Quitting the abuse of alcohol can also be the one thing that heals relationships with your family and close friends that drinking excessively has damaged.  When children or the younger child see that you have stopped drinking it is a great teacher of how to act responsibly.

Once you have decided it is time to quit the consumption of alcohol, the first thing is to make an appointment with your health care professional or to set a time to have a consultation with a rehab specialist.  Depending on the amount of alcohol you are use to consuming and the duration of time this has been a habitual part of your lifestyle, medical assistance with withdrawal may be necessary.

If you feel you have a real addiction to alcohol you need to talk with your doctor about possible medical help with the withdrawal stage of quitting alcohol.  There are drugs available that can help with withdrawal to make it a safer process for you.  Medications for the time following the withdrawal symptoms may also be helpful and necessary.

Managing the psychological aspects of quitting alcohol consumption should include making a list of the motivational reasons you have for quitting.  It might be a good idea to do this with someone who is close to you who can offer good ideas for your list.  Once the cravings begin, it will be good to have this list to remind yourself why you do not want to take a drink.

Make a plan that you will follow to quit drinking alcohol.  Put it in a place that you will see often like the bathroom mirror or the front of the refrigerator.  It might even be good to duplicate the plan and post it in more places so it will be always on your mind.

Your plan needs to be something that the people who are close to you and are supporting your efforts to stop consuming alcohol will be aware of and can assist you with the plan you have designed for yourself.  There needs to be a time in your plan that you are going to take a good look at it and check your progress.  Your plan should be for a period of thirty days in order to break the habit of relying on alcohol.  As you go, keep track of the benefits you are experiencing by living an alcohol-free way of life.  You can refer back to these things in times when you are feeling weak.

The real problem with consuming too much alcohol is that it is a toxin that will end up in the bloodstream and be carried to every cell and organ of your body.  To combat this, the abuser of alcohol really needs to consume very high quality liquid minerals and vitamins to combat the ill effects of the alcohol that gets into the system.

Alcohol is the biggest threat to the nutritional intake of most individuals who consume large amounts of alcohol.  Any vitamins that this person takes are prevented from being absorbed into the bloodstream because of the alcohol.  Your body needs minerals and vitamins to function properly and bring it into balance.

Alcohol also causes problems with the levels of potassium, sodium and calcium in your body as well.  This leads to being dehydrated, excessive thirst and eventually muscle cramps.  If cramps are something the person gets often, especially if it happens during the night, it may be the result of too much alcohol.

The vitamin B12 is most commonly associated with too much drinking of alcohol as creating a deficiency but other critical nutrients are also lost because of alcohol abuse.  Maintaining red blood cells is the main function of vitamin B12.  Folic acid does the same as a nutrient that builds new blood cells.  Both of these are crucial for moving oxygen throughout the body.  When these components are compromised, serious illness is the result.

If the person is pregnant and abusing alcohol, they are not only putting their own body at risk but may end up with a fetus with birth defects.  Vitamin B1 is also in jeopardy because of alcohol abuse.  This is the component that controls the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats plus the formation of hemoglobin.

Too much alcohol also causes loss of muscle mass and diminishes endurance.  This is why people feel so tired the next day after they have been drinking.  This also affects the testosterone levels in the body.  Basically, chronic alcohol abuse prevents the body from being able to heal itself as it was intended.

Millions of Americans suffer from the chronic disease of alcohol addiction and are reliant on alcohol both mentally and physically.  For the majority of individuals affected by alcohol abuse their dependency on their drug of choice is not evident until they have lost jobs, friends and family which is what is referred to as ‘rock bottom’.

The difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism dependency is that alcoholism is usually well hidden when it is an addiction.  A large number of alcoholics are still very functional on their jobs, in social situations and their drinking is kept separate.  Alcohol abuse is more about binge drinking where there are problems with social interactions and even becomes so out of control medical treatment is needed.

