Importance of Getting Over an Alcohol Addiction
Quitting alcohol is a healthy and desirable choice, and has profound effects on every aspect of our existence. If one chooses to give up use of alcohol entirely, it does not indicate that he has any alcohol related issues. Quitting is a conscious choice, wherein a person recognizes that negative effects of the substance are far more than any benefits that it might offer. However, if a person is addicted to alcohol, ceasing its use is all the more advantageous.
Alcohol affects our lives in many ways, more so if consumption is excessive. It can hamper the normal functioning of our bodies by destabilizing the blood glucose levels, and can also reduce energy levels. It can have telling consequences on our health, relationships, career and emotional well being. Giving up the substance allows us to put our life together. Quitting is tough, and becomes more difficult as a result of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. But the initial detox period generally lasts only for 2-4 days, after which the withdrawal symptoms are not severe, if they do occur at all. Thereafter, one regains fitness and starts feeling better as the body works towards getting over from the damage caused by alcohol.
Quitting brings about profound effects on our overall health, which are both, immediate and long drawn. Even though alcohol makes it easier for a person to fall asleep, it hampers our ability to remain asleep by disrupting restorative and deep sleep. On quitting, the quality of sleep improves significantly and one is able to sleep more soundly. Alcohol leads to weight gain by adding empty calories to our bodies and quitting alcohol helps our bodies lose weight. This correspondingly brings about the many benefits that come about with weight loss, like a healthier heart, enhanced self esteem and increased confidence. Consumption deprives our bodies of essential fluids and nutrients, and on quitting, appearance of our skin improves. Alternately, giving up can be extremely beneficial for our liver, and is one of the best ways to avoid cirrhosis and all types of liver damage. By leaving alcohol, one can prevent injury to pancreas, cardiovascular ailments and risk of certain types of cancer, including throat, esophagus and liver.
One of the biggest challenges that one has to overcome if he plans to quit is alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These are caused because the brain activity that is inhibited by alcohol is reversed instantaneously, which leads to overproduction of stress hormones. Some of the most common symptoms arising from alcohol withdrawal include anxiety, irritability, fatigue, insomnia and change in blood pressure. Getting over alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be tough, and it takes some resoluteness and commitment on one's part to subdue the same. On quitting, one must try and consume a diet that is wholesome and balanced, so that that the body is nourished and in a better position to fight the withdrawal symptoms. Similarly, having plenty of water allows our bodies to detox. Interacting with family and friends allows us to keep our morale high and tackle in a better way.
Rate this ArticleImportance of Getting Over an Alcohol AddictionNot Rated YetHarshad Jethra has published 2 articles. Article submitted on July 15, 2013. Word count: 505This article emphasizes on the problems of using drugs and their effects on health and work. The amount of medicinal information available is inadequate and it should be discussed to the young generation.
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Written by: Steve GiffordWhat is Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol poisoning (AP) occurs when a person consumes an excessive amount of alcohol, usually in a short period of time, creating a toxic blood alcohol level. AP is dangerous and can be life-threatening.
How alcohol can become toxic
The liver metabolizes approximately one alcoholic drink per hour. A drink is defined as one 12 ounce beer, one 5 ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 fluid ounces of spirits (80 proof). When a person consumes several drinks in a period of time before the liver can process the alcohol through the blood, the person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level can become dangerously high. Rapid drinking and binge drinking puts a person at risk for AP. Alcohol is a depressant. It slows reflexes and body function. A high or toxic BAC level can affect a person's breathing, heart rate, and cause the person to lose consciousness. Many people who die from AP die because they pass out and then vomit and choke. Approximately 50,000 people die in the US each year from AP.
Signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning
Even after a person stops drinking, his or her BAC can continue to rise over the next hour. Symptoms that may indicate a person is experiencing AP include confusion, pale or bluish skin, hypothermia (decreasing body temperature), conscious but unresponsive, vomiting, seizures, loss of consciousness, and slow or irregular breathing.
How to help someone if you suspect alcohol poisoning
The most important thing you can do to help someone who is showing any signs of AP is to get them immediate medical attention. Don't think they can "sleep" it off. They could die in their sleep. Call an ambulance to get them to the hospital. If the person is awake, try to keep them awake and in a sitting position. If they can drink something, give them water only, to help counteract dehydration. If the person is unconscious do not try to give them water. Put them in the recovery position and check for breathing while you wait for the ambulance. To put someone (who is unconscious and still breathing) in the recovery position, roll them onto one side with the arms at a ninety degree angle and bend their top leg up towards their chest to brace their position. Rest their head on the back of one of their hands and lift their chin to make sure their airway is open but keep their mouth turned toward the side so they won't choke if they vomit. Stay with them and monitor them until the ambulance arrives. Alcohol poisoning is a serious condition and you could be saving their life.
