Alcoholism. Etiology of development
Alcoholism is an irresistible urge to alcohol related to mental and physical dependence on it, which results in mental disorders and changes in personality.
Absolutely nobody is guaranteed against it, a man can begin having strong drinks due to different reasons. They are discontent with life, boredom and personal tragedy and drinking because of problems at work. And it may happen so that a large percentage of successful, wealthy, well-to-do people fall under affect of drinking till all is blue.
In development of alcoholism, this chronic progressing disease, one can mark out 3 stages.
The first stage is characterized with occurrence of mental dependence on alcohol. Thereby a man begins to use any occasion for drinking. It becomes more difficult for him to refuse from drinks, and while drinking it becomes more difficult to stop, to know when to stop before going stiff, because for causing the state of drunkenness one needs more and more alcohol.
At the second stage, the control of the amount of the drink is lost completely. On the next day after the nice pastime, a hangover will occur, its main symptoms are headache, dizziness, tachycardia. As a new taking-in of the drink (taking a drink «the morning after») alleviate somehow the state, a day begins with it. The hard drinking is formed in that way. At the end of the second stage alcoholic psychoses will develop quite often, such as a «delirium tremens», for example.
The third stage is the last one. Those who reach it, will have a complete physical, mental and social degradation.
Alcohol has the most acute influence on the nervous system. Sleep disorders occur, then speech becomes confused, coordination fails, there appears staggering gait, tremor and sweating of hands. Among diseases related to alcoholism we see more often alcoholic polyneuritis (multiple nerve inflammation) which exhibits itself as disorders of sensitivity, and in future as peripheral paralyses, as well as alcoholic encephalopathies (brain diseases). Alcohol kills, but evident examples do not usually worry dependable people. Alcoholism is formed unnoticeably for a man, therefore one considers himself sincerely for a long time that he is «healthy», that he «drinks like everybody does», and that «if he wants, he will easily give up drinking». Very often patients do not want to acknowledge themselves alcoholics and suggest to themselves and the surrounding people that they could give up drunkenness at any time.
It is necessary to know that if illness was already formed, there should be a complete renunciation of drinks. Unfortunately, they cannot solve this problem on their own. Assistance by professionals and support by the family these are the main factors which result in convalescence.
The followings facts mean the coming alcoholic dependence:
- you feel a need in drinking in order to remove stress, fatigue, depression or other unpleasant feelings;
- you drink more and more alcohol without visible signs of intoxication (increasing tolerance to alcohol);
- falling out of some events from memory, which took place in the period of drinking (black-out);
- sense of guilt and remorse related to behaviour in the drunken state;
- remarks by friends and relatives on their worrying of your drinking;
- you feel irritation and aggression after their words about drunkenness or in case of failure to have a drink more.
If you found at least 2 such signs for yourself, we suggest that you should take a test for chemical dependence or to appeal for a free consultation.
