Alcohol addiction
synonym
Alcoholism, Alcohol Disease, Alcohol Dependence, Drunkenness, Ethylism, Dipsomania, Potomania
introduction
The Alcohol addiction is considered one within Germany and widespread phenomenon in the western world.
Meanwhile, the morbid consumption of alcoholic beverages is even considered independent illness recognized and a therapy for this reason from the Health insurance Completely accepted. The effects of alcohol addiction on the human organism count alongside those of the consumption of Tobacco products and Diseases of the cardiovascular system to the most common causes of death.
The Alcohol addiction itself is defined in medicine as: uncontrolled, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, with the consequence of physical and psychological addiction.
Symptoms
In general, most can Symptoms of Alcohol addiction from affected person to affected person in their Art and intensity vary. However, there are some signs of alcohol addiction that can be seen quite quickly.
For one thing, people who suffer from alcohol addiction take big daily Quantities of alcoholic beverages or food containing brandy. For these people, alcohol is no longer considered a stimulant, and social enjoyment fades into the background. Alcohol addiction patients consume often for themselves alone, in the quiet little room or in front of the television. Alcohol is no longer used as a pure luxury food, the distortion occurs because the person's organism demands the addictive substance ethanol, an ingredient in alcoholic beverages.
Furthermore, the Life of Alcoholic increasingly limited. The affected Right his daily routine more and more often almost exclusively on the procurement and consumption of the addictive substance from. In addition, there is a for people suffering from alcohol addiction progressive loss of control about one's own drinking behavior and especially the daily incorporated Amount of alcohol to observe.
The alcoholic is usually not aware of how much alcohol he distorts and how the daily intoxication affects him and his environment.
A classic symptom alcohol addiction is that play down or deny of one's own drinking behavior. As a result, those affected get lost in one compulsive consumption, which also means that social obligations increasingly neglected become. Interest in other people and previous hobbies is also increasingly lost.
Relatives of alcoholics also report an increased, in places uncontrollable aggressivenessthat occurs in the course of alcohol consumption. The once controlled, happy person appears increasingly changed nature and strange, some relatives.
Since alcohol addiction is a classic addiction disease, it can affect the patient reduction or Stop drinking alcohol to the occurrence of a typical Withdrawal symptoms come.
In the course of these withdrawal symptoms, those affected usually complain about the increased Secretion of cold sweat. In addition, the following symptoms are among the classic withdrawal symptoms:
- Racing heart
- Tremble and
- the appearance of nausea and Vomit
Risks
Even the common one Consumption of alcohol without alcohol addiction, it can be human body one negative influence exercise.
Since patients who suffer from manifest alcohol addiction consume considerable amounts of alcohol, these negative influences are particularly pronounced. Typical risks associated with alcohol addiction range from Withdrawal Syndromes and substantial Changes of character to sustainable Injuries different organs and Organ systems.
Many relatives of alcoholic patients describe the so-called alcohol-toxic changes in personality as enormously stressful for those affected and their immediate environment. The change of being is made by a Poisoning syndromewhich is provoked by the long-term excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
In most cases the alcohol-toxic change in character brings abnormalities such as one
- significant reduction in performance
- Impairments in the Memory performance and
- Strength Concentration deficits with himself.
Furthermore, many of those affected say that the own drive and the attention through the toxic influence of ethanol limited becomes. In the course of alcohol addiction, typical accompanying illnesses occur in almost all cases, which in turn can lead to the alcoholic increasing the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Above all depressions can be diagnosed in the majority of those who have been alcohol dependent for many years.
From a psychological point of view, the person suffering from alcohol addiction is in one Vicious circlethat can hardly be broken through on its own. The negative effects of the daily, uncontrolled consumption of alcohol do not only affect the body and the psyche of the person concerned. That too social environment, especially the family, suffers increasingly under the drinking behavior. Alcohol addiction does not only affect the well-being of the dependent person, because this illness usually has to be borne by the partner, the children and other relatives. On average, one can assume that in around 35 percent of the cases in families with alcoholics, sooner or later there will be more disputes or even domestic violence. This phenomenon is related to the fact that a person suffering from alcohol addiction is permanently affected by strong external stimuli is influenced and in the course of it a Increase in aggressiveness With Loss of control can occur.
On an organic level, the long-term consumption large quantities Alcohol to Damage to the liver to lead. Also the performance of the Kidneys, of the pancreas and des Gastrointestinal tract can be negatively influenced by the ethanol contained in the alcohol. In addition, people who suffer from alcohol addiction can have a Reduced blood flow to the brain prove that in the long term leads to tissue damage. Also the appearance of Potency problems is not uncommon for alcoholics.
Diagnosis
The actually plays a role in recognizing the presence of alcohol addiction Self-assessment of the person concerned a significant role.
As a rule, however, people suffering from alcohol addiction have one long period Not are capable of doing this own drinking behavior as problematic to assess. In most cases, it is not the affected person themselves, but rather their relatives who urge therapy to be initiated.
Both in the Internet, as well as in Specialist practices for psychology, be different Self-test offered that can help to expose one's own drinking behavior as problematic. In medical diagnostics exist the same four methods, around a Alcohol addiction as such determine to be able to.
In terms of the supply provisions applicable in Germany, the Family doctor as first contact for affected patients. The family doctor has the option of special Screening procedure which serve the goal of diagnosing alcohol addiction.
Probably the most frequently used test is the so-called AUDIT test (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test). This test is used to determine the patient's handling of alcoholic beverages ten specific questions about the Drinking behavior appraised.
Of the MALT test (Munich alcoholism test), however, consists of two parts, one External assessment part through laboratory values, Withdrawal symptoms and Secondary diseases and one Self-assessment part.
The third screening method that is often used in general practice is the so-called CAGE interview. This procedure includes four questionsthat are only marked with "Yes"Or"No“Should be answered. In patients who received this test at least two “yes” answers there is a risk of alcohol addiction. The questions to be answered within this interview are:
C. = Cut down: "Have you tried (unsuccessfully) to limit your alcohol consumption?"
A. = Annoyed: "Have other people criticized your drinking behavior and annoyed you with it?"
G = Guilty: "Have you ever felt guilty about your alcohol consumption?"
E. = Eye opener: "Have you ever had a drink right after getting up to 'get going' or to calm down?"
treatment
In order to guarantee the success of the treatment, the therapy of a person suffering from alcoholism should and must take place on several levels at the same time. Appropriate treatment methods for alcohol addiction can be found in various areas of medicine and psychotherapy.
Long-term participation in a self-help group specially adapted to the needs of people suffering from alcohol addiction is a helpful support measure, especially in the beginning. Before treatment of the alcoholic's psychological concerns can begin, the body should be completely freed from smoking. For this reason, detoxification or alcohol withdrawal is the first step in successful therapy. As a rule, this should take place on an inpatient basis and be monitored by medical supervision. Many affected patients describe detoxification under direct medical supervision as much easier and more promising.
Immediately after inpatient alcohol withdrawal, the now dry alcoholic should be included in appropriate psychotherapeutic treatment. This psychotherapeutic treatment for people suffering from alcohol addiction can be carried out on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Especially in the first time after withdrawal, based on the relapse rate, it can be assumed that inpatient therapy is probably the better option. The main purpose of psychotherapy is to strengthen the patient so that he can withstand alcohol.
Read more on the topic: Alcohol withdrawal