How Do You Know When Using the Florida Marchman Act Is the Right Action? (Juanita Darling)
The Marchman Act is an involuntary commitment statute in the state of Florida. It allows family or friends of an addict to confidentially petition the court for help in addressing the addiction. When successful, invoking the Marchman Act orders an individual into mandatory assessment and stabilization (detox) and into rehabilitation treatment overseen by the court for at least a 60 day stay. The reason it works is because it imposes real consequences for not complying: return to the rehabilitation program or incarceration. If you're not sure whether using the Marchman Act is your next step, ask yourself a few questions.
Are Incarceration or Death Becoming the Most Likely Outcomes?
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Has Your Loved One Experienced Few Consequences for the Addiction?
Families and friends naturally want to help a person who is in the grip of an addiction, and early on that my involve "rescuing" the person from consequences of his or her actions. The problem is, with some addictions, not suffering major consequences for the behavior may only lead to more of the addictive behavior. For many addicts, ending up homeless, being taken to an emergency room by law enforcement or emergency medical personnel, being arrested, or being called into court under a Marchman petition is what it takes to finally realize the extent of the problem.
Has He or She Shown No Initiative in Getting Help?
Sometimes people with severe addictions have no desire to seek help. They may think that their problem is not that bad, or that a treatment program can't help them. The Marchman Act allows family or friends of an addict to be involuntarily sent to detox and rehab with real legal consequences for failing to comply.
Are Incarceration or Death Becoming the Most Likely Outcomes?
Addictions can become so severe that that the only outcome in the absence of professional treatment is either jail or death. If your loved one's addiction is severe enough that you are worried they will end up in jail or at the morgue, then invoking the Marchman Act is probably your best action. While you can do this without legal counsel, you are more likely to be successful if you work with an attorney with experience handling Marchman petitions. The process can be confusing, and a lawyer will know the potential problems you could face if you try to do it alone.
Your Next Step
If your family member or loved one is in the grip of a life-threatening addiction, contact an attorney specializing in Marchman petitions. He or she will guide you through all the steps of the process and will know exactly what you're up against when you petition the court. Your loved one will have legal counsel working to prevent a successful petition, and your having your own legal counsel can help you prevail at a Marchman hearing. Having someone you love involuntarily sent to detox and rehab is a major step and it's emotionally draining. Yet this may be the action that ends up saving the life of someone you love.
Do you know how the Florida Marchman Act works to help an addict get the help they need? It's done with a court order that commits the addict to forced drug or alcohol rehab, which will pave the way for their recovery. But you can't take advantage of the Marchman Act alone. To get the help you need, go to arlshelp.com and talk to an expert.Telltale Signs of Addiction
When the words drug addict are mentioned, there is typically an image produced in the mind. Past experience often comes from the media and is used to shape that image into something dramatic. However, it is possible that someone in your life could be struggling with an addiction and you may never even know it. Many of the Texas drug rehab facilities warn families that there are many symptoms of drug addiction that can completely miss the radar. There are a few things that you should definitely be on the lookout for if you suspect that a loved one is struggling with an addiction.
One of the first changes that you may notice if someone is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, is changes in their sleeping patterns. Addicts often have trouble sleeping at night and may seem to not sleep well at all. On the other hand, they may be sleeping way too much. When an addiction is severe, a person may sleep in between highs and lose interest in anything else besides getting high.
Another key indication that someone is addicted to something is if you begin to see dramatic changes in their values and overall personality. A person could be one of the most honest people that you have ever met but when it comes to getting what they want, they may lie, cheat, or even steal from their loved ones. You may notice a difference in their personality as well. For example, mood swings between depression and extreme euphoria could be traits displayed by an addict.
Texas drug rehab facilities also advise people to be on the lookout for changes in the way a person lives their life and interacts with other people. In order to hide their addiction from their loved ones, an addict may become withdrawn from their family and friends. They may not go out as often as they once did, visit friends or family members, and they may even avoid family functions that they once enjoyed.
If you have saw any of these symptoms or changes with your loved one, there is a good chance that they could be struggling with a secret addiction. It is imperative that you do all that you can to help this individual seek treatment and get help because addiction can be deadly. This is especially true if a person keeps the problem hidden away from the rest of the world. If you believe that you are dealing with this issue, it is a good idea to contact one of the many Texas drug rehab facilities in the area. They can provide you with a variety of different types of tips and information about addiction and what you can do to help.