Addiction to alcohol is a treatable condition.  It is possible for the alcoholic to slowly decrease their intake of alcohol to the point of cessation.  The longer the person has been drinking, the harder it is to break the abusive habit and the more they need the help and support from others.

What are some of the causes of alcohol abuse?  The process of alcohol doing harm to your body is slow and over a period of time but as it does it changes how the organs function like the brain and the liver.  GABA or gamma-amino butyrins acid are receptors that are found in the brain that stimulate the nervous system, discharge dopamine and impede glutamate.  These are the things that alcohol affects and make drinking it a pleasurable experience but will in time rob the necessary chemicals in the brain making cravings.

There are other things that cause addiction in some people.  There are certain factors caused by genetics that make dependency on alcohol a high risk for some people.  Other things that play a part in becoming dependent on alcohol are psychological issues.  High stress in a person’s life can also be the forerunner of alcohol addiction in an effort to relax and avoid depression.

Certain health issues can lead to alcohol abuse.  Alcohol will eventually depress the central nervous system causing difficulties with breathing that can lead to a fatal coma.  Cirrhosis of the liver is a common condition that results from constant alcohol use.  There is also an increased risk of certain cancers connected to alcohol abuse.  No matter what the underlying reason may be whether physical or mental and emotional, the end result of addiction is that it will destroy your life.

Senior alcohol abuse is something that has started years ago.  Some cases have been existing for decades.  Treating the alcohol abuse problems of a senior will be very difficult because of so many years of the habit.  A habit that has lasted over many years is a pretty difficult dependency to end.  Treatment centers that specialize in senior alcohol abuse face specific problems.

The biggest problem senior’s face is the length of time they have been abusing alcohol has affected different organs and is now problematic for the liver and the kidneys.  Alcohol turns into fat and causes obesity which is problematic especially for seniors.  The dependency on alcohol that has set in over the years makes the body very dependent on the drug and detoxing the system is an extremely important part of their treatment.

In later life with the accumulation of substance in the body many serious health problems arise.  Cirrhosis of the liver is the most common serious condition that prolonged alcohol abuse causes.  If this condition is left without treatment, the result will be fatal.  Many other serious complications will also be difficult problems to treat at this point in life.

Prolonged alcohol abuse in seniors can be the direct result of mental issues that the person has had or can be the result of the alcohol use on the person.  Depression is a very common occurrence associated with alcohol addiction.  Seniors are prone to depression just because they are seniors.  Those with depression will tend to see alcohol as a treatment for their depression which only makes the problem worse.

Emotional problems and the issues related to alcohol are intertwined in the senior.  It is imperative to sort out the emotional issues they are struggling with in order to help them find release from the addiction of alcohol.  To treat these issues it must be done as a dual treatment approach.  Psychiatric counseling accompanies the detoxing treatment in order to achieve recovery.

Some of the groups that are there for helping you or someone you care about to handle the alcohol abuse problem are as follows.  There is the group that helps those who are close to alcoholics called Al-Anon.  These groups meet world-wide and are important for those who are friends or relatives of the person who is involved in alcohol abuse.

Another important group is called Alateen and is specifically for the young person who is struggling with the alcohol abuse problem.  The members of Al-Anon groups usually sponsor the Alateen programs to help the young person in the recovery process.

Valuable places to find good information that will help your friend handle the alcohol abuse problem are from you counselor or physician.  They will have helpful literature and can point you in the right places to find the information you need.

There are a lot of hotlines that are either local or even national alcohol treatment centers that will help you to locate support groups that are near you.  These groups will be able to lend assistance with the problems connected to alcohol abuse.

The reason it is important to offer assistance to the person who is in denial over alcohol abuse issues is it can often be apparent to the observer long before the person is really aware or able to accept that they do have a problem.  Sometimes someone who works with the person, or is a friend or a family member can see the problem that their friend has with alcohol because they are suffering from the effects as well.

