Teresa was a thirty-six-year-old travel agent who knew that she had some problems with her drinking. As an illustration, within the past four months she has experienced the need to have a drink or two before going to work, three months ago she failed to pass a random breathalyzer test where she works, five months ago she got pulled over by the police for a DWI, and lastly, for almost seven months she has begun to fail to remember what she says and does when she goes out drinking with her buddies.
Like other individuals, Teresa’s involvement with alcohol started out little by little and continued at this speed for quite a long period of time because every now and again she engaged in casual social drinking. In reality, for about eight months, every time she went out with her friends to drink, she made sure to drink in moderation. Something about her drinking, however, seemed to completely change when her husband divorced her.
So She Can Get Beyond the Divorce of Her Husband With Less Misery, Teresa Made Up Her Mind To Begin Associating More Repeatedly With Some of Her Friends Who Love to Have Fun and Drink
Teresa got awfully "down" about the divorce from her husband, and as a way to stop her preoccupation with her depressing emotions she came to the conclusion that she would start hanging around more repeatedly with some of her friends who love to ”get down” and drink.
Quite honestly, Teresa thought that having fun just about every day by getting a "buzz" by drinking with her pals would help her come to terms with the loss of her husband with less distress.
Teresa’s Drinking Escalates Considerably the More Often She Goes to Family Get-Togethers, Sporting Events, Happy Hours, Dinner Dates, and Private Parties With Her Friends
It didn’t take long, however, before her drinking escalated substantially the more often she went to and drank at sporting events, family get-togethers, private parties, happy hours, and dinner dates with her pals. Not only this, but the fact that her drinking pals were all quite a bit younger than she was and therefore able to party and drink more intensely was one of the reasons why she didn’t direct more of her attention to her increased drinking. In short, she was having fun drinking just like everyone else in her group of buddies without giving too much thought to the negative consequences of her hazardous and abusive drinking.
Yet someplace in her mind she knew that she more likely than not required alcohol treatment but stayed away from the thought as much as she could.
Teresa Gets a Physical Exam, Discloses the Facts About Her Hazardous Drinking to Her Healthcare Professional, and ”Comes Clean” About Her Sadness
One day during her twelve month physical exam, her doctor asked her if she drank alcohol. Not wanting to tell falsehoods to her healthcare practitioner, Teresa admitted that she routinely drinks more than she should. In truth, she stated that she frequently drinks in an abusive and excessive manner. Then Teresa informed her healthcare practitioner about her depression. More plainly, she articulated that ruined relationships commonly caused a depressing cycle of events characterized by increased drinking which further led to more discouraging feelings that, in turn, led to even more drinking. And this is explicitly what happened when she and her husband got divorced four years ago.
When her doctor heard this, he told Teresa that according to various alcoholism facts and statistics on alcoholism he was exploring, alcoholism and depression often come about in the same individual. He then informed her that some of the alcohol statistics, research investigations, and facts he has been looking into also point out that individuals who drink in a hazardous and abusive manner and who also go through depression need to get treatment for both medical circumstances.
Teresa’s Healthcare Professional Makes an Appointment for a Psychological Assessment and For an Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Evaluation
Teresa’s healthcare professional then told her the following: “I am not trying to make an overly quick diagnosis, but with your medical circumstances we may be confronting two separate matters. As a consequence, I think we ought to schedule an appointment for you to get an alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse evaluation from my partner, Dr. Hults, who is a drug and alcohol abuse specialist. Whether your drinking circumstance is more related to alcohol abuse or alcoholism is not clear at this time, but I feel that further assessment is defensible. Then I think we ought to schedule an appointment for you to get a psychological examination from another one of my partners, Dr. Miller, who is a psychologist. I want to get some more insights about your melancholy and see how much your drinking and depression are associated.” Teresa expressed her agreement with her physician’s treatment strategy and thanked him for his time and concern.
