Nov 13

Samuel was a twenty-six-year-old accounts receivable manager who was sick of feeling depressed everyday and tired of his abusive and unhealthy drinking behavior. Simply put, he was angry with himself for spending his hard-earned money on a worthless habit, he was tired of going through broken relationship after broken relationship due to his irresponsible drinking, he was sick of feeling tired every morning, he hated the hangovers he went through on a regular basis, and he missed his old drive for doing various things he enjoyed.

In addition he was aggravated with the many times he failed to pass an alcohol test at work, he hated the fact that he had to go to court for his second DWI, he was bored with his drinking friends, he was fed up with paying for alcohol-related attorney fees, and he was disgusted with how out-of-shape he was.

In addition to the perceptible alcohol-related health difficulties he was going through, perhaps the most troublesome part of his drinking behavior was the unreliable and scheming individual he had turned into. In his heart of hearts he realized that he had been lying about his drinking behavior to his relatives, friends, and family and he also knew he had been less than truthful with himself about the “healthy” outcomes of drinking. What is more, he made excuses for guzzling two or three drinks before going to social events and he also rationalized needing a few drinks as soon as he awakened so that he could manage the “stress” at his place of employment.

His Depression and His Hazardous and Excessive Drinking Lead to Significant Changes in His Life

It was apparent that Samuel was sick of putting up with the adverse consequences of his depression and his careless and abusive drinking and eventually made up his mind that something significant had to change in his life. So he made up his mind that he would stop drinking, start focusing on becoming a more healthy person, get professional counseling, start exercising, involve himself in some worthwhile hobbies, and develop a new circle of friends.

In brief, Samuel got to a special time in his life during which he understood that he hit the bottom of the barrel in his life and was now ready to start the slow and gradual road to recovery.

One of the ways that Samuel operationalized his “plan” was by asking for a transfer at work. When his request was approved, he moved 350 miles away to a new city. If nothing else, this definitely made making new friends and pals and detaching himself from his old pals much simpler. Then he went to see a healthcare practitioner in his new city and made an appointment for a comprehensive psychological and physical exam.

Samuel Meets With a Physician About His Irresponsible and Heavy Drinking and His Depression

After meeting with the doctor and taking a number of laboratory tests, it was concluded that Samuel had made the transition from alcohol abuse to alcohol addiction and therefore was in need of alcohol rehabilitation and alcohol detoxification. At this time, the physician made it a point to discuss the various signs of alcoholism, the symptoms of alcoholism, and information about long term alcohol effects with Samuel.

The physician then told Samuel that it was concluded that he was clinically depressed and in need of counseling for this medical condition.

Samuel Decides to Fortify His Body by Drinking Distilled Water, Living an Alcohol-Free Way of Life, Going to the Gym, Eating Wholesome Foods, and Taking Vitamins

Due to his willingness to follow through with the therapy regimen, after ten weeks of inpatient rehab, Samuel was ready to start rehab on an outpatient basis. At this point in time, he started working at his new job and over the weeks began fortifying his body by exercising, drinking filtered water, eating healthy foods, living an alcohol-free way of life, and taking vitamins and minerals.

Samuel also came to grips with his spiritual concerns by joining the local Pentecostal church and going to the weekly services.

After nearly three months of outpatient therapy during which time he never suffered through a relapse, Samuel stopped going to alcohol therapy and instead started going twice per week to local AA meetings. Attending these meetings helped Samuel maintain his alcohol-free style of life, they gave him the support he required, and they served as a faithful reminder of the damaging results that are associated with excessive and abusive drinking.

After going to AA meetings about four months Samuel felt that he was ready for a relationship and so he started dating Phyllis, a young woman he met at church. It clearly amazed Samuel how much more ready he was for a dating relationship now that he had his hazardous and abusive drinking under control. In actual fact it also surprised Samuel how much better life was now that he wasn’t under the control of his excessive and hazardous drinking. Life was now positive and loaded with promise that he could have never longed for or made real when he was engaged in abusive and unhealthy drinking just a few short months ago.

