Alcohol Dependence & Other Addictions
Author: Dr George John
What is alcohol dependence?
Many people enjoy the occasional drink without any harm. It becomes a problem when the drinking gets out of control or the drinker starts to damage themselves or others. The damage may be physical, psychological or social - or a mixture of these.
Heavy drinking is when alcohol consumption exceeds the safe recommended levels of 21 units per week for men and 14 units per week for women. But alcohol dependence - or addiction - occurs when the drinker is physically or psychologically unable to do without alcohol.
What are the symptoms?
There are a number of possible symptoms both physical and psychological, or sometimes they take the form of disruption to life at home or in the workplace.
- Vomiting (especially blood), diarrhoea, abdominal pains;
- "accidental" injuries
- Faints, fits, falls or blackouts.
- Withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, night sweats, insomnia
- The smell of alcohol on the breath.
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sexual problems
- Drug abuse
- Inappropriate behaviour
- Family members may also experience psychological problems or become the victims of violence or abuse
- Other indications include trouble at work, with finances or the law
- Personal honesty and healthy emotional openness is seriously compromised
What are the effects?
Besides physical illness, alcohol dependence and other addictions can do a great deal of harm in other ways. For example, the addict's healthy social life may be damaged. At work, the addict is likely to be less efficient and more prone to taking time off, possibly leading to reprimand and finances may be mismanaged.
Relationships and family life are put under strain. Children may copy their parent's addiction or develop behavioural problems while marriages are likely to suffer through stress and by the addict not being fully involved in family life, forcing the other partner to carry more responsibility. Spouses may become depressed and the relationship itself may break down.
Depression coexists with addictiveness and risk of self harm is very high.
How is it treated?
Depending on the severity of the problem treatment ranges from simple interventions to medically supervised detoxification with Addiction Treatment Programme, counselling, education and therapy.
But it's my problem too
If your partner suffers from alcoholic dependence or another addiction, your own life may be in turmoil as you worry about their addiction and state of health but don't know what to do for the best.
It could seem as though you are being pulled in different directions at the same time. For example you might feel concern for your partner but contempt for their drinking, or want to help but are afraid of change.
Your partner may try to blame you for their condition or perhaps you blame yourself and feel guilty or depressed as a result. You may find yourself covering up for them or inadvertently enabling their addiction and believe that no-one understands your predicament.
However, there are other people in the same situation and you need not cope alone. Even if your partner is not yet ready to accept treatment, you can begin by seeking help for yourself.
These questions will help you decide if you are affected by your partner's (or another family member) drinking:
- Do you worry about how much your partner drinks?
- Do you have financial problems due to their drinking?
- Do you lie to cover for them?
- Have you felt that drinking is more important to your partner than you are?
- Have you blamed their companions for your partner's drinking?
- Have you threatened to leave your partner?
- When you kiss your partner, have you tried secretly to smell alcohol on their breath?
- Are you afraid to upset your partner for fear of setting off another bout of drinking?
- Have you been hurt or embarrassed by their behaviour when drinking?
- Are your holidays often ruined by their drinking?
- Have you ever considered calling the police because of your partner's behaviour?
- Do you search for hidden drinks in their house?
- Have you felt that your partner would stop drinking if only.?
- Have you ever refused social invitations out of fear of your partner's drinking?
- Have you felt guilty about the extent of your efforts to control their drinking:
- Do you feel that if your partner stopped drinking, many of your other problems would be solved:
- Have you ever threatened to harm yourself in order to scare them to their senses?
- Have you ever threatened your children or colleagues unjustly because you were angry about your partner's drinking?
- Have you felt that no-one understands your predicament?
