Posts Tagged ‘mental health’

When Drinking Becomes an Issue and a Mental Health Problem

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

How do you know that you have a drinking problem? When is it plain to see that you are involving yourself in excessive drinking?

If you have ineffectively tried to discontinue your drinking or if you promised yourself that your drinking days are gone and then you recognized that you were drinking in an excessive way just a few days later, the probability is extremely good that you have drinking problems. The bottom line is that if you have tried to quit drinking and cannot do this, then your drinking is controlling you, instead of the other way around.

In much the same way, if it takes larger amounts of alcohol to get the same “high,” more likely than not you need to recognize the fact that you have a drinking problem.

You may be telling yourself that the reasoning for your drinking is so that you can lower your stress or get rid of the pain that you feel. In much the same way, you may be trying to avoid an unsafe situation and may be looking for something better, more constructive, or less mournful.

As you continue your drinking, then again, you will realize that drinking does not bring about the same high and you will also become aware that drinking doesn’t help stamp out whatever elicited your sorrow in the first place.

As you continue to drink in a hazardous manner, regrettably, you may become addicted to alcohol and, as a consequence, you may add another pivotal issue to cope with rather than learning about more productive and healthy ways of coping with your alcohol-related issues.

An Alcohol Assessment is Probably Needed

If you have determined that you have a problem with your drinking, conceivably the most beneficial thing you can do for yourself is to call your physician or healthcare professional and arrange for an appointment for a thorough physical and for an appraisal of your drinking circumstances.

If you openly think that you have a critical problem with your drinking, it may be a good idea to get prepared to hear that you need to get alcohol counseling.

At this point in time, what are your alternatives? You can unquestionably refuse to see your general practitioner and persevere with your pattern of hazardous drinking.

It actually doesn’t take a mastermind, nevertheless, to understand that repeated, heavy drinking, if left untreated, will get worse over time and doubtless result an early death. Therefore, your most positive option is to face your drinking situation and get the alcohol counseling you need.

The Pretense of the Functioning Alcohol Dependent Person

It is somewhat paradoxical to note the fact that numerous alcohol addicted individuals lead busy and active lives and have families, jobs, houses, vehicles, pets, and any number of material possessions similar to non-alcoholics.

Many of these “functional” alcohol dependent people may have never been apprehended for a DUI and may have been lucky enough to avoid all alcohol-related legal difficulties. In spite of this fortunate situation, to the contrary, these alcohol dependent people need to drink in order to operate on a daily basis while upholding their facade as they interact with the outside world.

Ask anyone who has seen them when they are bingeing or in a drunken stupor or ask a family member about the problem drinker’s alcohol addiction, however, and they will be quick to assert the authenticity of the drinker’s situation and the facts about the alcoholic’s drinking circumstances and about his or her alcohol-related predicaments.

Why Do Alcohol Addicted People Fail to See Their Drinking Difficulties?

As alcohol dependency research and statistics on alcohol abuse have accentualted, no matter how evident the alcohol-related predicaments seem to those who interact with the alcoholic, alcohol dependent people regularly deny that drinking is the source of their alcohol-related difficulties. Not only this, but alcohol addicted individuals regularly blame their alcohol-related issues on other people or upon other situations around them rather than seeing their part in the issue.

The source of the issue is that alcohol dependency is a disease of the brain. Once the problem drinker has become addicted to alcohol, he or she typically resorts to denial, manipulation, and dishonesty as a way of dealing with the fact that his or her drinking is out of control. And to make the situation more complex, the experience of alcohol withdrawal symptoms frequently circumvents the alcohol addicted person’s rare attempts to abruptly abstain from drinking. As cheerless as the alcohol dependent individual’s existence is, to the contrary, the good news is that professional help is commonly accessible – if the alcoholic reaches out and seeks alcohol therapy.

Conclusion

Acknowledging the fact that drinking is causing difficulties in your daily functioning is conceivably the easiest way to find out if you have a drinking problem. Stated more precisely, if your drinking is eliciting issues with your health, with your employment, in your relationships, with your finances, at school, or with the legal system, then you have a drinking problem that needs to be tackled.

If you have a drinking problem, moreover, this means that you are engaging in abusive drinking.

While some people may be able to pinpoint their “alcohol signs,” pinpoint their problems, and significantly diminish the amount and occurrence of their drinking, other individuals, nevertheless, need to address their drinking problems by getting quality alcohol counseling. Additionally, due to their penchant to deny the facts and alter the truth, alcohol dependent people definitely need competent alcoholism therapy for their excessive drinking.

The Company Administrators Launch A Number of Programs To Decrease The Costs Linked To Increasing Absenteeism, Employee Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, Excessive Sick Days, Poor Employee Work Performance, and Work Related Injuries

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Heather is a sixty-three-year-old woman who is the director of the human resources department at a large steel distribution company. In order to cut the costs associated with increasing absenteeism, employee alcoholism and alcohol abuse, excessive sick days, poor employee work performance, and work related injuries, Heather and the other members of top management implemented a number of programs that made the work atmosphere considerably more healthy, safe, and more productive.