A Success Story That is a Testimony of the Significance of Alcohol Therapy and the Power of Change

Samuel’s success story is evidence of the importance of alcohol rehab and the power of positive thinking. As Samuel reflected on his newfound self-respect and motivation for involving himself in healthy, worthwhile activities, he was actually thankful that he decided to do something productive about his abusive drinking instead of giving into his depression and into the lure of his alcohol addiction. The result: he likes his new job responsibilities, he has more energy now compared with any time in his adult life, he is involved in a loving relationship, he is in command of his life rather than letting himself languish under the control of his alcohol addiction, and his life now has a positive direction.

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Nov 07

Approximately six months ago I had breakfast with a forty-two-year-old man named Alexander who suffers from acute depression, has relationship difficulties, and who is alcohol and drug dependent. As explained by Alexander, it is his drug addiction and alcoholism and his severe depression that had the most to do with his continual relationship problems.

I recall reading that a history of mental health concerns, substance abuse, and excessive and careless drinking commonly take place in the same family. In addiction, I remember hearing that in such situations, a person needs to get counseling for both medical situations and that addiction and mental health difficulties many times occur in the same person.

As affirmed by Alexander, he is so defeated by his relationship problems and by both of his medical issues that he in actual fact has little or no desire to achieve much of anything. What is particularly unfortunate about this is that earlier in his life, Alexander managed to complete one semester of grad school in constitutional law.

Alexander’s condition makes me wonder if he is an example of an individual who can address his drug abuse and alcohol drinking problems and do something healthy about these issues or if he is someone who has to hit the bottom of the barrel before he gets addiction counseling that results in long lasting recovery.

The Need For a Counseling Program He Can Believe In and a Healthcare Professional He Can Trust

If it would be helpful I would presume that I could suggest several websites that could possibly help him learn more about drug abuse symptoms, the stages of alcoholism, chemical dependency information, and relationship issues. From my perspective, nevertheless, Alexander needs to locate a counseling regimen he can believe in and follow through over the long haul and find a doctor he can trust.

I could be incorrect but it seems to make sense that Alexander more likely than not needs to look in the mirror regarding his drug addiction signs and alcoholic symptoms and acknowledge the fact that he cannot abuse drugs or even drink responsibly if he wants to get sober, remain sober, and start on the route to lasting recovery.

It may be asked how counseling would help his alcohol and drug dependency. For starters, there are a number of newly developed doctor-prescribed meds that can help Alexander through his withdrawal symptoms, through the drug and alcohol detoxification process, and help him avoid a drug or an alcohol relapse.

Second, Alexander would learn to acknowledge the fact that there is utterly nothing healthy about chemical dependency and careless and hazardous drinking and that involving himself in one or both conditions is the road to poor work and school performance, a premature death, financial difficulties, deteriorating health, shattered relationships, and legal problems.

Third, therapy for his relationship difficulties and his depression might help him manage these conditions more effectively and help create less of a need for him to engage in addictive behavior.

The Importance of Support Groups Such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous

There are probably quite a few family members, other individuals, and friends who would love to help Alexander with his drug addiction and his careless drinking. He probably would experience greater understanding from a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, on the other hand, rather than getting guidance from individuals who rarely drink or who have never abused drugs.

When People Accomplish Things They Love and About Which They Are Ardent

There’s a school of thought that states that individuals who do things they love and something about which they are dedicated arrive at a great place in life. Stated more exactly, when people do what they enjoy, they rarely if ever experience boredom or an uneventful life. If they get involved in something that is enjoyable, moreover, they become more actualized and experience more pleasure and delight in life and in their relationships.

When this is examined more closely it becomes clear that this positive frame of mind is widely divergent from a life that is rooted in alcohol and drug addiction because such a lifestyle removes the happiness and delight that life offers.

Since Alexander doesn’t have the determination to do much of anything in his life, it is evident that he urgently needs a little hope for a more productive life. And the unfortunate thing is that hope is almost everywhere around Alexander if he could only get to the place in life to get the treatment he requires for his acute depression and drug dependence and alcohol addiction and adhere to his treatment program.

