Alcoholism signs and symptoms

June 23, 2017

Alcoholism signs and symptoms need to be identified in good time for the commencement of treatment immediately

Alcoholism signs and symptoms: Compulsive behaviors

Substance abuse experts make a distinction between alcohol abuse and alcoholism in the sense that, unlike alcoholics, alcohol abusers have some ability to set limits on their drinking. But even with that, their alcohol use is still self-destructive and dangerous to themselves and others. Knowledge of alcoholism signs and symptoms is important. You can identify victims in many ways including:

Repeatedly neglecting your responsibilities at home, work, or school because of your drinking. For example, performing poorly at work, flunking classes, neglecting your kids, or skipping out on commitments because you’re hung over.
Using alcohol in situations where it’s physically dangerous, such as drinking and driving, operating machinery while intoxicated, or mixing alcohol with prescription medication against doctor’s orders.
Experiencing repeated legal problems on account of your drinking. For example, getting arrested for driving under the influence or for drunk and disorderly conduct.
Continuing to drink even though your alcohol use is causing problems in your relationships. Getting drunk with your buddies, for example, even though you know your wife will be very upset or fighting with your family because they dislike how you act when you drink.
Drinking as a way to relax or de-stress. Many drinking problems start when people use alcohol to self-soothe and relieve stress. Getting drunk after every stressful day, for example, or reaching for a bottle every time you have an argument with your spouse or boss.

Alcoholism Signs and symptoms: The path from alcohol abuse to alcoholism

According to the experts from AWAREmed health center under the leadership of Doctor Dalal Akoury MD, it is important noting that even though alcohol affects everybody, it is not that all alcohol abusers become full-blown alcoholics, it is a big risk factor. Sometimes alcoholism develops suddenly in response to a stressful change, such as a breakup, retirement, or another loss. Other times, it gradually creeps up on you as your tolerance to alcohol increases. If you’re a binge drinker or you drink every day, the risks of developing alcoholism are greater.

Alcoholism signs and symptoms: Signs and symptoms of alcoholism

Alcoholism is the most severe form of problem drinking. Alcoholism involves all the symptoms of alcohol abuse, but it also involves another element: physical dependence on alcohol. If you rely on alcohol to function or feel physically compelled to drink, you’re an alcoholic.

Tolerance

Do you have to drink a lot more than you used to in order to get buzzed or to feel relaxed? Can you drink more than other people without getting drunk? These are signs of tolerance, which can be an early warning sign of alcoholism. Tolerance means that, over time, you need more and more alcohol to feel the same effects.

Withdrawal

Do you need a drink to steady the shakes in the morning? Drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms is a sign of alcoholism and a huge red flag. When you drink heavily, your body gets used to the alcohol and experiences withdrawal symptoms if it’s taken away. These include:

Anxiety
Trembling
Sweating
Nausea and vomiting
Insomnia
Depression
Irritability
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Headache

Finally, in severe cases, withdrawal from alcohol can also involve hallucinations, confusion, seizures, fever, and agitation. These symptoms can be dangerous, and that is why consulting with AWAREmed Health Center from time to time is the best option for your guaranteed health and comfort.

Alcoholism signs and symptoms: Compulsive behaviors

Alcoholism myths and drinking frustration

October 12, 2016

Alcoholism myths and drinking frustration are real and the sooner your stop the better

Alcoholism myths and drinking frustrations: Denial

Many people are suffering because of alcoholism myths and concoctions. With the help of doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we are going to be sharing with you some of the alcoholism myths and concoctions so that you can make the right decisions in the treatment approach you choose. There are so many myths around drinking and we are going to share with you just but a few as follows:

Alcoholism myths and drinking frustrations: I can stop drinking anytime I want to

How I wish that this was true but more likely, you can’t but the bottom line is that this is yet another excuse to keep drinking. The truth is you don’t want to stop. By telling yourself that you can quit makes you feel in control, despite all evidence to the contrary and no matter the damage its doing.

My drinking is my problem. I’m the one it hurts, so no one has the right to tell me to stop

Doctor Akoury agrees with you that it’s true that the decision to quit drinking is up to you. But the truth is you are deceiving yourself if you think that your drinking hurts no one else but you. Alcoholism affects everyone around you and especially the people closest to you. Your problem is their problem.