As an illustration, fourteen years ago Heather and the other company administrators implemented an Employee’s Assistance Program so that all the employees had access to professional therapy for their personal problems that could unfavorably influence their work performance, health, and their personal well being.

Top Management Builds a New Exercise and Workout Room Complete With Scales, Mirrors, a Professional Trainer During Business Hours, Weights, Exercise Equipment, and Exercise Charts

As another example, roughly seven-and-a-half years ago Heather and the other company executives erected a new exercise and workout room complete with a personal trainer during business hours, scales, many different types of exercise equipment, weights, mirrors, and exercise charts.

Moreover, about five years ago Heather and the other company leaders invested in a purification system that filters all the water that is accessible anywhere in the building. In a similar way, three years ago, Heather and the other members of upper management started a “walking club” that is primarily intended for workers who want to work on their cardiovascular system.

The VIPs Launch a Weight-Watchers Class and Hire a Weight-Loss Trainer to Manage the Program

As another illustration, approximately a year-and-a-half ago, Heather and the other VIPs developed a “Weight-Watchers” class that at this time meets every weekday at 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM. Moreover, upper management employed a weight-loss trainer to supervise the program.

In a similar manner, two years ago Heather and the other company executives put into operation a “Stop Smoking Club” for workers who want to quit or cut back on their smoking.

In the last eleven months, in a joint venture with the Employee’s Assistance Program, Heather and the other company leaders implemented an “Anger Management” class for workers who want to learn how to better cope with their anger issues.

The Company Executives Put Into Operation a Drug and Alcohol Testing Program

In the last two months, Heather and the other members of upper management launched a drug and alcohol testing program that is linked with their drug and alcohol abuse prevention program. In actual fact, Heather is the primary individual in the company responsible for getting the message out to all the employees about the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program as well as the drug and alcohol testing program.

One of the main elements of the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program is a class entitled “Alcoholism and Depression” that meets every Thursday after work. The primary idea with this class is informing employees that excessive drinking and depression commonly happen in the same person. It is hoped that comprehending this information can help an individual address both medical problems and get the alcohol rehabilitation and mental health counseling he or she needs.

The VIPs Start an Alcohol Statistics and Facts Class

Another fairly recent enhancement to the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program is a class entitled “Alcohol Statistics and Facts.” The rationale behind this alcohol statistics facts class is the reality that several individuals are unsuccessful in their attempt to comprehend the full impact of the effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism without first hearing about some of the alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction facts and statistics that are available. Consequently, one of the objectives of this class is to provide various alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts and statistics to help workers gain a better understanding of the many of issues that are correlated with hazardous and excessive drinking and how they can avert these issues from transpiring.

Most recently, Heather and the other members of upper management, by way of feedback from employees, developed a class that centers directly on acute drinking entitled “What is Alcoholism”? This class meets every Wednesday morning a half hour before work and focuses largely on the differences between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse, on the stages of alcoholism, and on the forms of therapy that are available for people who have alcohol drinking problems such as people who drink in an excessive manner.

Although every one of these health and preventative maintenance programs was anything but low-cost, the company leaders feel that they are many thousands of dollars ahead by providing all of their employees with a healthy, more productive, and safe work environment.

The VIPs Initiate a Lot of Programs To Trim Down The Costs Associated With Work Related Injuries, Excessive Sick Days, Employee Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Increasing Absenteeism, and Poor Employee Work Performance

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Heather is a sixty-year-old woman who is the director of the human resources department at a large aluminum plating company. To lessen the costs correlated with poor employee work performance, work related injuries, employee alcoholism and alcohol abuse, excessive sick days, and increasing absenteeism, Heather and the other members of upper management established quite a few programs that made the work environment considerably more productive, healthy, and safe.

As an example, eleven years ago Heather and the other members of top management put into operation an Employee’s Assistance Program so that all the employees had access to top shelf counseling for their personal problems that could adversely influence their work performance, personal well being, and their health.

Top Management Erects a New Workout and Exercise Room Complete With Scales, Exercise Charts, Weights, Mirrors, Exercise Equipment, and a Professional Trainer During Business Hours

As another example, roughly six years ago Heather and the other VIPs assembled a new workout and exercise room complete with exercise charts, scales, many different types of exercise equipment, weights, a personal trainer during business hours, and mirrors.

Moreover, just about four years ago Heather and the other company administrators invested in a distillation system that filters all the water that is available throughout the building. In a similar way, two-and-a-half years ago, Heather and the other company administrators started a “walking club” that is mainly intended for employees who want to improve upon their cardiovascular system.

The Company Leaders Initiate a Weight-Watchers Class and Hire a Weight-Loss Healthcare Professional to Supervise the Program

As another example, about two years ago, Heather and the other members of upper management put into operation a “Weight-Watchers” class that at this time meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 AM until noon. In addition, upper management hired a weight-loss professional to run the program.

Similarly, two years ago Heather and the other members of upper management implemented a “Stop Smoking Club” for workers who want to learn how to quit smoking.