In all honesty, Teresa now experienced a sense of personal self esteem and happiness because she finally became inspired to do something positive about her abusive and excessive drinking and her depression. Not only this, but Teresa also knew that after alcohol rehab she would be more able to improve her commitment and communication in her relationships and friendships. Now all she had to do was to try to lessen her drinking and wait for her appointments.
Miss Benning was a health instructor at the best known private high school in the state. Even though she had been teaching for only three of four years, she had already achieved a reputation as a teacher with teaching approaches that encouraged and stimulated the pupils in her class to think and to learn.
As an illustration, one Thursday afternoon she addressed the students in her classroom and articulated the following: “For the next few days we are going to learn about some basic alcoholism facts from a more broad-based standpoint and we are also going to learn about a number of the best known signs of alcoholism from a less general and more explicit point of view."
"Not all of these alcoholism signs will undeniably confirm that someone with a drinking problem is a person who is alcohol dependent, but the more signs that a drinker exhibits, the more likely it is that he or she is an alcohol dependent individual.”
Miss Benning then told the class members that each pupil would be held responsible for researching four alcohol addiction signs and then presenting his or her findings to the other members in the class via a twenty-five minute oral presentation.
The Pupils are Thrilled About Giving A Relatively Long Presentation to Their Fellow Pupils About The Signs of Alcohol Addiction
After learning about the various alcohol dependency signs for quite a few days, the time had arrived for the oral presentations. It was instantly clear to see that her pupils were wound up about the subject because the material that they presented was first-rate. To say that Miss Benning was pleasantly surprised with the fervor exhibited by her pupils concerning this subject could not be overstated.
The day after all of the students completed their presentations, Miss Benning passed out a sheet of paper with a list of all the alcoholism signs that were discussed and presented in the presentations and in class. Miss Benning then asked the pupils in her class to go over the list and rank the top nine alcoholism signs that were most indicative of alcohol dependency. After roughly fifteen minutes, Miss Benning collected the pieces of paper and explained to the students in her classroom that after she tallies the results, she will reveal her findings the next school day.
There was some real anticipation by the pupils while they were exiting Miss Benning’s classroom. One could swear that her pupils couldn’t wait for the next day to come so that they could find out the outcome of their in-class research.
The Pupils Compare Their Results With the Assessments From A Panel of Drug and Alcohol Addiction Authorities
When the next school day finally came, Miss Benning passed out a sheet of paper that listed the top four alcoholism signs as per the pupils' rankings. Next to these results, she added another column that was labeled “correct response.” She then explained to the pupils in her class that the numbers in the second column she added signified the findings that were given by a board of alcoholism authorities.
Miss Benning told the students in her classroom to look over the data on the piece of paper she passed out and then to raise their hand if they had any questions, issues, or concerns. Within 40 or 50 seconds, almost every student in the classroom raised his or her hand. It was evident that the students had some concerns, questions, or issues about their results versus the answers given by the experts. For instance, virtually every pupil had an issue with the highest ranked answer given by the specialists, specifically, “Do you feel extremely nauseous when you quit drinking?”
The Main Difference Between Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is the Physical Dependency That is Experienced With Alcohol Addiction and Not With Alcohol Abuse
Miss Benning then explained to the pupils in her classroom why this answer was the most unambiguous indicator of alcoholism. She stressed the fact that the main difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism is the physical dependency that is experienced with alcoholism and not with alcohol abuse.
Primarily this means that when a person who is alcohol dependent abruptly stops drinking, he or she will experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Miss Benning then told the pupils in her classroom that alcohol withdrawal symptoms are responses by the brain and by the body to the deficit of alcohol to which they had become accustomed. Stated another way, alcohol withdrawal symptoms are signals from the brain and from the body telling an individual who is addicted to alcohol that something is terribly out of kilter and needs to be fixed. These signals consist of a number of painful, dangerous, and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that can potentially lead to a fatality if the proper treatment is not immediately obtained.
