Alcoholic Behaviour

Alcoholism is a progressive degenerative disease that can be broken down into four stages of classic alcoholic behavior. Unfortunately, classic alcoholic behavior typically includes an increase in drinking problems, deteriorating health, denial, and a loss of control as an individual's alcohol dependency progresses.

Classic Alcoholic Behaviour in the First Stage of Alcoholism In the first stage of alcoholism, drinking is no longer social but becomes a means of psychological escape from inhibitions, problems, and stress. Stated differently, early in the disease the problem drinker starts to depend on the mood altering capabilities of alcohol. Also at this first stage of alcoholism, a gradual increase in tolerance develops, meaning that increasing amounts of alcohol are required in order for the person to "feel the buzz" or to "get high." It is typical for people in the first stage to start gulping a few drinks before attending a social function and increasing social drinking to 3 to 5 drinks per day. The following represents some of the classic alcoholic behaviors, alcohol effects, and drinking problems experienced by problem drinkers in the first stage of alcoholism

Boasting and a "big shot" complex Gross Drinking Behavior - more frequent drinking of greater amounts An ability to drink great amounts of alcohol without any apparent impairment

Increasing tolerance Drinking is not social but a psychological escape from stress and problems

Lack of recognition by the person that he or she is in the early stages of a progressive illness

A conscious effort to seek out more drinking opportunities Classic Alcoholic Behavior in the Second Stage of Alcoholism

In the second stage of alcoholism, the need to drink becomes more intense. And as the drinking becomes more extreme, the person's drinking problems usually increase. Typically at this stage, the problem drinker starts to drink earlier in the day. As tolerance increases, the person drinks because of dependence on alcohol, rather than because of psychological stress relief. During this stage, loss of control does not yet happen on a regular basis; it is, however, gradually observed by others such as friends and family members. Also at this stage of the disease, the person with the drinking problem may begin to feel shame and to worry about his or drinking. Frequently, problem drinkers in this stage unsuccessfully attempt to stop drinking. At times they may change brands of alcohol to switch from hard liquor or wine to beer. To help quiet the internal conflict they now experience, they start to resort to denial of their drinking problems. During this stage, physical symptoms such as hand tremors, blackouts, hangovers, and stomach problems increase. Rather than focusing on their drinking as the cause of the many drinking problems they face, many problem drinkers start to blame others and things external to themselves. The following represents some of the drinking problems, classic alcoholic behaviors, and alcohol effects suffered by problem drinkers in the second stage of alcoholism:

Denial Chronic hangovers

Drinking because of dependence rather than for stress relief More frequent blackouts Blaming problems on others and on things external to themselves Physical problems increase Feelings of guilt and shame Sneaking extra drinks before social events Sporadic loss of control Gulping the first few drinks to feel the "buzz" faster Increasing tolerance Unsuccessful attempts to stop drinking Classic Alcoholic Behaviour in the Third Stage of Alcoholism

In the third stage of alcoholism, the loss of control becomes common, meaning that the person with the drinking problem is unable to drink according to his or her intentions. For instance, once the problem drinker takes the first drink, he or she can no longer control what will happen, even though the intention might have been to have two or three drinks. During this stage of the disease, the individual with the drinking problem starts to experience serious employment, financial, and relationship, and legal difficulties that are directly associated with the person's drinking problems. In addition, the problem drinker starts to avoid friends and family and experiences a loss of interest in things that used to be important. Also common during this stage are "eye-openers," that is, drinks that are taken whenever the person with the drinking problem awakens. Eye-openers are usually taken to calm the nerves, lessen a hangover, or to quiet their feelings of remorse the drinker experiences after a period of time without a drink.

As the drinking increases the person starts to neglect most things of importance, even necessities such as food and shelter. Ironically, at this stage of the disease, rather than experiencing an increase in tolerance, the problem drinker experiences a DECREASE in alcohol tolerance, meaning that less alcohol is needed to feel the effects of alcohol. And finally, during this stage, the drinker with the drinking problem frequently makes half-hearted attempts at seeking medical aid. Due to the fact that problem drinkers will not admit the extent of their drinking problems, however, they rarely receive any lasting medical treatment. Even when they disclose a small part of the "truth" regarding their drinking behaviors with their doctor or with a health care practitioner, moreover, they usually fail to follow through with the medical instructions, thus accomplishing little, if anything of value regarding their disease. The following represents some of the alcohol effects, drinking problems, and classic alcoholic behaviors experienced by problem drinkers in the third stage of alcoholism:

Loss of interests Half-hearted attempts at seeking medical aid The start of physical deterioration The development of an alibi system - an elaborate system of excuses for their drinking

Increased tremors Aggressive and grandiose behavior Loss of willpower Avoidance of family and friends Frequent violent or destructive behavior

A decrease in alcohol tolerance Loss of willpower Unreasonable resentments Problems with the law (e.g, DUIs) Neglect of necessities such as food An increase in failed promises and resolutions to one's self and to others Eye-openers Serious financial, relationship, and work-related problems Loss of control have become a pattern Classic Alcoholic Behavior in the Fourth Stage of Alcoholism

The fourth and final stage of alcoholism is characterised by a chronic loss of control. In the earlier stages of the disease, the problem drinker may have been successful in maintaining a job. Now, however, drinking starts earlier in the day and usually continues throughout the day. Few, if any, full-time jobs, however, can be maintained once a person is in this state. In the earlier stages of dependency, the alcoholic had a choice whether he or she would take the first drink. Once the alcoholic had the first drink, he or she usually lost all control and would then continue drinking. In the last stage of alcoholism, however, alcoholics no longer have a choice: they must drink so they can function throughout the day. During the last stage of alcoholism, benders are typical. That is, in this stage, the alcoholic gets helplessly drunk and may remain in this condition for days at a time. The unattainable goal for the alcoholic at this time is to find the feeling of euphoria they once experienced. In this stage, the alcoholic manifests an utter disregard for everything, including food, shelter, family, and job. These

occasional flights into oblivion are best described as drinking to get away from the problems caused by drinking. In the second or third stages of alcoholism the alcoholic's hands may have trembled slightly on mornings after getting drunk. In the final stage of alcoholism, however, alcoholics get "the shakes" whenever they try or are forced to abstain from drinking. These tremors are an indication of a severe nervous disorder that now affects the entire body. When "the shakes" are combined with hallucinations, the result is known as "the DTs" or delirium tremens, a potentially fatal form of alcohol withdrawal if the alcoholic does not receive medical attention. After an attack of the DTs, many alcoholics promise to never drink again. Sadly, most of them do not and can not fulfill their promise, and so they eventually return to drinking, and the process starts all over again. In the final stage of alcoholism, having an easily accessible supply of alcohol close at hand (to avoid "the shakes") becomes the most important thing in the life of the alcoholic. During this stage, the alcoholic will do almost anything to get the alcohol they require. Once the alcohol is secured, the alcoholic will usually hide their bottles so that they can get a drink whenever they need it, which usually means any hour of the day or the night. The following represents some of the classic alcoholic behaviors, alcohol effects, and drinking problems in the fourth stage of alcoholism:

The realization of being out of control Continual loss of control Indefinable fears "The shakes" the "DTs" Devaluation of personal relationships

Persistent remorse Loss of tolerance for alcohol Unreasonable resentments and hostility toward others Nameless fears and anxieties such as feelings of impending doom or destruction

Auditory and visual hallucinations Impaired thinking The collapse of the alibi system Moral deterioration Vague spiritual desires Benders, or lengthy intoxications The possibility of alcoholic psychosis Obsession with drinking Alcoholics Information

People with a "drinking problem and who are addicted to alcohol are defined as "alcoholics." When some of the basic alcoholics information is revealed from substance abuse research, the following characteristics of alcoholic behavior are observed: alcoholics suffer from alcohol withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking; they continue drinking despite negative consequences such as employment, legal, relationship problems. Not only this, but alcohol dependent people also exhibit the following alcoholic behaviors: their drinking behavior is out of control; they experience increased tolerance over time; they

drink more at each sitting and they drink more frequently; their drinking interferes with their family, friends, or work; and they experience unsuccessful efforts to reduce their drinking. If this alcoholic behavior sounds like an unpleasant set of circumstances, you are correct. The effects of alcoholism are not only unhealthy and debilitating, but in many instances, they are lethal. This leads us to articulate the following message to alcoholics: "alcohol addiction doesn't get better. It gets worse until someone dies. You need to take action and get professional alcoholism treatment and you need to take action now. And by the way, your alcoholic behavior is probably destroying the lives of those who care for you the most." A Basic But Essential Question: What is An Alcoholic? For most people who drink, alcohol is a pleasant experience, especially when engaged in social activities. Moderate alcohol use can be defined as having up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. In most instances, drinking in moderation is not harmful for most adults. A large number of people, however, simply cannot drink because of the problems they encounter when drinking. In fact, approximately 14 million Americans are alcoholics or chronic alcohol abusers. In fact, according to recent studies, it has been discovered that approximately 53% of adults in the United States have reported that one or more of their close relatives has a "drinking problem."