In the last eleven months, in conjunction with the Employee’s Assistance Program, Heather and the other company executives instituted an “Anger Management” class for employees who want to learn how to better control their anger issues.

The Company Administrators Launch An Alcohol and Drug Testing Program

In the last two months, Heather and the other members of upper management implemented a alcohol and drug testing program that is linked with their drug and alcohol abuse prevention program. Indeed, Heather is the main individual in the company responsible for getting the message out to all the employees about the drug and alcohol testing program as well as the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program.

One of the essential components of the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program is a class entitled “Alcoholism and Depression” that meets every Thursday after work. The fundamental idea with this class is informing employees that hazardous drinking and depression commonly occur in the same person. It is hoped that realizing this information will be able to help an individual address both medical conditions and get the alcohol rehabilitation and mental health therapy he or she requires.

Upper Management Institutes an Alcohol Statistics and Facts Class

Another relatively recent addition to the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program is a class entitled “Alcohol Statistics and Facts.” The reasoning behind this alcohol statistics facts class is the reality that many individuals are unsuccessful in their attempt to recognize the full impact of the consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism without first learning about some of the alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency statistics and facts that are available. As a result, one of the goals of this class is to provide a range of alcoholism and alcohol abuse statistics and facts in order to help employees gain a better understanding of the huge number of issues that are related to abusive and excessive drinking and how they can stop these difficulties from happening.

Most recently, Heather and the other members of top management, by way of suggestions from employees, started a class that focuses directly on acute drinking entitled “What is Alcoholism”? This class meets every Monday morning a half hour before work and focuses largely on the differences between alcoholism and alcohol abuse, on the stages of alcoholism, and on the different forms of treatment that are available for people who have alcohol drinking problems such as people who drink in an excessive manner.

Although each and every one of these health and preventative maintenance programs was fairly expensive, the company leaders reason that they are several thousands of dollars ahead by providing all of their employees with a more productive, safe, and healthy work environment.

Talking to Your Physician About Your Depression and Your Alcoholism Symptoms

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Denny is a nineteen-year-old adolescent who has finally made up his mind that he needs to go and see his physician about his careless and hazardous drinking. At first, Denny thought he would be able to basically go online, look for some basic alcohol info and make up his mind whether or not he was an alcoholic.

Not unexpectedly, he located quite a few websites that spelled out some of the well-known alcoholism symptoms. That’s the good news. The less than positive news, sorry to say, was that Denny showed signs of quite a few of these alcoholism symptoms.

Symptoms of Alcohol Dependency: Some Illustrations

As an illustration, Denny has been drinking significantly more than normal and he has begun to have more angry disagreements with the young girl he is dating. In addition, for the first time in his life he has been having sleeping problems. In a similar manner, Denny frequently has felt depressed and on an ever increasing basis he has been manifesting less than usual attention to detail in the classroom. Additionally, he has felt stressed out and more edgy on a day-to-day basis and for the past six or seven months he has displayed befuddled thinking in class. Since Denny has been displaying all of these symptoms, he was excusably apprehensive about his unhealthy drinking.

So Denny decided to contact his doctor and ask for an appointment. As it happens, this was difficult for Denny because his physician was also his parents’ family doctor. The basis for his worry was this: at the risk of embarrassing his family, he had to go and make known his hazardous drinking behavior to his physician.

When Denny arrived at the family doctor’s office, he plainly told the family healthcare practitioner about the concern he has about his excessive drinking behavior. When the family healthcare practitioner asked what was bringing about this apprehension, Denny stated that he had gone online and read about alcohol addiction and especially about alcohol addiction symptoms. He then outlined all of the alcohol dependency symptoms that he undeniably thought he manifests.

A Thoroughgoing Physical Appraisal and Outpatient Alcohol Rehab

The family doctor told Denny that it was prudent of him to address his drinking problems, he gave Denny an in depth physical appraisal, and recommended that he talk to his Mom and Dad about signing into an out-patient alcohol treatment center that was managed by Doctor Rudnick, one of his doctor associates who is a substance abuse and chemical dependency specialist.

What is more, when Denny articulated that he has been feeling a sense of despair more frequently, the physician informed Denny that depression and alcoholism regularly crop up in the same individual. Therefore, the physician also recommended that Denny talk to his Mother and Father about getting counseling in order to focus on his depression. In fact, Denny can go to the local mental health clinic and make an appointment with Doctor Michaels, a well known counseling psychologist who specializes in treating youth.

The Importance of Coming To Grips With Your Drinking Problems and Getting Encouraged About Making Healthy and Positive Changes in Your Life

The healthcare professional made it a point to notify Denny that he might not inevitably be an alcoholic, but that he was obviously drinking in an abusive manner. Stated differently, Denny was engaging in teen alcohol abuse. The healthcare practitioner then notified Denny that the reason he suggested alcohol rehab in the first place was because he wanted him to face up to his drinking difficulties, make sure that he stopped them from getting worse, and start to live in a more healthy manner, even if it meant that he had to completely quit drinking.

When all’s said and done, by productively treating his problem drinking, Denny would be able to get his drinking difficulties under control and abstain from the negative series of events that could doubtless lead to alcoholism.

