drinking problem
You can divide problem drinking into 3 distinct areas targeted at severity, duration, behavior patterns, and the consequences that can result from the effects of alcohol.
dangerous drink
Drinking alcohol in amounts that could cause harm to yourself or others is considered dangerous drinking (or binge drinking). This is defined as drinking for the purpose of getting drunk and/or consuming more than twice the RDA of alcohol in one period. If you do it infrequently, you are most likely not dependent on alcohol and you are not likely to suffer any long-term effects, but it may still cause harm to you or someone else (hangovers, violence, social errors, etc.).
drink harmony
A good example of this is constant binge drinking. Drinking in this way can indicate that you are dependent on alcohol and can lead to long-term health problems.
alcohol dependence
If you find that you prioritize alcohol over other areas of your life, you may be alcohol dependent. It may be the case that you drink during the day, large amounts at one time, or have withdrawal symptoms between drinking sessions. Alcohol dependence often leads to very serious long-term health complications.
Symptoms of problem drinking
short term
Consuming a small amount of alcohol can make you feel more relaxed and less nervous. As the amount you consume increases, alcohol begins to suppress the area of your brain responsible for judgment, which can result in inappropriate behavior and lower inhibitions. Domestic violence, traffic accidents and violent attacks can all have alcohol as a contributing factor.
Your coordination, eyesight, voice and sense of balance will be negatively affected by alcohol.
Consuming too much in one sitting can cause loss of consciousness and even induce a coma. Vomiting while in this state could cause you to choke and could even lead to death.
Drinking problems Complications
Long-term
Excessive alcohol consumption will likely develop a variety of long-term health complications, including:
Damage to your liver, heart, and/or brain
Inflammation of the stomach and/or pancreas
Increased blood pressure levels
Cancer
Embargo
impotence/infertility
mental health conditions
Drinking alcohol over a long period of time can increase anxiety and lead to depression, memory loss, and even dementia. Sleep problems, mood swings, violent behavior, and even suicide are not that rare.
What can cause drinking problems?
There are many reasons. Problems with your friend or family, worries about money, problems with the law, and/or job problems can all lead to alcohol abuse.
Problems can occur simply from developing the habit of drinking in certain situations, perhaps on weekends, after work, or during the lunch hour. The longer these habits have been around, the more difficult it can be to handle these situations without drinking.
How to Diagnose a Drinking Problem
Your GP is a great place to start. You will most likely be asked questions like:
Have you ever thought that you should reduce the amount you drink?
Has someone upset you by asking too many questions about your drinking?
Has your drinking ever led to feelings of guilt or that you are a bad person?
Have you ever drunk alcohol in the morning to relive the symptoms of a hangover?
Your GP may also ask you about any physical symptoms you may have:
Sweating, shakiness, agitation, discomfort when trying to reduce the amount you drink, increased tolerance to alcohol, fainting, continuing to use alcohol despite concern that it may harm you.
Treatment of drinking problems
Some GPs will ask you to keep a ‘drink diary’. This will give you a clear idea of how much you drink and will also help identify situations where you may be drinking too much, as long as you are truthful and accurate.
If you are not dependent on alcohol but would like to cut down, these tips may help.
Have a drink with less alcohol.
Take your time to drink and have a soda between each alcoholic drink.
Jump to drink after finishing work
Let other people know your goals so they can hold you accountable.
Ways to help reverse the damage caused by problem drinking
Drink less by following the tips above.
Try to maintain a healthy, balanced diet rich in nutrients that will help your body recover, such as green vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein sources, filtered and/or bottled water.
Take a supplement made from AFA. Adult stem cells are your body’s natural renewal system. When they are released from where they are abundantly found in your bone marrow, they will migrate to areas of your body that need repair, transforming into millions of new cells. This helps your body repair any damage already done and also maintain optimal health. AFA has been used by NASA to help astronauts repair the damage done to their brains by G-forces. The right AFA supplement can help you repair the damage caused by drinking and reverse the effects of alcohol.