Definition of Alcoholic. People with a "drinking problem" and who are addicted to alcohol are defined as "alcoholics." Simply put, alcoholics, through their irresponsible, excessive and abusive drinking behavior have developed alcoholism. With this in mind, some of the characteristics of alcoholic behavior are the following:

Withdrawal, that is, unpleasant symptoms similar to having the flu when drinking is stopped

Unsuccessful efforts to cut down drinking Drinking larger amounts or over longer periods of time Continued drinking in site of negative consequences such as a DUI conviction, divorce, or loss of job

Drinking that interferes with one's job, family, or friends Increased tolerance, meaning that over time more alcohol is required to get drunk Alcoholics Need Help

It is important to point out that if you observe your friends, relatives, or family members displaying any of these characteristics, consider them as symptoms or signs of alcoholic behavior. And if your family members, friends, or relatives exhibit some of these signs or symptoms, they may need professional alcoholism help. Stated differently, they may need alcoholic treatment or they may need to enter an alcohol rehabilitation facility so that they stop drinking and get sober. In short, without achieving sobriety, alcohol recovery is virtually impossible.

The Alcoholic Personality Do some people possess an "alcoholic personality"? The notion that the personality of an alcoholic exists before the onset of the disease is most strongly articulated by those who advocate a concept known as the "addictive personality." According to supporters of this concept, the addictive personality is a distinct psychological trait that predisposes particular people to addictions. In spite of the debate in the psychological, medical, and neurobiological research communities about the existence as well as the character of this trait, it is, however, observable and verifiable that brain functions contribute to various addictions. Building on this framework, many experts currently believe that the predisposition to addiction is more accurately a combination of environmental, psychological, and biological factors. The Consequences of Alcoholic Behavior According to alcoholics information from the alcoholism research literature, the consequences of alcoholic behavior are not only serious, but in many cases, fatal. Excessive drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, such as cancer of the throat, esophagus, larynx, and of the liver. Chronic, heavy drinking can also lead to cirrhosis of the liver, brain damage, harm to the fetus while the mother is pregnant, and problems with the immune system. Abusive drinking also increases the risk of death from motor vehicle accidents as well as recreational and work-related injuries.

Additionally, abusive drinking increases the risk of death from motor vehicle accidents as well as recreational and workrelated injuries. Not only this, but suicides and homicides are more likely to committed by people who have been drinking. In simple economic terms, alcohol-related issues and problems in the United States cost society almost $200 billion per year. In human terms, the cost of the following alcohol-related issues cannot be calculated: broken homes, child abuse, fatalities, injuries, illnesses, wife battering, failed health, and destroyed lives. Moreover, the consequences of alcoholism do not necessarily stop with the recovery or the death of the alcoholic. Indeed, evidence to support this claim can be substantiated by children of alcoholics or adult children of alcoholics. It is alcoholism and alcoholics information like this that truly reveals how extensive and how devastating alcohol addiction is. The Causes of Alcoholic Behavior A question that has entered the minds of many people is the following: why can some people drink alcohol without problems or any negative consequences while others cannot? In short, what causes alcohol behavior? One answer to this question involves genetics. More specifically, researchers have discovered that having an alcoholic family member increases the risk of developing alcoholism.

In fact, there may be a genetic predisposition for certain individuals to become dependent on alcohol. In addition, behavioral scientists have found that various environment factors can interact with one's genetics. Examples include the relative ease of obtaining alcohol, peer pressure or peer influence, where and how a person lives, and one's family and friends

The Alcoholic Rehab Center: Counseling, Medications, and Support Most of the non-12-step alcohol rehab methodologies take place in an alcoholic rehab center, a rehabilitation hospital, or in a drug and alcohol clinic. Healthcare professionals in these treatment facilities emphasize therapeutic practices that focus on the use of doctor prescribed medications, extensive counseling, education, and training, and staff support. In addition, more than a few these non-12-step rehab approaches treat alcoholism and alcohol abuse from both a physiological and an emotional vantage point. Some of the more effective alcohol treatment programs are more inclusive than others and accordingly direct their attention to how alcoholics and alcohol abusers will respond to and manage their finances, employment issues, and relationships after they complete rehab, become sober, and return home.