Denny undeniably did not look forward to facing his Mom and Dad about his depression and his drinking problems. And he definitely did not want to face the thought of getting registered into an alcohol treatment center. And last but not least, he was not elated about going to a counseling psychologist about his sense of despair. In the face of these trepidations, nevertheless, Denny in reality felt some emotional relief for the first time in many months because he finally quit making excuses for himself and decided to do something constructive about his excessive and abusive drinking.

A Teenager Decides to See His Family Doctor About His Drinking Problems and His Depression

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Denny is a sixteen-year-old teenager who has finally made up his mind that he needs to go and see his healthcare professional about his abusive and unhealthy drinking. At first, Denny thought he would be able to merely go online, look for some basic alcohol info and make up his mind whether or not he was addicted to alcohol.

Not surprisingly, he found quite a few websites that itemized some of the typical alcoholism symptoms. That’s the encouraging news. The bad news, regrettably, was that Denny displayed numerous of these alcoholism symptoms.

Alcohol Addiction Symptoms Revisited

For example, Denny has been drinking substantially more than normal and he has started to have more fiery disagreements with the female he is dating. Additionally, for the first time in his life he has been experiencing sleeping difficulties. In a similar way, Denny over and over again has felt depressed and on an ever increasing basis he has been displaying less than normal attention to detail at school. In addition, he has felt stressed out and more anxious on a regular basis and for the past three or four months he has exhibited foggy thinking in the classroom. In view of the fact that Denny has been displaying all of these symptoms, he was rightly uneasy about his abusive and unhealthy drinking.

So Denny eventually made up his mind that he needed to place a phone call to his family doctor and ask for an appointment. As a matter of fact, this was somewhat demanding for Denny because his family healthcare practitioner was also his parents’ family doctor. The springboard for his discomfort was this: at the risk of embarrassing his family, he had to go and reveal his careless and excessive drinking behavior to his family physician.

When Denny arrived at the healthcare practitioner’s office, he candidly informed the physician about the anxiety he has about his irresponsible drinking behavior. When the family healthcare practitioner asked what was stimulating this fear, Denny declared that he had gone on the world wide web and read about alcohol dependency and especially about alcoholism symptoms. He then outlined all of the alcohol dependency symptoms that he without a doubt thought he manifests.

A Comprehensive Physical Evaluation and Outpatient Alcohol Rehab

The family physician told Denny that it was smart of him to address his drinking problems, he gave Denny a thoroughgoing physical assessment, and suggested that he talk to his Mom and Dad about entering into an out-patient alcohol rehab center that was supervised by Doctor Parker, one of his doctor acquaintances who is a substance abuse and chemical dependency specialist.

In the same way, when Denny expressed the fact that he has been feeling depressed to an increasing degree, the family physician notified Denny that depression and alcoholism on a fairly routine basis come about in the same person. Consequently, the physician also suggested that Denny talk to his parents about getting therapy to focus on his sense of despair. In fact, Denny can go to the local mental health center and make an appointment with Doctor Brill, an eminent psychologist who specializes in treating teens.

The Value of Facing Your Drinking Difficulties and Getting Motivated About Making Positive and Healthy Changes in Your Life

The healthcare professional made it a point to tell Denny that he might not necessarily be alcohol dependent, but that he was clearly drinking in a careless manner. Stated differently, Denny was involving himself in teen alcohol abuse. The healthcare professional then informed Denny that the reason he recommended alcohol treatment in the first place was because he wanted him to confront his drinking problems, make sure that he prevented them from getting worse, and start to live in a more healthy manner, even if it meant that he had to totally refrain from drinking.

To sum up, by effectively treating his drinking difficulties, Denny would be able to get his drinking issues under control and stop the negative cycle that could almost certainly lead to alcoholism.

Denny justifiably did not look forward to facing his parents about his abusive drinking and his depression. And he surely did not want to face the thought of enrolling in an alcohol rehabilitation facility. And last but not least, he was not elated about going to a counselor about his sense of despair. In spite of these anxieties, then again, Denny in actual fact experienced some psychological relief for the first time in many months because he eventually quit making excuses for himself and finally made up his mind that he needed to do something constructive about his unhealthy and excessive drinking.

A Young Woman Makes an Attempt to Refrain From Drinking, Suffers From Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms, Comes to the Realization That She is an Alcohol Addicted Individual, and Comes to a Decision to Obtain Alcohol Therapy

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Jennifer is a twenty-six-year-old financial analyst who has been ingesting alcohol in an abusive and hazardous manner since she and her live-in boyfriend decided to break up. Indeed, for the past six months she has been drinking very nearly a bottle of wine every night, and on the weekends she also has been drinking a number cans of beer during the day. In a word, Jennifer has been drinking so hazardously that it’s a miracle that she hasn’t suffered from alcohol poisoning.

After feeling disheartened because she was beginning to ignore her health, Jennifer finally told herself that enough is enough, that it’s time to quit feeling sorry for herself, that it’s time to stop the excessive and irresponsible drinking, and time to get on with her life. So the next Saturday morning at 10:30 AM, she decided to quit drinking suddenly and completely without preparation or planning.