Miss Benning then listed the many diverse alcohol withdrawal symptoms that can be experienced when an individual who is alcohol dependent suddenly stops drinking.
The fact that Miss Benning tried to underscore was this: an individual who engages in alcohol abuse can experience almost any and every one of the alcohol addiction signs that the students had ranked, but the one symptom or sign that few, if any, alcohol abusers ever experience is alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
To state this as exactly as possible, Miss Benning underscored the point that alcohol abusers, unlike people who are alcohol dependent, are not alcohol dependent and consequently, when they stop drinking, they almost never go through alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
The Pupils Think They Have Found A Discrepancy With the Findings From The Council of Drug and Alcohol Addiction Authorities
The students also had a problem with the second ranked answer given by the alcohol dependency authorities, namely, “Have you ever had a drink the first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?”
Miss Benning informed the pupils in her class that this sign does not necessarily signify that the problem is alcoholism, but that it does underline the need that alcoholics have to drink in order to avert alcohol withdrawals.
After Miss Benning explained the relevance of alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the life of the alcohol addicted person, the pupils started to grasp the fundamental difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction.
To add a sense of closure to the topic, Miss Benning asked the students in her classroom to take out a sheet of paper and answer the following question: “if every individual who is alcohol dependent knew about every one of the alcoholism signs and alcohol withdrawal symptoms we have studied, what percentage of them do you think would seek alcohol addiction rehab?”
After about one or two minutes, Miss Benning asked for the pupils' predictions. While many students believed that around 85 to 95 percent of alcoholics would ask for alcoholism rehab if they knew about the facts related to alcohol withdrawal symptoms and alcoholism signs, most of the pupils thought that this number would not be less than 55 percent.
The Students Were Shocked to Find Out That Only 25% of Individuals Who are Addicted to Alcohol in the U.S. Seek Alcohol Addiction Rehab
To the amazement of most of the students, Miss Benning declared that according to various scientific investigations, only 25% of the people who are alcohol dependent in the U.S. obtain alcohol dependency rehabilitation. This amazed most of the pupils because they believed that exposure to the shocking facts and statistics associated with alcohol addiction would motivate most of the individuals who are alcohol dependent to ask for alcohol addiction treatment.
Miss Benning then explained that people who are alcohol dependent not only need alcohol on a daily basis in order to function but they also require alcohol everyday so they can prevent possible alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Apparently, the alcohol addicted person’s need to drink on a daily basis is more powerful than logic or facts. Indeed, because the thirst for alcohol is “reality” to the person who is alcohol dependent, this is difficult to counteract.
The Incidence of Alcohol Addiction and Mental Health Problems Often Leads to Problems in Loving Friendships and Relationships
Lastly, Miss Benning explained to the students in her class that it is relevant to understand that alcohol dependency and a variety of mental health difficulties such as depression are highly interlinked. Not only this but the combination of mental health difficulties and alcohol addiction commonly result in issues in loving relationships and friendships
The Pupils are Enthused to Learn About Alcohol Dependency Symptoms and Signs in Today's Society
A few minutes later the bell rang, signifying the end of the class. Based on the enthusiasm exhibited by the pupils when they were leaving the classroom, Miss Benning realized that she had inspired and encouraged the pupils in her class to stop and think about a vital health and social problem that exists in our society.
How many people’s lives are cut short due to destructive and hazardous drinking? How many junior high, high school, and college students lose their lives every year due to an alcohol overdose? How many people are the victims of alcohol related crime or violence each and every year? How many people face severe consequences in their lives because they received a “driving under the influence conviction? On an annual basis, how many alcoholics fail to get the professional alcohol treatment they need? How many individuals get injured or lose their lives in alcohol related traffic accidents every year? How many people lose their lives each year from a condition that is one hundred percent preventable, such as alcohol poisoning? How many individuals lose their lives every year because of drinking problems? How many children are born each year with fetal alcohol syndrome?
