Category Archives: Alcoholism

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Alcohol is currently legal in the United States for anyone 21 years or older. Because of this fact, it is easy to obtain and therefore leaves it open for more people to abuse the privilege. Many people can drink on a regular basis and never experience problems. Others, however, start drinking more heavily than they should which can lead to abuse or addiction, also known as alcoholism. This is dangerous on many different levels, including for your own health and those around you. People abusing alcohol tend to not think about the consequences of things like drinking in public and driving while under the influence. If you think someone close to you might be experiencing issues with alcohol abuse or addiction, this guide will help you read the signs and help them find the right kind of treatment. – See more at: Alcohol Addiction

Florida Rehabilitation:

The time for alcohol intervention is now.  Landing on this website was no accident, and it may be the best thing that has ever happened to you.  Alcohol destroys everything it comes in contact with.  Florida Rehabilitation clinics are here to help you or your loved one overcome the devastating affects of alcoholism.  Alcoholics and their families often feel isolated.  This is just one of the problems associated with alcoholism.  You do not have to be alone; you do not have to live like this for the rest of your life.  Treatment for alcoholism in Florida is available.  They understand what you are going through and stand ready to put together a series of treatment options and techniques to help you achieve happiness and success.  The time to put a stop to the alcohol addiction is now, and you are the person to do it.

Florida rehab centers offer a variety of treatment options for alcoholics and their families.  You are able to achieve success at beating alcoholism!  Negative thinking is an affect of the alcohol.  We are here to tell you that others have felt that way, and are now living a much happier life free of alcohol.  Treatment for alcoholism is multifaceted.  The physical and emotional aspects of the disease must be addressed.  This will all be a part of your recovery treatment.  If you are able to take advantage of inpatient services, it is encouraged.  Inpatient often improves the chances of success.  If that is not an option, stick with the program that is made for you.  If it’s not working, another approach may be necessary, but don’t give up!  You can beat alcoholism, and Florida rehabs are here to help. Toll Free at 1-800-251-3402

Florida Rehab Hotlines

Apopka – (407) 374-2882 Miami – (305) 514-0060
Belle Glade – (561) 847-3644 Miami – (786) 232-0737
Big Pine – (305) 407-1709 New Port – (727) 359-0252
Big Pine – (305) 433-7834 New Smyrna – (386) 957-5755
Boca Raton – (561) 859-0771 Odessa – (813) 527-9627
Brandon – (813) 527-9789 Orange Park – (904) 639-6088
Daytona Beach – (386) 628-0300 Orlando – (321) 280-9490
Fort Lauderdale – (954) 320-6967 Oviedo – (407) 374-2898
Groveland – (352) 364-0123 Palatka – (386) 628-0303
Hialeah – (305) 514-0038 Pompano Beach – (954) 603-8774
Hollywood – (954) 391-5625 Tallahassee – (850) 298-8869
Jacksonville – (904) 245-1846 Tampa – (813) 381-5151
Jacksonville Beach – (904) 685-6400 Valrico – (813) 413-1949
Melbourne – (321) 369-9956 West Palm – (561) 290-1511
Miami – (305) 459-3878 Winter Park – (407) 374-2885

Depression And Alcoholism

Depression and Alcoholism

Depression is a complex medical disorder and has been recognized since the days of Hippocrates. The disorder has been portrayed in movies, literature and the arts for many centuries. No one culture or ethnic group is immune from the ravages of depression. In the 1950s and 60s, depression was categorized into two types, endogenous and neurotic (reactive). Endogenous depression is caused by something inside the body, perhaps genetic or maybe just plain bad luck. Neurotic or reactive depression has a definitive external precipitating factor, such as the death of a spouse, friend, child or loss of a job. In the 1970s and 80s, the global impact of depression was fully realized and the focus of attention shifted from the cause of depression to its effects on the afflicted individuals and their treatment.

Today, most health care experts agree that irrespective of the classification, depressive disorder is a syndrome (group of symptoms) that reflects a sad mood over and above normal sorrow or grief. More specifically, the sadness of depression is characterized by a larger intensity and duration and by more intense symptoms and functional disabilities than is seen in normal.

Women are three times as prone to developing depression compared to men. As to why this is so is not known but many theories are postulated. Some believe that this is due to sex hormones; others claim that it is psychological or social but the bottom line is that men and women are biochemical different. Recent statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health indicate that close to 19 million Americans over the age of 18 suffer from major depression.

There is a lot of evidence that depression in some individuals with alcoholism may be related to excessive alcohol consumption, intoxication and/or withdrawal effects that mimic some depressive disorders. Although the link between depression and alcoholism is well established, the reason for this association is not understood. Some believe that perhaps both alcohol and depression may have similar etiology- possibly resulting from heavy alcohol drinking, or there may be an indirect connection which may be related to excess alcohol intake that may predispose on to depression. It is hoped that if an association between major depression and alcoholism can be established, this may provide health care professionals a better understanding of the two diagnosis and hopefully a improved treatment.