When She Quit Drinking She Felt Ill, She Had Utterly No Appetite, She Vomited Several Times, Her Head Was Throbbing, She Started to Perspire Extensively, and She Was Extremely Stressed Out and Moody

When Jennifer stopped drinking, she reasoned that she would quite possibly be tempted to take a few drinks, but she never thought that she would feel so awful. More specifically, just about four hours after she stopped drinking, she had utterly no appetite, she was extremely restless and moody, she started to perspire profusely, she vomited numerous times, and her head was pounding.

When she called her best friend and told her that she had stopped drinking and that after a few hours she abruptly began having flu-like symptoms, Kimberly, her best friend, told Jennifer to call her healthcare professional and tell him what was taking place.

She Admits to Her Family Doctor That She Has Been Drinking In an Excessive and Abusive Manner, That She Just Tried to Quit Drinking, and That She is Going Through Extremely Unpleasant Flu-Like Symptoms

So Jennifer called her healthcare practitioner, informed him that she has been drinking in an excessive manner for more than a few months and that when she made an effort to abruptly quit drinking earlier in the day, within a few hours she felt as if she had the most unpleasant flu-like symptoms that she had ever suffered through.

Her doctor informed her that she may be suffering from symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and that she should have a friend or relative take her to the emergency room as soon as humanly possible.

As soon as Jennifer got off the phone, she got a friend to drive her to the hospital. Interestingly, as sick as Jennifer was, all she could think about all the way to the hospital was whether or not she might be addicted to alcohol.

It seems that her healthcare practitioner had called ahead and informed the emergency room medical team to expect Jennifer because when she got to the hospital, she was met by two nurses who immediately told her to lie down on the portable bed they had with them. After getting moved to the emergency room and undergoing a couple of important tests, it was substantiated that Jennifer was in truth going through alcohol withdrawal symptoms and was in need of alcohol detox.

An emergency room healthcare professional administered some medications to reduce the intensity of her flu-like symptoms and also administered some medications to help eliminate the alcohol that was still in her blood.

An Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse Healthcare Professional Discusses That She is an Alcoholic and Then Goes Over What Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms and Alcoholism Stages Are

After a couple of hours, Jennifer was transferred from the emergency room and transported to the recovery room. After she was in recovery for approximately an hour, Doctor Michaels, an alcohol dependency specialist, came to see her. He took plenty of time and explained in plain words that Jennifer had gone through alcohol withdrawal symptoms when she stopped drinking due to the fact that she had become alcohol dependent.

He then discussed the fact that with excessive drinking on an everyday basis, the individual’s brain little by little becomes accustomed to the alcohol in order to perform in a “routine” fashion. When the drinker then all at once quits drinking, it can be pointed out, the brain responds by giving rise to alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, her doctor also discussed the different alcoholism stages that an alcohol dependent person almost always experiences as the disease progresses.

It is Determined that Jennifer is in the Earliest Stage of Alcoholism and She Receives a Favorable Forecast For a Total Recovery if She Gets the Alcohol Rehabilitation She Requires

Fortunately for Jennifer, it was discovered that she was in the first stage of alcohol dependency and, as a result, she was given a good projection for a complete recovery if she receives the alcoholism rehabilitation she requires.

Jennifer told the physician that she will do whatever it takes to get sober and to recover her life and her health. She also stated that she has an excellent hospitalization insurance policy that will more likely than not pay for most, if not all, of the costs required for rehabilitation. It was apparent that Jennifer was quite grateful about her encouraging prognosis and felt free from worry knowing that she will be able to get the alcoholism therapy she needs so that she can begin the road to recovery.

Alcohol Relapse, Enabling, and Alcohol Dependency

Sunday, October 4th, 2009

It is fascinating to point out something that family members who have been adversely affected by the alcoholism of another family member evidently do not understand. It seems to be that by shielding the alcohol dependent person with untruths and dishonesty to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have basically created a condition that makes it easier for the alcohol dependent person to persist and go forward with his or her harmful, detrimental way of living.

In fact, instead of helping the alcohol addicted person and themselves, these family members have in truth become enablers who have unintentionally helped deteriorate the alcohol dependent individual’s drinking problem even more.

Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcoholic will continue drinking in an excessive and irresponsible manner and go through various “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include diminished mental functioning, deteriorating relationships, serious financial problems, legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DWIs), employment difficulties, and ill health.

Relapses Can and Do Happen

According to the research literature and statistics on alcohol addiction, another key alcohol dependency issue involves alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcoholic has successfully undergone alcohol addiction therapy and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this predicament flies in the face of common sense and sounds so improbable that it forces one to question why anyone who has experienced the horrors of alcohol dependency can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol therapy and in turn after achieving sobriety. There are, for sure, more than a few possible reasons for this.