When the person who is suffering from alcohol abuse is denying that there is any kind of problem with what they are drinking, it is because they feel the difficulties that they are encountering are because of their circumstances or because of other people and not due to drinking.

When a person is in denial about alcohol they feel they really have no problem.  They feel that they are in total control of what they drink.  They have never had any problems on the job or been in trouble with the law over their drinking so they feel they really do not have a problem.

A person who is in denial will make excuses why they really need to drink, like it helps them be successful with they work or they need a way to relax and wind down after a hard day at work.  They might feel that they must drink in order to deal with a difficult boss or situation so they really have no choice but to keep drinking.

Those who do drink to excess and do this over a period of several years will probably develop certain problems with their health that are the direct result from drinking.  There will most likely be problems that have developed within their relationships with their family and co-workers.  They will probably even be legal problems as the result of driving while drinking.  With proper treatment these kinds of situations can be decreased or avoided altogether.

The first thing that is necessary to be of assistance is to get accurate information so you will both be well educated.  You both need to know the effects that alcohol abuse has on the person and their loved ones. Also, the possible problems connected to health that abusing alcohol may cause.  There are alcohol and drug centers for treatment in your area that have professionals trained to answer any questions.

Another way to help is to not be an enabler but to let the person feel the results of their drinking.  This is their responsibility and not yours.  Covering up for their drinking problems will only make things worse in the long run.  There is always an Al-Anon program where you can learn more about this and get support.  It is not easy being close to someone who is abusing alcohol.

Have a heart to heart conversation with the person who is struggling with alcohol abuse.  Let them know how much your care. This could be an opportunity for a formal intervention involving all those persons who are close to them.  This is a time when everyone can express how they care and how much concern they feel.  It is thought, though, that a simple one on one conversation between the two of you works better for most individuals.  An intervention may make them feel like they are under attack.

If after your heart to heart conversation, the person wants to go for treatment, don’t delay.  Get them help immediately.  Once they are in some kind of treatment, make sure to continue to show support and caring.  Not everyone approached will agree to treatment but this doesn’t mean failure for anyone concerned.  At least the person with the problem knows that someone cares and that they are not alone.  When the time is right for them to seek treatment, they will know you are there for support.

Once you have read all the information available and talked with a health care professional who is trained in these types of problems, when the right opportunity arises, you will be equipped to offer real help to your friend with the alcohol abuse problem.

Alcohol is the result of fermentation which makes it seems rather harmless but the truth is that it has more than just short term affects on the body.  This will change according to the amount of alcohol that you drink.

What does alcohol abuse affect?  Every cell of the body, actually, because the toxins of alcohol will be absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the organs and cells of the body from the blood.  After the first taste, in just minutes, ethanol begins to affect the muscles, glands, nerves, small blood vessels of the skin and the brain.

Consuming alcohol may be an enjoyable experience for you but your body works really hard to remove the toxins of the alcohol from your circulatory system.  Your liver begins working overtime to get rid of the foreign substance from your blood as soon as it detects its presence.

Unfortunately the amount of filtration that the liver manages is limited at best and can only take care of one drink per hour.  Drinking more than two drinks each day means that the danger of developing pancreatic cancer is almost twenty-two percent.

Another organ that is affected immediately is the brain.  Damage to the body is happening whether you can feel the effects or not.

The reasons that people do abuse alcohol are varied but the end result to the body is all the same.  Alcohol is widely promoted in the media encouraging its consumption as a sophisticated, enjoyable, and normal and even a sexy thing that everyone needs to do to fit into society today.

Contrary to what the advertisers would like you to think, being sexy or sophisticated is a matter of being in complete control which means being completely sober.  When a person cannot keep eye contact or hold their head up or get up without help it is far from being sophisticated or sexy.  Intelligent conversation is a great aphrodisiac which means a logical line of reasoning.  This does not happen when you are inebriated.  Actually, sobriety is fun because it heightens the senses.