Why Would Anyone Want to Drink in a Hazardous and Abusive Manner?
So what’s the point in asking these questions? Basically to highlight the destructive and devastating nature of unhealthy and excessive drinking. Indeed, and based on the above questions, I wonder why anyone would choose to drink in an abusive manner.
Stated a different way, with the host of relationship issues, health problems, financial dilemmas, employment difficulties, and legal proceedings that are linked to chronic alcohol abuse and alcoholism, why would any person with common sense want to drink in an abusive and hazardous manner? In fact when some of the above topics are put under the microscope more closely, careless and excessive drinking makes even less sense and becomes more illogical.
Wouldn't you think that chronic alcohol abusers would be able to see some of the alcohol symptoms that they manifest? In a similar manner doesn't it seem feasible to think that many more families would involve themselves in an alcohol intervention for the individual in the household who is an alcoholic or an alcohol abuser? Not only this but wouldn't you think that people who drink irresponsibly would try to learn more about their drinking behavior by reading about various alcohol related statistics?
After reviewing the medical research literature, the point is so significant that it needs to be reiterated: With all of the dangerous and disastrous consequences that are directly or indirectly linked to repetitive and continuous alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency, why would any individual want to engage in excessive and hazardous drinking?
What Can be Done About the Pervasive Nature of Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency in the U.S.?
So what can be done about the pervasive nature of alcohol abuse and alcoholism in our country?
- Our students need more relevant and more meaningful preventative and educational methods and approaches so that more students at all grade levels, including those at college, are “reached.
- With a similar line of reasoning, our students need to learn how to become problem solvers in life rather than resorting to the “instant gratification” and the “quick fix” of an alcohol or drug abuse ”high” or “buzz”.
- People who are alcohol addicts or alcohol abusers need to look in the mirror and ask why they are not getting the professional alcohol rehabilitation they require.
- Society needs to get the message to more people about the dangerous and unhealthy effects of hazardous drinking.
There's Room For Hope if Those Who Engage in Excessive and Hazardous Drinking Can Become Motivated to Get the Alcohol Rehab They Require
There's a lot of room for optimism and hope if individuals can start drinking in moderation and those who engage in abusive and hazardous drinkingcan become encouraged to get the alcohol rehabilitation they require. Indeed, why put your loved ones through turmoil, pain, and suffering because of your abusive and unhealthy drinking when you have the power to control your life by drinking responsibly or even quitting drinking if you cannot control your drinking behavior? From a different way of looking at things, why not enhance and bolster your loving and marital relationships that are the consequences of alcohol therapy?
For the past twenty-two years Natalie has been a RN at a large public hospital. As a RN, she certainly knew what to tell her patients regarding their health issues but in her private life, however, she undeniably didn’t practice what she preached. As an illustration, she usually drank in an irresponsible manner, she infrequently exercised, she smoked approximately two packs of cigarettes per day, and she was nearly forty-eight pounds overweight.
Natalie Gets Into A Traffic Accident, Fails A Breathalyzer Test, and Goes to The Local Jail
One evening on her way to the hospital, Natalie got into a vehicle accident. Because the accident was her fault and because her speech was jumbled when she talked, the arresting police officer had her take a breathalyzer test. In accord with standard police policy, when a person is involved in a vehicle accident and does not pass a sobriety test, the person has to spend at least four hours in the community jail.
In point of fact, Natalie should have known better than to drive after she had been drinking because she recently participated in an “alcohol awareness” class at the hospital that focused on information about alcohol facts such as the following: DUIs, binge drinking, alcohol poisoning, and the fundamental differences between alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse.