It should be pointed out, then again that alcohol addiction research that has focused on the enduring outcomes of alcoholism has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcohol addicted individual has quit his or her drinking, significant alterations in the way in which the alcoholic’s brain works are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol dependent person has to do to involve himself or herself in behaviors that correspond with the modifications that have occurred in the brain is to begin drinking once again.

A Requirement for A Significant Lifestyle Modification

There are additional reasons why numerous recovering alcohol dependent individuals return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after reaching sobriety. According to the alcohol addiction research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcohol dependent person needs new ways of acting and thinking in order to deal more efficiently with difficult alcohol-related situations that will take place.

Situations such as returning to the same alcohol addictive environment or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the time when the alcohol addicted person was drinking excessively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these conditions can bring about memories that can prompt psychological anxiety or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcoholic to engage in abusive drinking once again. Unfortunately, all of these circumstances may not only get in the way of long standing alcohol recovery for the alcohol dependent person but they can also result in relapse and as a result circumvent one’s sobriety.

The Good News: First-Class Help is Available Almost Everywhere

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol dependent person, family members can in point of fact cause unplanned destruction by enabling the harmful drinking behavior of the alcohol dependent person.

The addiction research literature validates the fact that most people who successfully complete alcohol rehabilitation go through at least one relapse. Alcoholics and their family members need to know this so that they do not get dejected or overwhelmed when a relapse occurs.

Fortunately, involvement in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up therapy and education have resulted in more effective, enduring alcohol abuse and alcoholism treatment outcomes, have helped diminish alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol dependent individuals reach long lasting alcohol recovery.

A Thursday Night Out With Pals From School at a Local College Discotheque Leads To Abusive and Irresponsible Drinking and Alcohol Overdose Symptoms

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

When Janice was in high school, she had secured a reputation as an individual who studied a lot and who rarely, if ever, whooped it up by drinking with her peers. She seemed almost obsessed about “standing out” academically so that she would be able to pursue a career that she not only enjoyed but one that also gave her some security from a financial standpoint.

After much contemplation, ultimately she made up her mind that she wanted to be a trial lawyer. In order to reach this goal, nonetheless, she would first have to finish four years of undergraduate education.

After Graduating From High School Janice Gets Accepted Into A Celebrated Undergraduate University as Preparation For a Career as a Trial Lawyer

After Janice graduated from high school, she applied to and was accepted into an outstanding program in economics. Her logic behind this decision was that this subject area would be good training for law school and wouldn’t be indistinguishable from the preponderance of law school applicants who decide to take political science as their undergraduate major.

After graduating with a 3.85 GPA at the undergrad level, she applied to and was accepted at a renowned law school at one of the Big 12 universities.

She was enthusiastic about her legal studies but on rare occasions she was besieged with all the work that was required at law school. Similar to her high school and undergraduate days, nonetheless, she made pals painlessly but almost never participated in social events until the semester had been concluded.

After Being Delighted With the Fact That She Had Done a Super Job on Her Exams, Janice Wanted to Let Her Hair Down and Do Something Besides Going to College For a Change

Janice was the type of person who worked in a vigorous manner to accomplish her goal and then would take a few days off when she could. As it turns out, however, a large number of the things she did between terms or during her summer vacations did not have anything to do with drinking. Needless to say, Janice was anything but a partygoer. Now that her final examinations for her second year in law school were completed and being jubilant with the fact that she had done extremely well on her tests, however, she wanted to take a break and do some celebrating.

Drinking at a Local Watering Hole Leads to An Alcohol Overdose, Calling The Emergency Number, and a Visit to An Alcohol Rehab Clinic

So Janice and a few of her friends from school went to a local club where they had a few mixed drinks. As the hours went by, Janice continued to drink without having to worry about exams or class the following day. In fact, Janice revealed to her classmates how excited she was to let her hair down and have some fun drinking with her classmates.

As the evening moved forward, Janice and her classmates continued to drink. Indeed, she was having such a fantastic time that she didn’t want the night to come to an end. It was almost as if she was making up for lost time and trying to stuff a year’s worth of fun into a single evening. Such a “game plan,” however, rarely works. Indeed, when Janice went to the powder room and vomited, her buddies started to get anxious about her safety.

A few minutes later when Janice started to speak in a confused manner, slur her words, and then become unconscious, in spite of this, her friends promptly realized that they needed to call 911, the emergency services number, and ask for medical assistance because they believed that Janice was manifesting alcohol poisoning symptoms.

Once Janice was in the hospital, the lead physician confirmed what her buddies had speculated, that is to say, that Janice had significantly more alcohol than her body could handle and, as a result, she experienced an alcohol overdose.

After the emergency room medical staff pumped her stomach until no gastric contents were discernible, Janice was transported to the recovery room. After staying about five hours in recovery, Janice was then moved to one of the regular hospital rooms. Fortunately, the most serious part of her hospitalization was over and all of her vital signs were once again in the normal range.

In response to Janice’s state of affairs, her buddies caringly telephoned her Mom and Dad. Consequently, early the next morning, her Mom and Dad and her best friends went to the hospital to see how Janice was doing.