In a social situation offering alcohol, especially at the end of the day, is the same as offering a cup of coffee.  The consumption of alcohol is commonly accepted and actually a way for friends, social contacts and even co-workers to interact and make a connection.  It does become difficult to tell when this type of social connection has crossed over into an alcohol abuse.  One way to tell is if the social drinking results in hangovers, any kind of uncomfortable behaviors or even blackouts.

Recognizing when you are drinking too much alcohol can be difficult and is different for each person.  Everyone assimilates alcohol at a different rate.  Alcohol is not absorbed into fat so women need to consume less alcohol than men do before they get drunk.  Younger individuals will become drunk or develop health issues quicker than an older individual. The weight, age, gender, height, and race of a person will made a difference of how they are affected by the consumption of alcohol.  It also depends on the person family history and their personal characteristics.

In general, women can drink two glasses of alcohol while men can drink three or four glasses and have the same effect.  Alcohol should not be consumed more than every few days in a month to maintain good health.

Alcoholism probably makes you think of a person who is constantly falling down drunk with a very ill temper and other social problems.  The truth is that most people with a serious problem with alcohol consumption can be very functional and able to hide their alcohol abuse.

When drinking alcohol has become a way of life or a habit, then this is the first warning signal that it is become a real problem.  When it is necessary for a person to have a drink with dinner, after work to relax, in social situations, to celebrate or to unwind then this is a drinking habit.  This habit will soon develop into alcohol abuse that ends up being a secretive habit that goes on every day and even at inappropriate times.

Drinking even small amounts of alcohol on a regular basis means that toxins are getting into the bloodstream and a dependency is developing.  Once this dependence happens, quitting becomes harder and harder.  The desire for a drink turns into a ‘need’ in order to get through daily events and becomes a long term abuse situation.  Changing the developing pattern in its early stages is important.  Recognizing what is happening and admitting there is a problem is the first step.

Beside the seriousness of destroying relationships, alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction will eventually lead to some very serious health problems like brain damage, liver damage and in pregnancy damage to the newborn.  The worse part of dependence on alcohol is that it will change the character of the person turning them into unthinking, uncaring or even having violent tendencies towards those they love.  The addiction to alcohol is just something that has to be corrected.

Those individuals who abuse alcohol are not technically physically addicted to alcohol but they are very much in danger of becoming dependent without even realizing.  Drinking too much alcohol will do damage to your health, your relationships and your work ethics.  Alcohol abuse is just a really bad habit, life pattern that needs to be corrected.  Having the bad habit of using too much alcohol can lead to problems with your finances, your social interactions and you run the risk of being tempted to drive after drinking.  Abusing alcohol can completely change the way you see your life and those around you and you run the risk of making seriously harmful choices in regards to your spouse, your children and yourself.

Anytime there is a life pattern, especially a bad habit kind of pattern to change, the sooner this is accomplished the easier the challenge.  The reasons for changing this bad habit of alcohol abuse are staggering and well worth the effort it will take.  The sooner you get started the easier it will be for you.

Those who have to live with or work with a person who abuses alcohol will find it a difficult experience and be eager for the person to stop their bad habit with alcohol. The sooner the person with the habit can change their ways, the less likely there will be damage to the relationships they hold.  Once a husband or wife lashes out because of the influence of alcohol and says or does something harmful, the longer it takes for both parties to forgive and forget in order to move on.  Those who finally are able to get freedom from the influences of alcohol almost always say they wish they had done so earlier before any damage was done.  The sooner the habit is corrected the more likely it will be that it will not be too late to mend fences.

Harm reduction is the single most effective approach to drug and alcohol problems because harm reduction uses pragmatic, evidence-based strategies that work. This book is the first comprehensive compilation of harm reduction strategies aimed specifically at people who drink alcohol. Whether your goal is safer drinking, reduced drinking, or quitting alcohol altogether, this is the book for you. It contains a large and detailed selection of harm reduction tools and strategies which you can choose

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