Alcoholism is the worst and most popular form of alcohol abuse and involves the inability to manage drinking habits.
Alcoholism (alcohol use disorder) is more common because Alcohol as a drug is legal for adults in the most countries.
Alcohol abuse is of different severities, but when each of them is left untreated, they can spiral out of control.
People struggling with alcoholism often seem as though they cannot be normal without alcohol. Alcohol can lead to a wide range of problems and impact work, private matters, relationships and overall health. Over time, the serious consequences of consistent alcohol abuse can worsen and produce damaging complications.
An estimated 88,000 people die each year from alcohol-related causes. It is one of the leading preventable causes of death in the world.
Why Do People Drink?
Many circumstances can cause you to abuse alcohol. People turn to alcohol for several reasons and may slowly develop an addiction to drinking. For instance, drinking during tough times such as a death in the family or job loss can potentially trigger long-term alcohol usage and potential abuse. Few of the most frequent reasons why people drink are:
- To relieve daily stress.
We all experience stress every day, and one way most people manage their stress is by taking few bottles of alcoholic drinks when stressed.
- Alcohol helps to feel good.
Consuming alcohol can help people to escape reality. When people get high, they forget their real problem and enjoy the world of fantasy that wears off with time.
- Alcohol helps to cope with a loss.
Losing a close person can affect your emotion, physically and mentally.
- Alcohol helps to overcome anxiety.
Anxiety is a natural way of expressing our fear, people get anxious from time to time, and this may cause them to worry. Taking alcohol helps to calm our nerves.
Warning Signs of Alcoholism?
Sometimes the signs of alcoholism are very obvious. Other times, they can take longer to become apparent. Early discovery of alcohol addiction increases the chance for recovery. General signs of alcoholism include:
- Being unable to control alcohol consumption.
- Craving alcohol when you’re not drinking.
- The demand and preference for alcohol above all other personal responsibilities.
- The feeling and the urgent need to keep drinking more.
- When you keep spending an ample amount of money on alcoholic drinks.
What Are The Effects Of Alcohol Abuse on Your Health?
Too much of alcohol isn’t good for your health, whether single occasion but heavy drinking or long-term drinking can be hazardous to your health. Sometimes alcohol may have a minor effect on your health, while other times it can have a life-threatening effect.
Examples of mild effects of alcohol abuse are:
- Slow reaction time
- Poor reflexes
- Reduce brain activity
- Lowered inhibitions
- Blurry vision
- Difficulty breathing
Furthermore, long-term consumption high alcohol can be detrimental to your health. Some of these long-term effects may show no signs and requires professional medical care for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Examples of the long-term health ailments caused by alcohol are:
- Brain defects and dementia
- Liver disease
- Kidney failure
- Diabetes complications
- Heart problems. Excessive drinking negatively impacts heart health.
- Increased risk of cancer. Alcohol abuse increases the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, oesophagus, liver and breast.
- Vision damage
- Bone loss
If you think that your alcohol consumption is affecting your life, it’s important to seek treatment. Seeking help for alcoholism un time gets you back on track to living a healthy, fulfilling life.