Janice Comes Close to Dying, is Gratified to be Alive, and Promises to Never Again Drink in an Irresponsible Manner

Janice was attentive to the fact that she had dodged a bullet and, as a consequence, was happy to be alive. Her Mother and Father were aware how hard she worked at school and how little she permitted herself to socialize with her classmates. Nevertheless, they also knew that Janice needed to steer clear of excessive drinking.

Consequently, they suggested that down the road, whenever a drinking circumstance presents itself, that she always drink in moderation and responsibly. Janice was fine with this and gave her word to her Mother and Father and to her friends that she would never again drink in an excessive and abusive manner. As stated by Janice, “I never had a clue that I would become one of the alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics in the local newspaper. I now grasp the fact that abusive and hazardous drinking is not for me. I give my word of honor that this will never happen again.”

Fortunately, Janice was not only “book smart” but she also possessed common sense. In other words, she rapidly understood that she had made an error in judgment and made up her mind that she would never make the same error again. In truth, she now grasped the fact that she had involved herself in “binge drinking” and that even one instance of this kind of excessive drinking can end in a loss of life.

A Saturday Evening Out With School Friends at a Local Saloon Results In Excessive Drinking and Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

When Janice was in high school, she had secured a reputation as an individual who studied much of the time and who rarely, if ever, whooped it up by drinking with her pals. She seemed determined to “stand out” academically so that she would be able to find a career that she not only benefited from but one that also gave her a degree of monetary stability.

After much reflection, in the end she came to a decision that she wanted to be a trial lawyer. In order to bring this about, nonetheless, she would first have to attend four years of undergraduate education.

After Graduating From High School Janice Gets Accepted Into An Illustrious Undergraduate University as Preparation For a Career as a Trial Lawyer

After Janice graduated from high school, she applied to and was accepted into a nationally ranked program in religion. Her justification for this decision was that this area of study would be a good springboard for law school and wouldn’t be indistinguishable from the majority of law school applicants who choose political science as their undergraduate minor or major.

After graduating with highest honors at the undergrad level, she applied to and was accepted at a renowned law school at one of the Big East universities.

She enjoyed her legal studies but on rare occasions she was flooded with all the work that had to be accomplished at law school. Not unlike her high school and undergraduate days, nonetheless, she made buddies painlessly but scarcely participated in social functions until the school period was finished.

After Being Delighted With the Fact That She Had Done Very Well on Her Tests, Janice Wanted to Let Her Hair Down and Do Something Besides School Work For a Change

Janice was the type of individual who worked thoroughly to complete what she started and then would take a couple of days off when she could. It just so happens, nevertheless, that a good number of the things she did between terms or during her summer vacations did not have anything to do with drinking. Needless to say, Janice was anything but a party-person. Now that her finals for her second year in law school were done and appreciating the fact that she had done very well on her exams, nevertheless, she wanted to let her hair down and do something besides school work for a change.

Drinking at a Local Saloon Results in An Alcohol Overdose, Calling 911, The Emergency Services Number, and An Ambulance Ride to An Alcohol Rehab Hospital

So Janice and some of her friends from the university went to a local watering hole where they had a few mixed drinks. As the hours passed, Janice persisted in drinking without having any concerns about research projects or tests the following day. If truth be told, Janice mentioned to her pals how enjoyable it was to ”get down” and drink with her law school friends.

As the evening went by, Janice and her buddies continued to drink. Indeed, she was having so much fun that she didn’t want the night to come to an end. It was almost as if she was making up for lost time and attempting to force a year’s worth of pleasure into a single evening. Such a “game plan,” however, seldom works. In fact, when Janice went to the powder room and threw up, her pals started to get concerned about her safety.

Around fifteen minutes later when Janice started to speak in a confused manner, slur her words, and then become unconscious, however, her pals promptly realized that they needed to call 911, the emergency number, and ask for emergency assistance because they thought that Janice was exhibiting alcohol poisoning symptoms.

Once Janice was in the drug and alcohol rehab hospital, the head emergency room physician confirmed what her friends had suspected, to be exact, that Janice had substantially more alcohol than her body could process and, consequently, she experienced an alcohol overdose.

After the emergency room medical staff pumped her stomach until no gastric contents were observable, Janice was placed in the recovery room. After staying approximately six hours in recovery, Janice was then moved to one of the regular hospital rooms. Fortunately, the most perilous part of her hospitalization was over and all of her vital signs were once again in the normal range.

In response to Janice’s hospitalization, her classmates attentively telephoned her Mother and Father. As a consequence, early the next day, her Mother and Father and her best buddies went to the hospital to visit Janice.

Janice Comes an Inch From Losing Her Life, is Gratified to be Alive, and Promises to Never Again Drink in an Irresponsible and Excessive Manner

Janice was conscious of the fact that she came an inch from losing her life and, consequently, was gratified to be alive. Her Mom and Dad realized how hard she studied at college and how little she permitted herself to socialize with her buddies. Nevertheless, they also knew that Janice needed to keep away from abusive drinking.