Natalie is Quite Embarrassed About Her Vehicle Accident
It almost goes without saying that Natalie felt embarrassed about her automobile accident. Additionally, she was feeling quite a bit of shame about the fact that the accident was her fault. And probably worst of all, she was embarrassed about the fact that she was driving after she ingested a few drinks. As Natalie reflected on her circumstance, nevertheless, she thought that it could have been a lot worse because at work, when a alcohol blood test is given and failed, the individual has to go to obligatory alcohol rehabilitation and is placed on non-pay status. This was simply one of the alcohol facts that was a reality at her place of employment and not much could change this fact.
Natalie’s Humiliation About Her Vehicle Accident Forces Her To Review Her Life and Make Some Substantial and Positive Modifications
At any rate, Natalie’s humiliation about her traffic accident forced her to reconsider her life and make some important and beneficial changes. First, she was going to quit drinking in an excessive and irresponsible manner. Second, she was going to quit smoking. Third, she was going to go on a diet. Fourth, she was going to begin exercising. And fifth, she was going to foster longer lasting dating relationships.
As depressed as Natalie was about the entire vehicle accident situation, she used this negative experience as a catalyst for beneficial change. What is more, she used her embarrassing experience as a realization that she had been neglecting her own health while she openly told others how to live in a more healthy manner. At last, she finally saw the double standard in her behavior and decided that she would live her life as a positive source of motivation for the individuals she treated at the hospital.
It is worthy of note to point out something that family members who have been negatively affected by the alcohol addiction of another family member obviously do not know. It seems to be that by protecting the alcoholic with lies and dishonesty to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in essence created a situation that makes it easier for the alcohol addicted individual to persist and move forward with his or her hurtful, devastating style of life.
Indeed, rather than helping the alcoholic and themselves, these family members have in fact become enablers who have unintentionally helped deteriorate the alcohol addicted person’s drinking problem even more.
Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcohol dependent person will continue drinking in a hazardous and excessive manner and suffer from a variety of "alcohol side effects." Some of these side effects include considerable financial problems, poor health, legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DUIs), employment difficulties, diminished mental functioning, and deteriorating relationships.
Relapses Can and Do Occur
According to the research literature and statistics on alcohol addiction, another key alcohol dependency issue concerns alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol addicted person has fruitfully undergone alcohol addiction treatment and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first glance, this predicament flies in the face of commonsensical thinking and looks so unrealistic that it forces one to speculate why anyone who has lived through the awfulness of alcohol addiction can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol rehabilitation and in turn after reaching sobriety. There are, for sure, many likely reasons for this.
It should be noted, then again that alcohol addiction research that has centered on the long-term outcomes of alcohol dependency has shown that long after the alcohol addicted person has terminated his or her drinking, critical modifications in the way in which the alcohol dependent person’s brain works are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol dependent person has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the modifications that have occurred in the brain is to begin drinking again.
A Requirement for A Significant Lifestyle Change
There are additional reasons why quite a few recovering alcohol dependent persons return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after reaching sobriety. In accordance to the alcohol addiction research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcoholic needs new ways of reacting and thinking in order to deal more effectively with demanding alcohol-related circumstances that will take place.
Issues such as returning to the same alcohol addictive environment or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcohol addicted individual was drinking irresponsibly; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring forth memories that can set off psychological tension or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcoholic to engage in hazardous drinking once again. Unfortunately, all of these circumstances may not only counteract ongoing alcohol recovery for the alcohol dependent individual but they can also lead to relapse and therefore counteract one’s alcohol recovery.
The Good News: There's a Lot of Hope for a Lasting Recovery
In an attempt to “protect” the family's alcohol addicted person, family members can in fact cause unplanned harm by enabling the harmful drinking behavior of the alcohol addicted individual.
The alcoholism research literature validates the fact that most people who effectively complete alcohol rehabilitation go through at least one relapse. Alcohol dependent persons and their family members need to know this so that they do not get down in the dumps or beleaguered when a relapse occurs.
Luckily, involvement in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up counseling and education have resulted in more successful, lasting alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction treatment outcomes, have helped diminish alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcoholics attain long lasting alcohol recovery.