Enhanced Relationships, Beneficial Change, Self Esteem, and a Wonderful Life Are a Reality

Alexander is clearly too young to be beaten in life. He doesn’t comprehend this at this time in his life but if he can learn how to abstain from drugs and alcohol via alcohol and drug rehabilitation and get the treatment he needs for his intense depression, he can turn his life around and start living with passion, direction, and with self-respect.

More solid relationships, affirmative change, self respect, and a wonderful life are certainly a reality for Alexander if only he could become inspired to get the professional rehabilitation he needs, follow through with his treatment regimen, live his life in a healthy and sober way, and learn how to acquire a more positive attitude about his life.

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Nov 06

Roughly a month ago I met a twenty-seven-year-old female named Rachael who is bipolar and who is also alcohol and drug dependent. I remember hearing that under such circumstances, a person needs to get counseling for both medical conditions and that mental health difficulties and chemical dependency often occur in the same individual. Moreover, I remember hearing that a history of hazardous and careless drinking, drug addiction, and/or mental health problems commonly happen in the same family.

Plainly, Rachael is so overcome by both of her medical issues that she in essence has no enthusiasm to accomplish much of anything. What is especially sad about this is that earlier in her life, Rachael completed three years of college. Rachael’s situation makes me question if she is an illustration of an individual who has to hit the very bottom before he or she gets alcohol and drug dependency treatment that leads to long lasting recovery.

The Need For a Psychologist She Trusts and a Counseling Program She Can Believe In

If I were in communication with Rachael I could recommend numerous websites and blogs that could possibly help her find information about addiction and alcoholic behavior, relevant substance abuse information, facts about alcoholism and drugs, and info about addiction symptoms and alcoholism warning signs. From where I stand, however, Rachael needs to find a therapist she trusts and a counseling protocol she can believe in and follow through over the long term. I could be in the wrong but it seems logical to conclude that Rachael probably needs to admit the fact that she cannot drink in moderation or abuse drugs if she wants to get sober, remain sober, and start on the route to long-term sobriety.

I am aware that there are some newly discovered doctor-prescribed drugs that can help Rachael avoid an alcohol or a drug relapse, help her through the drug and alcohol detoxification process, and help her through her withdrawal symptoms. Obviously it would be in Rachael’s best interests if she became conversant with these medications.

It seems clear that Rachael needs to concede the fact that there is completely nothing helpful about excessive and unhealthy drinking and drug addiction and that engaging in one or both situations is the route to deteriorating health, financial difficulties, poor work and school performance, shattered relationships, legal problems, and a premature death.

The Significance of Support Groups Like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous

There are possibly a lot of persons such as family members, friends, and other individuals who would like to help Rachael but she more likely than not would experience greater sympathy from a support group such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous rather than listening to individuals who do not drink or who have never used drugs.

When Individuals Accomplish Things They Love and About Which They Are Zealous

There’s a philosophical attitude that contends that individuals who accomplish things they like and something about which they are fervent attain glorious place in life. That is, when people do what they enjoy, they hardly ever experience an uneventful life or boredom. If they involve themselves in something that is worthwhile, moreover, they become more whole and experience more happiness and delight in life.

To me, this sounds diametrically opposed to a life that is rooted in alcohol and drug dependency because such a lifestyle removes the gratification and joy that life offers.

Because Rachael lacks the determination to accomplish much of anything in her life, it is clear that she urgently needs some hope for a better existence. And the sad thing is that hope is virtually everywhere around Rachael if she could only get to the place in life to get the treatment she requires for her manic depression and alcoholism and drug addiction and stick with her treatment protocol.

A Wonderful Life, Self Esteem, and Affirmative Change Are a Reality

Rachael is simply too young to be beaten in life. She doesn’t realize this right now but if she can learn how to abstain from alcohol and drugs via alcohol and drug rehab and get the counseling she requires for her bipolar issue, she can reorient her life and start living with self-respect, passion, and direction.

