duodenum, and central nervous system. Alcoholism causes metabolic damage to every cell in the body and depresses the immune system. It may take years before the consequences of excessive drinking become evident, but if an alcoholic continues to drink, his or her life span may be shortened by ten to fifteen years or more.

Alcohol is broken down in the liver. The repeated consumption of alcohol inhibits the liver’s production of enzymes, impairing the body’s ability to absorb proteins, fats, and the fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K), as well as B-complex vitamins (especially thiamine and folic acid) and other water-soluble vitamins. Many essential nutrients are not retained for use by the body; they are rapidly eliminated through the urine. The toxic effect of alcohol on the liver is very serious. First, excessive amounts of fat accumulate in the liver, a result of alcohol’s effect on the body’s ability to digest fats properly. Next, the alcoholic may develop hepatitis, a condition in which liver cells become inflamed and may die. The final, usually fatal, stage of alcoholic liver damage is cirrhosis of the liver, a disease characterized by inflammation, hardening, and scarring of the liver This prevents the normal passage of blood through the liver, inhibiting the organ’s ability to filter out toxins and foreign substances.

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Medications

The classical use of medications for alcoholism is to encourage abstinence. Antabuse (also known as disulfiram), for instance, prevents the elimination of chemicals which cause severe discomfort when alcohol is ingested, effectively preventing the alcoholic from drinking in significant amounts while they take the medicine. Heavy drinking while on antabuse can result in severe illness and death.

Naltrexone has also been used because it helps curb cravings for alcohol while the person is on it. Both of these, however, have been demonstrated to cause a rebound effect when the user stops taking them. These do allow a person to overcome psychological addictions to alcohol, but they do not treat the neurochemical addiction.

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