One of the largest study conducted in the USA revealed that there is a significant association between previous alcohol dependence and current or recent major depressive disorder. These researchers suggest that treatment of depression should not be withheld in recovering alcoholics because of the concern that the symptoms may represent prolonged intoxication or withdrawal effects. Treatment of recovering alcoholics may reduce the risk of relapse.

Am I an Alcoholic?

Have you ever wondered to yourself, “Am I an Alcoholic?” If you have and have yet to find out if you are or not, you should ask yourself a series of questions that will identify you as an alcoholic or not, which will determine the level of help you need, if any.

If you are having a hard time determining if you or a loved one are actually an alcoholic, the four following signs will help you determine whether or not you need to seen professional help or not:

You are unable to meet your given duties.

If you can’t seem to do the tasks assigned to you because of your drinking, lack the ability to finish, or continually fail to meet up to the standards given to you, you may have a serious alcohol problem that needs to be addressed

You are continually drinking throughout the day.

If you start drinking early in the morning, shortly after waking up, and continue throughout the day, this could be a sign that you’re dependant on alcohol to get you through the day; the mark of an addiction. This also has severe complications on your brain function, and can cause you to remain sluggish and forgetful.

You need to constantly increase the amount of alcohol you drink.

The body builds up what’s known as a tolerance. This tolerance, if the alcohol is to be effective at giving a “buzz” or dulling the senses must be continually increased. As this alcohol level increases, so does the amount of damage to your liver and brain. It can cause impaired judgment, as well as fat deposits in your liver cells.

You cannot quit without help.

This is one of the most obvious signs of an addiction: when you cannot stop something without someone else’s assistance. This is also shown by the lack of self control with alcohol present, as well as the constant “need” of the alcohol.

If you fit the given scenarios, then you most likely have an addiction to alcohol and can effectively answer the question “Am I an Alcoholic?” The proper steps afterward are now to be able to seek help, or at least take proper steps into lessen the amount of alcohol that you take in.

Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

This article lists several symptoms of Alcoholism. If you experience one or more of these symptoms and drink regularly you should ask yourself if you have a problem with drinking. It is estimated that one third of America has some sort of dependency to alcohol. So before you reach for another drink, review these symptoms of alcohol addiction.

Liver Inflammation:

The liver is an important part of the body. It helps with digestion and also keeps one’s body freed from toxins. When the liver is inflamed, the body can become malnourished, or filled with ammonia which can poison a person’s system. Alcohol addiction puts a lot of additional strain on the liver. This can cause it to shut down or cause fat to deposit inside the liver cells, causing it to shut down.

Malnutrition:

Because alcohol contains 7 calories for every gram, a person’s body determines that it doesn’t need anymore energy, thus, throwing out all of the vital nutrients that it should keep. Alcohol has no beneficial value to the body, and when there are no vitamins coming in, the body can become malnourished and cause severe health risks such as scurvy (which is a depression to the immune system), stroke or heart disease.

Weight Gain:

Ever heard of the “Beer Belly”? Well, as stated before, one gram of alcohol contains 7 calories. These calories are known as “empty” calories that give your body very little nutrients. A person with an alcohol addiction can drink many alcoholic drinks, and consume several hundred of these empty calories which results in weight gain. Weight gain will cause one to feel more lethargic and unhealthy, and also increases the likely-hood of a heart attack.

Forgetfulness and Slowness:

Alcohol impairs the part of the brain that controls memory and judgment. If too much alcohol is consumed over the course of time, the brain can become damaged, and memory loss can take place. This process is also one of the main causes of alcohol induced brain damage. The pleasure that alcohol once gave deadens brain cells and depresses them to the point of no longer working. This causes one to appear mentally challenged and sluggish.

Impaired Judgment:

The very first part of the brain to be affected by alcohol is the frontal lobe. This is the part of the brain that controls judgment and right-thinking. As soon as alcohol hits this part of the brain, neurons begin to fire slower, and nerves known as “inhibitory nerves” are depressed. These nerves can cause one to act on immediate impulses, helping one to seem brave, but at the same time, very stupid.

If these symptoms of an alcohol addiction don’t get you to rethink reaching for another drink, consider the possibility of you joining the 17,941 dead who died due to drunk driving in 2006. These are merely symptoms of alcohol addiction, not the actual consequences of it.

Effects of Alcohol

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Alcohol is one of the worlds most used social lubricants, but also one of the most lethal substances on this planet. I hope to, with this information, show you how alcohol effects the brain (the actual organ), what alcohol is, why it effects you and how to spot an addiction to alcohol, as well as how alcohol effects decision making.