Affirmative change, self respect, and a wonderful life are certainly a reality for Rachael if only she could get inspired to get the professional treatment she needs, follow through with her therapy regimen, live her life in a drug and alcohol-free and healthy way, and acquire a more positive attitude about her existence.

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Sep 21

For several years alcohol addiction exploration has demonstrated the fact that there is strong relationship between alcoholism and life-threatening health conditions and mental health issues such as depression.

For example, in 2005, scientific exploration and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics showed that alcohol abuse and alcoholism cost the United States an estimated $220 billion on an annual basis. It can be emphasized that this gigantic alcohol-related expenditure was substantially more than the cost associated with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is appropriate to stress these facts, it is also important to emphasize the point that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health issues.

More accurately, chronic alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction are also highly correlated with obesity and with cancer.

Without a doubt, substance abuse research has revealed that alcohol dependency can amplify the risk for various kinds of cancer, particularly cancer of the voice box (larynx), esophagus, liver, rectum, colon, kidneys, and throat. Hazardous and recurring drinking can also result in immune system problems and impairment to the fetus during pregnancy.

Irresponsible and Hazardous Drinking Destabilizes the Drinker’s Organs and Systems

Additionally, if alcohol addiction continues over a period of years, the individual’s body organs will probably be affected in a negative manner. As an illustration, repeated, excessive drinking is particularly hurtful to the liver since the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been consumed. Extreme amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and eradicates the ability of liver cells to reproduce. This medical condition results in a progressive inflammatory malfunction of the liver that can in due course lead to cirrhosis of the liver, a grave and potentially terminal medical problem.Abusive, long-term drinking not only can result in critical liver damage, but it can also result in damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this serious may be irreversible and may, in turn, lead to serious disease or an untimely death.

The Critical Nature of Alcohol Therapy

It is imperative, consequently, to know how to recognize the various alcoholism symptoms and the “alcohol signs” so that the alcoholic can be given the opportunity to get the professional alcohol treatment he or she needs.

Alcohol Addiction and Sophisticated Brain Exploration

Fortuitously, scientific exploration is constantly generating innovative and important information. Recent alcoholism research offers a first-rate illustration. Stated another way, for approximately the last ten years, technologically advanced brain-imaging scanning devices have verified that repetitive and long-term abusive drinking changes the constitution of the brain to a significant extent, thereby resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or perchance as long as the person lives.

Stated another way, medical exploration has shown that individuals who have been drinking abusively for a considerable length of time increase their risk for developing permanent and serious modifications in the brain.

This type of damage may be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health or directly related to severe liver disease or to the alcohol’s effects on the brain.

Malnutrition, Hazardous Drinking, and Mental Disorders

As a final example of various health problems that are to a great extent related to alcohol addiction, take into account the fact that according to scientific research, the hazardous and repeated abuse of alcohol can lead to erosive gastritis, a health problem that reduces the absorption of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

This type of organ failure is associated with malnutrition and to an array of critical mental and neurological problems including memory loss, sleep disturbances, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter health problem is an enduring debilitating condition that is typified by recurring learning and memory complications.

Summary

It is plain to see that continued, hazardous drinking is directly or indirectly related to many acute medical problems that can and do lead to serious diseases and premature death. Such information needs to be stressed and presented to everyone in our society so that most people will be able to abstain from abusive drinking while other individuals who have a drinking problem will get the professional rehabilitation they require.

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Sep 20

How do you identify the fact that you have a problem with your drinking? When is it plain to see that you are engaging in abusive drinking?

If you have unproductively attempted to quit drinking or if you have given your word to yourself that your drinking days are behind you and then you recognized that you were drinking in an abusive way just a few days later, the probability is very good that you have drinking problems. The point to highlight is that if you have made an effort to terminate your drinking and cannot get this accomplished, then your drinking is controlling you, rather than the other way around.

Likewise, if it takes increasingly more amounts of alcohol to get the same “high,” more likely than not you need to become aware that you have a drinking problem.