Finally, some of the more successful alcoholic rehab centers operate from a holistic standpoint that helps alcohol abusers and alcoholics single out and cope with various circumstances that most probably led to their drinking problems in the first place. Some of these important and potentially hazardous issues include the following:

Poor interpersonal relationship skills A sense of loss Pain Poor anger management skills Grief Unemployment Poor financial management skills Spirituality issues Poor coping skills Career indecision

The Need for Outpatient Follow-Up Treatment When a problem drinker undergoes alcohol rehab, it becomes vitally important to concentrate on what he or she will do after he or she has finished treatment.

Indeed, overcoming one's alcohol withdrawal symptoms and getting through the detoxification process are indispensable to the treatment process, but so is the follow-up counseling, training, and education that highly competent alcoholic rehab centers commonly begin as soon as the problem drinker completes inpatient, residential treatment. Some of the more successful non-12-step alcoholic rehab centers, for instance, provide follow-up outpatient counseling, education, and training for one year after the residential part of rehab is finished. Simply put, the higher quality and more broad-based alcoholic rehab centers focus their rehab on methodologies that are developed and put into practice for long-lasting success rather than on short-term, quick and easy therapeutic results. How to Treat Alcohol Withdrawals At Home One of the first things that many alcoholics ask others about when they are trying to quit drinking is how to treat alcohol withdrawals at home. The answer to this question is very simple: you don't.

Do Not Treat Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms At Home!

When people who drink excessively try to stop drinking, they experience withdrawal symptoms. One of the first things that many of these people ask others about is how to treat alcohol withdrawals at home. The answer to this question is very important: People who are experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms should not treat these symptoms at home. Instead, they need to seek medical assistance immediately so that their doctor, emergency room personnel, healthcare provider, or urgent care center personnel can assess the severity of their withdrawal symptoms and suggest the best option for treatment. To understand all of the reasons why people suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms should immediately seek medical assistance, consider the following. Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms exhibited by individuals who stop drinking alcohol after a pattern of continuous and excessive consumption. These symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe and include both behavioral and psychological aspects. The following represents mild to moderate psychological withdrawal symptoms that typically occur within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic drink: anxiety, feeling nervous or jumpy, depression, fatigue, irritability, nightmares, rapid emotional changes, and difficulty thinking clearly.

The following represents mild to moderate physical withdrawal symptoms that typically occur within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic drink: loss of appetite, nausea, rapid heart rate, vomiting, pulsating headaches, clammy skin, abnormal movements, sweating (especially on the palms of the hands or on the face), sleeping difficulties, tremor of the hands, looking pale, involuntary movements of the eyelids, and enlarged or dilated pupils. The following represents severe withdrawal symptoms that typically occur within 48 to 96 hours after the last alcoholic drink: muscle tremors, extreme confusion, severe autonomic nervous system overactivity, black outs, convulsions, high fever, seizures, delirium tremens (DTs), visual hallucinations, and agitation. Most Withdrawal Cases Don't Require Hospitalization Recent research demonstrates that it is important to treat every person who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. Having said this, it can be pointed out that around 95% of the people who quit drinking alcohol suffer from mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms and can usually be treated on an outpatient basis by a healthcare professional. The remaining 5% of people who experience withdrawal symptoms, however, suffer symptoms so severe that they must be treated in a hospital or in an alcohol rehabilitation facility that specializes in detoxification. Non-Drug Detox Programs