I don’t drink every day, so I can’t be an alcoholic OR I only drink wine or beer, so I can’t be an alcoholic – Remember that alcoholism is NOT defined by what you drink, when you drink it, or even how much you drink. It’s all about the EFFECTS of your drinking that define a problem. Therefore if your drinking is causing problems in your home or work life, you have a drinking problem it therefore means that whether you drink daily or only on the weekends, down shots of tequila or stick to wine, drink three bottles of beers a day or three bottles of whiskey if they produce the negative effects then you have a problem which needs to be fixed.

I’m not an alcoholic because I have a job and I’m doing okay – You don’t have to be homeless and drinking out of a brown paper bag to be an alcoholic. Many alcoholics are able to hold down jobs, get through school, and provide for their families. Some are even able to excel. But just because you’re a high-functioning alcoholic doesn’t mean you’re not putting yourself or others in danger. Over time, the effects will catch up with you.

Drinking is not a “real” addiction like drug abuse – Alcohol is a drug, and alcoholism is every bit as damaging as drug addiction. Alcohol addiction causes changes in the body and brain, and long-term alcohol abuse can have devastating effects on your health, your career and your relationships. Alcoholics go through physical withdrawal when they stop drinking, just like drug users do when they quit.

Finally thought not an illicit drug, alcohol is a killer substance. The little controls put by different authorities are very inconsequential when it comes to the real damages associated with alcohol abuse. We have discussed a lot but take note, your health must come first and not the little pleasure you get when taking alcohol with your friends. Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury care illustrates this with the wise say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Therefore you can either begin the journey of destruction by taking the first sip or start the recovery journey by acknowledging that you have a problem that needs to be fixed and then call doctor Akoury to schedule for an appointment with her for the commencement of your recovery journey.

Alcoholism myths and drinking frustrations: Denial

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Detecting alcoholism presence in life

September 19, 2016

In detecting alcoholism presence in life, the challenge may look bigger but overcoming addiction recovery must remain the ultimate objective

Detecting alcoholism presence in life: Self-Testing

Am I an alcoholic? This is a very good question tailored towards preventing, treating and detecting alcoholism presence in one’s life. It is by asking such question and getting the right responses that will help in finding permanent solution to the scourge of alcoholism. Speaking to the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD, it is evident that sometimes it can be hard to draw the line between safe alcohol use and alcohol abuse or dependence. Professionally doctor Akoury registers that there are several ways of detecting alcoholism presence in life. She suggests that you can carry out a self-testing method to ascertain whether you are alcoholic or not. Professionally, you may have a problem with alcohol if you answer “yes” to some of the following questions:

Do you need to drink a lot more for you to feel the effects of alcohol?
Do you suffer guilty about your drinking?
Do you become short-tempered or violent when you’re drinking?
Do you have problems at school or work because of drinking?
Do you think it might be better if you cut back on your drinking?

Depending on how you respond to the above, a yes answer could point to the direction of alcoholism. Besides the self-testing, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence also offers more comprehensive self-tests which can help you assess whether you have a problem with alcohol. Away from the test doctor Akoury advices that you can also consult with your physician in very many ways for a professional diagnosis.

Detecting alcoholism presence in life: Professional diagnosis

Your doctor or healthcare provider can diagnose alcoholism by carrying out a physical exam and ask you questions about your drinking habits. Like for instance your doctor may ask if you:

Drive when you’re drunk
Have experienced blackouts as a result of your drinking
Have missed work or have lost a job as a result of your drinking
Have tried to cut back on your drinking but could not
Need more alcohol to feel “drunk” when you drink

Typically, a diagnosis of alcoholism does not require any other type of diagnostic test. Chance are that your doctor may order for blood test to check your liver function if you show signs or symptoms of liver disease. This is because alcohol abuse can cause serious and lasting damage to your liver. Remember that it is your liver which is responsible for removing toxins from your blood and so when you drink too much, your liver will have difficulties in filtering the alcohol and other toxins from your bloodstream which can lead to liver disease and other complications.

Detecting alcoholism presence in life: How is alcoholism treated?

Treatment for alcoholism varies, but each method is meant to help you stop drinking altogether (abstinence). Treatment may occur in stages and can include the following:

Counseling to solve emotional complications
Detoxification or withdrawal for the elimination of alcohol in the body
Medical treatment for alcoholism related health complications
Medications to help control addiction
Rehabilitation to learn new coping skills and behaviors
Support groups, including 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Finally you can prevent alcoholism by limiting your alcohol intake. This may not be easy (detecting alcoholism presence) but consulting with doctor Dalal Akoury will make it much easier for you. Your health is more important than anything else and therefore scheduling for that appointment will be a good start towards your recovery process.