You may be telling yourself that the rationale for your drinking is so that you can decrease your stress or get rid of the agony or depression that you feel. Likewise, you may be trying to stay away from a negative circumstance and may be looking for something more useful, more constructive, or less regretful.

As you maintain your drinking, nevertheless, you will become aware that drinking does not elicit the same high and you will also become aware that drinking doesn’t help do away with whatever triggered your misery in the first place. You may also observe that the more you drink, the more depressed you feel.

As you continue to drink in an abusive way, sadly, you may become an alcoholic and, as a consequence, you may add another pivotal difficulty to manage rather than finding more successful and healthy ways of coping with your alcohol-related issues.

An Alcohol Evaluation is Probably Warranted

If you have concluded that you have a problem with your drinking, conceivably the best thing you can do for yourself is to call your physician or healthcare practitioner and schedule an appointment for a thorough physical and for an evaluation of your drinking circumstances.

If you actually believe that you have a serious problem with your drinking, it may be a good idea to get prepared to find out that you need to get alcohol reahbilitation.

At this point in your life, what are your alternatives? You can certainly decide against seeing your doctor and carry on with your pattern of excessive drinking.

It really doesn’t take a genius, nevertheless, to understand that long-term, abusive drinking, if left untreated, will go downhill over time and quite possibly set in motion an early death. As a result, your most practical choice is to face your drinking situation and get the alcohol rehabilitation you need.

The Pretext of the Functioning Alcohol Addicted Person

It is somewhat odd to note the fact that multitudes of alcohol dependent people lead busy and active lives and have vehicles, jobs, pets, houses, families, and any number of material possessions just like individuals who are not alcohol dependent.

Many of these “functional” alcohol addicted individuals may have never been arrested for a DUI and may have been lucky enough to avoid all alcohol generated legal difficulties. Despite this fortunate situation, nonetheless, these alcohol addicted people need to drink in order to deal with life on a day to day basis while maintaining their facade as they associate with the outside world.

Ask anyone who has seen them when they are out on a drunken binge or in a drunken stupor or ask a family member about the problem drinker’s alcoholism, to the contrary, and they will be quick to assert the authenticity of the drinker’s situation and the details about the alcoholic’s drinking circumstances and about his or her alcohol produced predicaments.

Why Do Alcohol Addicted People Fail to Focus On Their Drinking Problems?

As alcohol dependency research and statistics on alcohol abuse have stressed, no matter how noticeable the alcohol-related issues seem to those who interact with the alcoholic, alcohol addicted people regularly deny that drinking is the basis of their alcohol-related problems. Not only this, but alcohol addicted individuals frequently blame their alcohol-related predicaments on other individuals or upon other circumstances that surround them rather than seeing their part in the issue.

The origin of the predicament is that alcohol dependency is a disease of the brain. Once the drinker has become dependent on alcohol, he or she normally resorts to denial, manipulation, and dishonesty as a way of dealing with the fact that his or her drinking is out of control. And to make matters worse, the experience of alcohol withdrawal symptoms commonly circumvents the alcoholic’s rare attempts to suddenly quit drinking. As gloomy as the alcohol addicted individual’s existence is, however, the good news is that professional help is generally available – if the alcohol dependent person reaches out and seeks alcoholism therapy.

Summary

Coming to grips with the fact that drinking is producing difficulties in your daily functioning is perchance the easiest way to find out if you have a drinking problem. More to the point, if your drinking is eliciting problems with your health, at work, in your relationships, with your finances, at school, or with the legal system, then you have a drinking problem that needs to be dealt with.

If you have a problem with your drinking, moreover, this means that you are getting involved with excessive drinking.

While some problem drinkers may be able to identify their “alcohol signs,” pinpoint their problems, and significantly decrease the amount and frequency of their drinking, others, conversely, need to tackle their drinking difficulties by getting quality alcohol counseling. Additionally, due to their tendency to deny the facts and distort the truth, alcohol addicted individuals absolutely need proficient alcohol rehabilitation for their hazardous drinking.

And finally, if you feel more depressed the more you drink, you will probably need to get counseling for your drinking problem and for your depression.

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