A number of different techniques exist for treating alcohol withdrawal. While some of these treatments use medications, many, however, do not. Indeed, according to current research studies, the safest way to treat mild withdrawal symptoms is without medications. Such types of non-drug detoxification use screening and extensive social support throughout the withdrawal process. Other non-drug detoxification programs, moreover, use vitamin therapy (especially thiamin) and proper nutrition in treating mild withdrawal symptoms. Detoxification with Drugs Alcoholism researchers claim that chronic alcoholics who cannot maintain abstention should receive drug therapy to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms. By using medications, these alcoholics are less likely to experience possible brain damage or seizures. Recent research demonstrates that the drugs most likely to produce effective results when treating alcohol withdrawal are the benzodiazepines: the longer-acting benzodiazepines like Valium and Librium or the shorter-acting benzodiazepines such as Ativan and Serax. Traditionally, when administering benzodiazepines, physicians have employed a progressive decrease in doses over the timeframe of the withdrawal process. In addition, due to the fact that these drugs allow for measurable dose reductions and do not linger in the person's system numerous authorities have suggested that intermediate to short half-life benzodiazepines should be used for treating withdrawal symptoms.

Outpatient and Inpatient Detoxification Programs The research on inpatient and outpatient detoxification programs is also important. Studies have shown that inpatient detoxification is more effective and longer-lasting than outpatient detox programs. The important issue here is the following: the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms, the more likely that inpatient detox programs should be used. Perhaps the most important lesson to be learned from the above discussion is this: When experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, always see your healthcare provider or your doctor immediately so that he or she can assess the severity of your situation and suggest the best option for treatment. What Health Problems Can Alcohol Cause Short Term and Long Term Alcohol-Related Problems Some alcohol-related drinking problems, such as interpersonal relationship issues, driving impairment, and negative interactions with medications can manifest themselves after drinking over a relatively short period of time. Other drinking problems, conversely, can develop more gradually over time and may become noticeable only after heavy drinking for an extended period of time. These are the drinking problems that represent the long-term effects of alcohol abuse and help answer the following question: what health problems can alcohol cause?

It is important to note that women may develop alcohol-related health problems after consuming less alcohol than men over a shorter time period. Since alcohol affects many organs in the body, long-term excessive drinking puts a person at risk for developing serious health problems. Stated differently, the long term effects of alcohol abuse can lead to a gradual breakdown of different organs and systems in the body that can result in serious, if not fatal, health problems and issues.

Alcohol-Related Heart Disease One of the few verifiable positive aspects of drinking alcohol is that drinking in moderation can actually have positive effects on the heart, especially with individuals who are at the greatest risk for heart attacks, such as women after menopause and men over the age of 45. Long-term excessive drinking, on the other hand, increases the risk for certain kinds of stroke, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Alcohol-Related Pancreatitis The pancreas helps regulate the body's blood sugar levels by producing insulin. In addition, the pancreas is instrumental in digesting the food people eat. Long-term excessive drinking can lead to pancreatitis (that is, an inflammation of the

pancreas). Pancreatitis is associated with excessive weight loss and severe abdominal pain and can lead to death. Alcohol-Related Cancer Long-term heavy drinking by problem drinkers increases the risk of developing certain types of cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, and the voice box. Research has shown, moreover, that women who drink two or more drinks per day slightly increase their risk for developing breast cancer. Excessive drinking may also increase the risk for developing cancer of the colon and of the rectum. Alcohol-Related Liver Disease More than 2 million problem drinkers in the U.S. suffer from alcohol-related liver disease. For example, some people with a drinking problem develop alcoholic hepatitis (that is, an inflammation of the liver) as a consequence of long-term heavy drinking. The symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis include the following: fever, jaundice (an abnormal yellowing of the urine, skin, and the eyeballs), and abdominal pain. If the individual persists in drinking, moreover, alcoholic hepatitis can be fatal. If the problem drinker stops drinking, however, alcoholic hepatitis is frequently reversible. Approximately 10 to 20 % of the problem drinkers who drink excessively develop cirrhosis of the liver (that is, a scarring of the liver). Alcoholic cirrhosis can be fatal if the person with the drinking problem continues to drink. Even though cirrhosis is

irreversible, if the problem drinker stops drinking, his or her chances of survival can improve dramatically. Although some people with a drinking problem may eventually need a liver transplant as a last resort, numerous problem drinkers with cirrhosis who abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages can receive treatment and may never require liver transplantation. Other Long Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse In addition to the diseases outlined above, excessive drinking over time is also associated with the following drinking problems:

nerve damage epilepsy irritated stomach lining and bleeding from stomach ulcers

loss of brain cells Excessive drinking has also been linked to the following:

vitamin deficiency muscle disease obesity sexual problems infertility skin problems