Detecting alcoholism presence in life: Self-Testing

Understanding the effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse

August 17, 2015

Understanding the effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse: The frustrations of drinking problems and denial

Understanding the effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse will enable you to appreciate the consequences of misusing alcohol

The complications of alcoholism and alcohol abuse are increasingly becoming a global concern with every household being the bearers of the burden of this scourge of alcohol addiction. Many people really don’t understand why and how alcohol is affecting everyone in the current generation. Having been declared the most abused substance globally, we all have a duty to give our contributions in finding the solutions to this problem. But before we get there, we must first be sure of what we are talking about. That is why doctor Dalal Akoury one of the most respected addiction expert globally is going to take us through the discussion about understanding the effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse in our societies today. She begins by saying that alcoholism and alcohol abuse if not tamed or prevented can be very devastating to all aspect of an individual’s life.

Like we had mentioned previously that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step so is the effects of alcohol addiction. It has been established that alcohol usage over a long period of time cause serious health complications, affecting virtually every organ in your body, including your brain. That is not meant to scare you but it is the true position of misuse of alcohol. Besides that it must also be appreciated that the problem of drinking can also damage your emotional stability, finances, career, and your ability to build and sustain satisfying relationships. And as if that is not enough the problem does not end there because alcoholism and alcohol abuse can also have an impact on your family, friends and the people you work with hence the need of dealing with it expeditiously.

Understanding the effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse: The effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse on the people you love

We all have a role to play in caring for our loved ones. This care is often under serious threat when any member of the family is struggling with any form of addiction. There are so many types of addiction and substances that can be abuse but for our consumption in this article, we are going to restrict our conversation to alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Several scientific studies have established that despite the potentially lethal damage that heavy drinking does to the body including cancer, heart problems, and liver disease, we also have serious repercussions that come on our social life thanks to the persistence of alcohol abuse. This point reminds me of a debate we once had in one of the forums where there was concern as to whether alcohol consumption ha any social consequences that can be seen as devastating. From that debate it was very evident that alcoholism can also have very devastating social consequences too. Like for example when alcoholics and alcohol abusers are under the influence of their substances, they often do certain things that can be very painful and heart breaking to their family members and those painful moments if not corrected in good time can result into serious social problems like divorce, domestic violence and struggle with unemployment, and living in poverty.

With such problems doctor Akoury continues, even if you’re able to succeed at work or hold your marriage together, you can’t escape the effects that alcoholism and alcohol abuse has on your personal relationships. Drinking problems put an enormous strain on the people closest to you. Often, family members and close friends feel obligated to cover for the person with the drinking problem. So they take on the burden of cleaning up your messes, lying for you, or working more to make ends meet. Pretending that nothing is wrong and hiding away all of their fears and resentments can take an enormous toll. Children are especially sensitive and can suffer long-lasting emotional trauma when a parent or caretaker is an alcoholic or heavy drinker.

Understanding the effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse: Getting help for alcoholism or alcohol abuse

The best way of facing the problem of alcoholism and alcohol abuse is by facing it squarely without any element of denial and blame games. And like we had mentioned that, denial is always the biggest impediment in seeking for help. It therefore means that for any meaningful treatment to take place, the victim must take the very first step of acceptance. Therefore if you’re ready to admit that you have a drinking problem, be rest assured that you’ve already taken the first step of defeating the power of denial. Remember that it always takes tremendous strength and courage to face alcohol abuse and alcoholism head on. Upon doing that, the second approach would be that of reaching out for support either externally or internally from your family, relatives and friends.

As you embark on this journey of recovery, it is important to appreciate that irrespective of your choice of treatment i.e. whether you choose to go to rehab, rely on self-help programs, get therapy, or take a self-directed treatment approach, support is still very essential and must never be over looked. Recovering from alcohol addiction is much easier when you have people you can lean on for encouragement, comfort, and guidance. Without support, it’s easy to fall back into old patterns when things get tough.

Doctor Akoury alludes that your continued recovery depends on continuing mental health treatment, learning healthier coping strategies, and making better decisions when dealing with life’s challenges. In order to stay alcohol-free for the long term, you’ll also have to face the underlying problems that led to your alcoholism or alcohol abuse in the first place. Those problems could be depression, an inability to manage stress, an unresolved trauma from your childhood, or any number of mental health issues. Such problems may become more prominent when you’re no longer using alcohol to cover them up. But you will be in a healthier position to finally address them and seek the help you need.