There are a lot of things happen to the actual brain (the organ) when one has a drink of alcohol. What I’ll be writing now is how alcohol effects the brain when it enters the blood stream and as you’ll see, this has a large role in how alcohol effects decision making in the long run. I hope also show you the mental harm (as well as lethal outcomes) that an alcohol addiction can cause.

Now, I want to write on how alcohol effects the brain. The first part of your brain to be effected by alcohol is the frontal lobe. At a .05% alcohol level in your blood, your frontal lobe is effected. The frontal lobe is responsible for judgment and reasoning (which I’ll get to in a little bit). At .1 – .15%, the alcohol travels to your midbrain, where muscle coordination, vision, and speech are controlled. An alcoholic who drinks to this point tends to sway, slur their speech, and has very bad visual coordination (do not drive at all). After this point, the alcohol moves toward your Pons and Medulla Oblongota (two parts in the center part of your brain) where your respiratory system and cardiac system are effected. Hopefully, by this time, your body has shut down and you pass out before the alcohol becomes a lethal poison in your body.

It’s important that you know what you are putting into your body and why alcohol does what it does. Understanding this aids in your knowledge of how alcohol effects decision making, and the amount of alcohol you will allow into your body from this point forward.

Alcohol is a narcotic. A narcotic can be defined as a drug that dulls or depresses the senses. Narcotics such as alcohol can be very prone to addiction, especially if they are legal after a certain age. Like all narcotics, alcohol deadens pain and relieves anxiety. This is another reason it can be an addiction before you even know it. There are many ways you can find out if you have an addiction to alcohol. The best way to find out is by noting if you can cope with problems without the use of alcohol. If you cannot, it is a serious issue, and you might need to seek help before you become a serious alcoholic. Becoming an alcoholic has serious repercussions in how alcohol effects decision making as well as your brain health.

The judgment of an alcoholic is severely distorted by their addiction, as well as the alcohol itself deadening and depressing the nerves inside of the brain. This leads me into my last point, which is how alcohol effects judgment.

So do you want to know how alcohol effects decision making? Take for example those hidden urges that you have to suppress. Every single person has them. What allows you to stop yourself from acting upon these otherwise socially unacceptable, yet natural urges are called “inhibitory nerves.” Since alcohol is a depressant, these nerves are depressed, allowing you to appear more brave, when all you are is acting on urges that are already there. This is not safe when you decide to drive, or your friends dare you to do something. Since alcohol also inhibits the sympathetic nervous system. This nervous system gives you the “fight or flight” sense, which would normally cause you to become more cautious of a situation.

What I have just given you is information on how alcohol effects decision making, mental awareness and reason, as well as what alcohol is as a drug, and how to spot an alcoholic addiction. If you have a chemical in your body that inhibits the nerves that help you suppress the dormant urges that you have, and you begin to lose your judgment because your frontal lobe (where reason lives), do you think that you’re going to make great decisions? I would venture to say “No.” And that is how alcohol effects decision making.

What is Alcoholism?

Many enjoy a few casual drinks or getting wasted from time to time. However, there are many who are unable to control themselves and cannot stop drinking. There are many problems associated with alcohol in regards to it’s effects and our ability to responsible deal with them. The most severe effect and the least desirable is addiction. There are nearly 14 million Americans who qualify as Alcoholics [Source: http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/alcohol.htm].

Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions. In common and historic usage, alcoholism refers to any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages despite the health problems and negative social consequences it causes. Medical definitions describe alcoholism as a disease which results in a persistent use of alcohol despite negative consequences. Alcoholism may also refer to a preoccupation with or compulsion toward the consumption of alcohol and/or an impaired ability to recognize the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Although not all of these definitions specify current and on-going use of alcohol as a qualifier, some do, as well as remarking on the long-term effects of consistent, heavy alcohol use, including dependence and symptoms of withdrawal.

While the ingestion of alcohol is, by definition, necessary to develop alcoholism, the use of alcohol does not predict the development of alcoholism. The quantity, frequency and regularity of alcohol consumption required to develop alcoholism varies greatly from person to person. In addition, although the biological mechanisms underpinning alcoholism are uncertain, some risk factors, including social environment, emotional health and genetic predisposition, have been identified. [source: www.wikipedia .org]

Some consider Alcoholism to be a disease, disorder, addiction and or a chronic dependency. Many have tried to overcome their problem and succeeded and others have failed. Although it may be extremely difficult Alcoholism surmontable and the Alcoholic and can be given a new lease on life. Hear at Alcohol Treatment Clinics we strive to educate and provide sources where those experiencing Alcoholism can find support and resources to defeat their addiction.

Alcoholism Can Effect Anyone.