Consequently, they suggested that in the future, whenever a drinking situation unfolds, that she always drink in moderation and responsibly. Janice agreed and assured her friends and her Mother and Father that she would never again drink in an excessive and irresponsible manner. In her own words, “I never thought that I would become one of the alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics in the local university newspaper. I now understand that abusive and hazardous drinking is not for me. I pledge that this will never happen again.”

Fortunately, Janice was not only “book smart” but she also had common sense. Stated differently, she rapidly realized that she had made a mistake and made up her mind that she would never make the same mistake again. In point of fact, she now understood that she had involved herself in “binge drinking” and that even one instance of this kind of abusive drinking can end in death.

A Night Out With School Buddies at a Local College Nightspot Leads To Abusive and Irresponsible Drinking and An Alcohol Overdose

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

When Janice was in high school, she had obtained a reputation as a person who studied much of the time and who rarely, if ever, let her hair down by drinking with her buddies.  She seemed determined to do well academically so that she would be able to pursue a career that she not only benefited from but one that also gave her some financial stability.

After much deliberation, in the end she decided that she wanted to be a lawyer.  In order to accomplish this, however, she would first have to complete four years of undergrad education.

After Finishing High School Janice Gets Accepted Into A Highly Rated Undergraduate University as a Foundation For a Career as a Lawyer

After Janice finished high school, she applied to and was accepted into a prestigious program in math.  Her analysis of her options regarding this decision was based on the fact that this subject area would be good preparation for law school and wouldn’t be indistinguishable from the majority of law school applicants who choose political science as their undergraduate minor or major.

After graduating with a 3.75 GPA at the undergrad level, she applied to and was accepted at an outstanding law school at one of the Big East universities.

She enjoyed her legal studies but from time to time she was snowed under from all the work that was involved at law school.  Akin to the way she handled herself in her high school and undergraduate days, nonetheless, she made pals without much effort but very infrequently took part in social functions until the school period was over.

After Being Pleased That She Had Done Very Well on Her Tests, Janice Felt Like Celebrating

Janice was the type of person who worked thoroughly to reach her objective and then would take a break when she could.  It just so happens, nevertheless, that a large number of the things she did between terms or during summer breaks were unrelated to drinking.  Needless to say, Janice was anything but a party-girl.  Now that her final examinations for her second year in law school were done and being delighted with the fact that she had done very well on her tests, however, she wanted to let her hair down and do something enjoyable.

Drinking at a Local Bar Results in An Alcohol Overdose, Calling 911, The Emergency Number, and a Visit to An Alcohol Treatment Clinic

So Janice and several of her buddies went to a local saloon where they had a few shots.  As the hours quickly passed, Janice continued to drink without having to worry about exams or class the next day.  In point of fact, Janice mentioned to her classmates how excited she was to ”get down” and drink with her law school friends.

As the evening moved forward, Janice and her buddies continued to drink.  In point of fact, she was having such an incredible time that she didn’t want the night to come to an end.  It was almost as if she was making up for lost time and making an attempt to compress a year’s worth of fun and excitement into a single evening.  Such a “game plan,” it needs to be stressed, seldom works. In point of fact, when Janice went to the restroom and threw up, her pals started to feel apprehensive about her safety.

Around twenty minutes later when Janice started to slur her words, speak in a confused manner, and then fall unconscious, nevertheless, her classmates without delay realized that they needed to call 911 and ask for medical assistance because they thought that Janice was exhibiting alcohol poisoning symptoms.

Once Janice was in the drug and alcohol rehab hospital, the lead physician confirmed what her friends had believed, to be exact, that Janice had substantially more alcohol than her body could handle and, as a result, she experienced an alcohol overdose.

After the emergency room treatment team pumped her stomach until no gastric contents were noticeable, Janice was placed in the recovery room.  After staying approximately three hours in recovery, Janice was then transferred to one of the regular hospital rooms.  Fortunately, the worst part of her hospitalization was over and all of her vital signs returned to normal.

In response to Janice’s medical circumstances, her pals considerately telephoned her Mom and Dad.  Consequently, early the next morning, her parents and her favorite pals went to the hospital to see how Janice was doing.

Janice Comes Close to Dying, is Gratified to be Alive, and Promises to Never Again Drink in an Excessive and Irresponsible Manner

Janice was conscious of the fact that she had dodged a bullet and, as a result, was thankful to be alive.  Her parents realized how intensely she studied at the university and how little she let herself socialize with her friends.  Nevertheless, they also realized that Janice needed to keep away from irresponsible drinking.

As a consequence, they recommended that in the future, whenever a drinking opportunity unfolds, that she always drink in moderation.  Janice was fine with this and swore to her parents and to her friends that she would never again drink in an irresponsible and abusive manner.  In Janice’s own words, “I never pondered the fact that I would become one of the alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics in the local college newspaper. I now know that excessive and hazardous drinking is not for me.  I swear that this will never happen again.”

Fortunately, Janice was not only “school smart” but she also had common sense.  Stated more precisely, she quickly grasped the fact that she had made an error in judgment and decided that she would never make the same error again.  Indeed, she now realized that she had involved herself in “binge drinking” and that even one instance of this form of excessive drinking can end in death.