The author has an immense knowledge on Texas drug rehab facilities. Know more about drug rehab Texas related info in his website http://texasdrugrehab.net/Identifying Alcoholism And Finding Treatment Options in Pennsylvania
Alcoholism is essentially defined as an addiction to alcohol, to the point where it disturbs the functioning of your life. The truth is that it is possible to be an alcoholic without even knowing it. If you have been noticing that your alcohol consumption seems high or that it has recently been on the rise, it is worth looking into whether or not you have an alcohol problem, and if you do, to consider alcoholism treatment options. If you happen to live in Pennsylvania, there are plenty of alcoholism treatment options that might suit you.
Do I Have Alcoholism?
One indication that you might have an alcohol problem involves drinking even when it has caused you problems in the past. For example, has your drinking ever caused you to drive while intoxicated, to skip out on your responsibilities, to miss work or to get in trouble with the police? These are all things that indicate that your problem is out of control. Similarly, regularly drinking until you get sick or until you black out can definitely be a sign that you need to seek treatment.
Alcoholism is also a condition that affects the people around you and the way that you interact with them. For example, have you considered whether or not you hide the fact that you are drinking too much from the people around you? Do they treat you differently when you have been drinking, or have they ever told you that you are drinking too much? These are all signs that you might be experiencing a problem.
Analyze when you are drinking. Alcoholics are more likely to drink while they are alone, and they tend to use alcohol as a relief from stress. Do you find that you drink on your own a fair amount, and do you find that you are reaching for alcohol as a relief whenever you feel angry or upset? The problem is that alcohol tends to be a mood amplifier, and if you start to drink when you are upset, it can make your emotional state even worse.
Similarly, consider how you react to the idea that you might be dependent on alcohol. Do you immediately feel a sense of fear, anger or dread? Some people who are alcoholics fight or deny the idea that they could be addicted because if they are addicted, they know they should change.
How Can I Help Myself
When it comes to looking at alcohol abuse symptoms PA, also known as Pennsylvania, is one place where you can definitely get help. When you are trying to identify alcohol abuse symptoms PA public services has a number of different resources for you. There are local support groups, both public and private, that can give you the information to quit as well as the support to help you get clean, and on top of that, you will be able to get advice from people who have been in the same situation that you are going through. These support networks understand what you are going through and genuinely wish to help you through the challenge of healing yourself.
The truth is that while there is plenty of help available, you have to take the first step yourself. This is something that you have to decide that you want, so consider what it means to you.
Understanding Drug And Alcohol Abuse And How to Cope With It
Ever wondered what turns a sober individual into a drug and alcohol addict? The reason may differ from person to person but the fact remains the same that it can potentially ruin the life of the addicts and distress those who are attached to them. Some people do not understand why individuals become addicted to drugs and alcohol, and how it can change the brain to foster compulsive drug abuse; instead, they mistake the addiction as a social issue and may also characterize those who are into drugs and alcohol as morally feeble.
In fact, there is a common belief among people that the addicts should be able to quit taking drugs and alcohol if they are willing to change their behavior and live a better life. However, what people often underestimate is the intricacy involved with drug addiction. It is a condition that affects the brain, due to which, stopping drug and alcohol abuse is not simply a matter of choice. However, the good news is that drug addiction can be successfully treated and patients can stop drugs and alcohol abuse with correct help.
Various alcoholism clinics are present today that provide correct treatment and help the patients resume their productive and healthy lives.
Why do some people become addicted to alcohol and drugs while others do not?
There is no single factor that can predict whether or not a person will become addicted to drugs or alcohol. However, the risk for addiction may get influenced by social environment, family environment, person's biology, circumstances and age, as well as stage of development. The higher the number of the risk factors an individual has, the higher are the chances that taking drugs and alcohol would lead to addiction.
Treatment and Prevention are the Keys
Thankfully, drug and alcohol addiction is preventable and can be treated with the help of experts. There are various treatment programs offered by drug and alcoholism clinics that include detox, inpatient, and outpatient programs, all aimed at helping the addicts lead a healthier life. These treatments play a major role in helping dependent drinkers control their drug and drinking habit and rebuild their lives. Furthermore, it is also advisable to involve your kids in such prevention programs and make them understand the harms of drug and alcohol abuse.
How to find rehab centers and alcohol treatment clinics
Thanks to the web, today, we can search everything related to drug and alcohol clinics and more from the comfort of our homes. Just make sure to select a nearby rehab center so that the near and dear ones of those to be treated can meet them on a regular basis.
Simentha Williams is an expert writter and analyst in online marketing related topics. She is a web specialist and written a number of articles on Stop drinking, addiction treatment, clinicas de alcoholismo, alcohol addiction, effects of alcohol, addiction recovery, alcohol addiction treatment and tratamiento del alcoholismo.