Understanding the effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse: The frustrations of drinking problems and denial

Improving public health by quitting alcoholism

May 30, 2015

Improving public health by quitting alcoholism: Tackling alcohol misuse

Improving public health by quitting alcoholism is very important. By seeking for professional help the addictiveness of alcohol will not be a problem any more

I have a question for you as we begin this discussion and the question is “do you drink alcohol? How do you categorize your drinking, is it moderate, binge or heavy drinking? As you soul search in response to that I want to introduce to us a topic of discussion torching on the improving public health by quitting alcoholism. You and I form the public meaning that what we do will impact to the public (us) either negatively or positively. While appreciating that we are liberalized and that we enjoy lots of freedom including freedom to choose, an epidemic is looming if something is not done in good time to address the problems emerging as a result of alcohol use. I know that alcohol is not an illegal substance and its consumption is very much supported by different laws of the land of course with some measures to control its usage, but depending on your response to the questions raised above are the measures put in place working for you?

We are going to make general comments on this introductory article about the effects of alcoholism in our societies and subsequently in the coming article we will be dealing with specifics of what misuse of alcohol is doing to people’s lives. We will be talking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center to help us bring clarity in many issues as possible. Therefore I want to request you to stay on the link and if you know of any of your friend or loved ones that is struggling with alcoholism, then you can be of help to them as well. As we progress into the discussion, I will urge you to make health appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury the M.D and also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center and she will be of great help to you on all your concerns.

Improving public health by quitting alcoholism: Misuse of alcohol a burden to the economy

The trend with which alcohol is being misuses is not a secrete anymore and no one can bury his head under the sun and still hope for things to improve on their own. As a matter of fact this has brought with it extremely serious problems to the public health in most states across the globe. The burden of caring for alcoholics and the cost of rehabilitating them is not just hurting to the individual families, but also to the whole societies globally. It must be understood that alcohol is one of the most bused drug and it is also directly linked to a series of health complications including high blood pressure, mental ill-health, accidental injury, violence, liver disease and sexually transmitted infection. Despite the information available to the public about the dangers of misuse of alcohol the public and even the authorities will still support this killer drug. You may be wondering why I am saying all, but the magnitude of the problem is very big. Like for instance I recently visited one of the towns in one of the nations and I was surprised that the number of bars and liquor shops were more than all schools, hospitals, churches and mosques put together. What does that one communicates to you? It simply means that our children are getting into this mess at very tender age.

Improving public health by quitting alcoholism: The impact of alcoholism to the societies

If we allow our daughters and wives to be highly intoxicated with alcohol what products do you think we will get on conception? Children are literally being introduced into the world of alcohol taking at that very initial stage of their lives. It is all about freedom of choice and right to social around. Does it mean that in the process of exercising your right of choice you now have a permit to violate the right of that unborn child who has not chosen to be feed on alcoholic substances through the mother? This is the most disturbing thing and one that is very difficult for me to understand. But since am not able to understand why such things are allowed to happen to the un born children, I will advise that if this article is describing any of your habits and you have just realized that something is not right and some fixing needs to be done, all is not lost for you. And it is never too late for anyone to make a decision of changing with an aim of quitting the bondage of alcoholism. All you need to do is to ensure that you consult well before settling on the health provider. You must only go for the best with good truck result oriented records. One in which professionalism is the virtue and the experience is above board.

I know that getting the right rehabilitation facility may be very difficult for some of you and why we recommend that you talk to your physician to help you in the identification of the right institution. Remember that no mistakes should be done either in the beginning, middle or at the end. It has to be right all through says doctor Akoury. In the meantime it will interest you to note that because of the magnitude and the great suffering of people both young and old with very little help being given to them, doctor Dalal Akoury made a decision to create a medical center (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. Now that you know a bit of what alcohol addiction does to your health and with the sound foundation that doctor Dalal Akoury will deliver to you up on scheduling for an appointment with her, I want to encourage you to take to first step of calling her today so that no time is wasted. Your quick recovery is our priority and we will deliver that to with a lot of dedication, commitment and professionalism while treating all issues with great confidentiality.

Tag Archives: Recovering from alcoholism