Alcohol Dependence

Alcohol dependence is among the third leading cause of morbidity and death from associated health problems stemming from its use. Understanding a disease or disorder aids the medical profession to gain critical information for assessing and developing effective prevention strategies. There are many types of Alcohol disorders ranging from the periodic user to chronic alcoholic dependence. Alcoholism is a complex disorder and develops from many ways in its development over years in a person. Alcohol use patterns can be adopted from the familial setting; however studies suggest there are both genetic and biological factors that contribute to this disease. There are also cognitive, behavioral, psychological, and sociocultural factors that contribute to the disease.

Hereditary cognitive factors have been implicated for the development of alcohol and substance abuse problems. Some studies suggest that alcoholics have an impaired cognitive performance such as attention span, memory, verbal reasoning, and abstract thinking. Genetic influences have been researched from pedigree studies, studies of twins, both identical and fraternal, and adopted individuals raised apart from their parents. Great progress in examining the genetic bases of developing alcoholism have been made however specific genes have yet to be discovered.

The idea of treatment is to become abstinent from the alcohol. A strong network or fellowship along with family support is important to the recovery process. Obsessing for the alcohol and the desire to drink makes it very difficult to stop drinking for many people. People will try at first to moderate their drinking by reducing the amount they drink. If a person attempts moderation and this does not work the best option would be to try abstinence. Withdrawing from alcohol should be in a supervised medical setting because complications from the withdraw process can be life threatening. Recovery and support systems are the best method to continue sobriety after you have passed the withdraw stage. Other options are medications to decrease cravings or medication that produces an unpleasant side effect if you drink (U.S. National Library of Medicine.)

Treatment has three stages:

1. In the early stage of treatment, clients can be emotionally fragile; they can't imagine life without ever drinking again, and fear being labeled an 'alcoholic'. Usually they are in denial and are very resistant to accepting any form of treatment. In the beginning stage after the withdrawal period group support is recommended to help provide hope and understanding of the disease.

2. In the second phase of treatment group cohesion helps the alcoholic to discover and bring to light that alcohol was the root of many of their problems. Many alcoholics while still drinking tend to believe the problems stem from others or they have just been dealt a bad life. As clients sever their ties with substances, they need help managing their loss and finding healthful substitutes.

3. In the last stage of treatment, clients spend less time on their substance abuse issues and turn toward identifying the treatment gains to be maintained and risks that remain. This is an ongoing process for each person so they can remain abstinent forever. Most people will now need to learn how to live without numbing feelings and deal with life. Dealing with past guilt or shame will take time and group support or psychotherapy. Many turn to prayer or meditation to help gain a better view of them.

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                                             By M A Baker

Effective Way to Quit Smoking

The most effective way to become a non-smoker is to search for a way that suits you the best. You will come across several ways to quit smoking. However, as you have thought of quitting smoking or are thinking why you should quit, here are some reasons to throw some light on your queries.

Smoking not just induces lung cancer and all different types of respiratory illnesses but also increases your blood sugar level. Researches on smokers have indicated that only 3% of smokers experience withdrawal symptoms like headaches, stomach cramps and dizziness. However, if you are still determined to quit smoking, the following tips will help you stay on track.

Keeping Notes: Smokers generally tend to have special places where they keep cigarettes. For instance, the glove compartment in your car, in your office drawer and even your wallet. You can keep notes that remind you or motivate you to stop smoking at all such places. So whenever your hand goes in such places, you will find and read the notes instead of cigarettes.

Maintaining a Diary: This is very helpful for people who are chain smokers. Some people can quit smoking without any problem, while others find it difficult to quit. In such a case, maintain a diary. For instance, if you are having 20 cigarettes in a day, write the time and reason for which you smoked a cigarette. In a few days, you will discover some key or peak hours when you need to smoke. Now, in such a case, you can try cutting one cigarette down each day and try to do something else when the urge kicks in.

