Am I An Alcoholic?

Am I An Alcoholic? This question is more likely to occour for people who have a drinking problem than those who don’t.

Most alcoholics, despite the denial and delusion that goes hand in hand with this illness, realise that they have a drinking problem. Alcoholism has recently proven to be a brain disease that responds effectively to the right treatment much the same as other chronic illnesses such as, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and asthma.

As alcoholics have a mental obsession and a physical compulsion to find ways and means to continue drinking, alcoholism is defined by continued drinking despite the negative consequences.

There are different stages of alcoholism. In the first stage an alcohol addict experiences a lot of euphoria. Such individuals love the high they get out of consuming alcohol. Alcohol puts them in a bright mood and lifts their spirits. This is the principle reason why alcohol addicts start getting drunk in the earlier stages of alcoholism.

In the next stage people get hooked to alcohol and cannot do without it. As alcohol gets pumped into the body the chemistry of the brain eventually changes. Detoxifying from alcohol can be dangerous for a number of reasons. Once addicted to alcohol the body cannot do without drinking. Once alcoholic the brain and internal organs come to expect a degree of alcohol in the blood stream all the time. This is physical dependence and is one of the features of alcoholism. Many alcoholics experience “morning shakes” which they know can be remedied by drinking more alcohol.

Alcoholics who cannot get effective treatment can find themselves in a dangerous place. Some people end up having liver transplants and still drinking! The level of delusion that accompanies alcoholism is very powerful and can astonish the families and friends of people who become addicted to alcohol. It is not uncommon for alcoholics to suffer liver inflammation, jaundice, abdominal pain and other problems.

Those who don’t stop drinking run the risk of developing Wernicke´s, a disease of the central nervous system that results in patients feeling confused, having a staggered gait, and even paralysis of the eye muscles. Wernicke´s can lead to death or to the development of severe short term memory loss.

The most common cause of Wernicke´s is alcoholism. If you drink enough alcohol to become addicted you get to a place where not eating correctly is par for the course. This combined with the alcohol eating away at vitamins and minerals in the body results in low levels of vitamin B1 (thiamine) which is central to the development of Wernicke´s.

There are some very useful websites which provide the key to recovery from alcoholism. They provide information on the early signs and symptoms of alcoholism. They also provide a list of nearest alcohol rehab centres.

Eoin Carter is the author of this article on Alcoholism Treatment Centre. Find more information on Alcoholic Rehab Clinic here.