Adopting a New Hobby: The lives of each one of us have become super-busy when all we can think of is work and home. There seems to be nothing more existent. When you try to quit smoking here is your chance to develop a small and trouble-free hobby. Like whenever you feel like smoking, try to solve a puzzle or Sudoku or you can even try reading a book. Your brain needs such intellectual activities that will keep you distracted but as well sharpen your memory.

Exercise or Running: Smoking tends to exhaust your lungs and you might have noticed that even if you walk a few steps, you start panting. This is not a good sign. Therefore, when you quit smoking, you will have ample of time and budget to join a gym or even go running in the mornings. This will help your lungs become strong and will rejuvenate your spirits.

Smoking can really have ill effects on your body, mind and soul. You not only become totally dependent on something so petty, but also try losing yourself to this new bad habit. A bad habit like weeds in your garden should always be plucked and thrown away. It's never too late to quit smoking and begin a new and healthy lifestyle.

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                                                By Sandra Atkins

How to Identify Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Identifying alcohol withdrawal symptoms will not only help you understand why you or a loved one is suffering these symptoms but may also be the first unavoidable sign that you have a problem. Many people suffering from alcohol abuse ignore the warning signs, but withdrawal cannot be ignored. Initially, signs of the brain and body withdrawing from an addiction to alcohol generally begin six to 12 hours following your last drink. You may feel some of the symptoms listed below and should treat these withdrawal symptoms as a warning sign that you are suffering from an addiction or alcohol abuse problem.

Why Alcoholics Suffer Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

When you or someone you love is suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms you are likely more focused on relieving the discomfort rather than understanding why the symptoms are there in the first place. These symptoms are due to neurochemical changes in the brain, specifically depletion of dopamine, serotonin, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and opioid peptides. All of these chemicals are responsible in some way to provide us with feelings of well-being, pleasure and euphoria. We get those feelings from alcohol abuse because the body becomes dependent on the alcohol to create those feelings for us. Without the alcohol, the body tries to balance itself, this is called withdrawal.

However, the alcoholic brain also experiences a simultaneous increase in stress-inducing chemicals called corticotropin releasing factor, or CRF. Unlike the "feel good" neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, these CRF chemicals promote feelings of depression, agitation and anxiety. As a result of alcohol withdrawal symptoms that cause a chemical imbalance in the brain, alcoholics feel compelled to continue drinking in order to suppress the surge of stress hormones and feelings of depression they produce.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms occur because the brain wants to continue feeling "good". When you stop drinking, the brain continues to pump out abnormally large amounts of CRF, which overwhelms the too-low levels of serotonin and dopamine. This is why you feel such a powerful urge to keep drinking. Many people find that medical detox programs help them feel more comfortable during the withdrawal process.

Identifying and Treating Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Mild to moderate signs of alcohol withdrawal include:

• Heart palpitations/increased heart rate
• Anxiety/irritability/agitation
• Trembling/shaking/mild tremors
• Insomnia/nightmares
• Clammy, sweaty skin
• Pulsing headache

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms may worsen as time passes and may persist for several hours or days, depending on the severity of the addiction. Doctors generally prescribe benzodiazepines for relief from the insomnia and anxiety of alcohol withdrawal.

Severe symptoms of withdrawal, sometimes referred to as delirium tremens (DTs), are characterized by hallucinations (both visual and auditory), seizures and serious cognitive problems. People who have been abusing alcohol for several years may benefit from hospitalization to avoid suffering potentially dangerous medical conditions caused by a profound addiction to alcohol.

How Long Before Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Diminish?

Complete withdrawal from alcohol, as well as symptom variations, depends on several factors that influence an addict's health. Age, genetics, the presence of existing illnesses and drinking patterns all affect the time it takes for alcohol withdrawal symptoms to subside permanently.

If you or a woman you love is having problems with substance abuse or alcohol, drug and alcohol rehab for women may be the answer. Remember that recovery from addiction and alcohol abuse treatment means learning how to cope with intensely emotional situations, and identifying when you need help and support.

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                                                                                                        By Ben Brafman