For the purposes of this article we will be focus on alcoholism, which is defined as a physical and/or mental dependence on alcohol. When alcoholism develops, the alcoholic will experience horrifying physical withdrawal symptoms which could result in death. Some of the withdrawal and addiction symptoms are as simple as sweating, diarrhea and flu like aches and pains. Once the addict moves on to becoming a “full-blown alcoholic” they may develop tremors, hallucinations, damage to the liver, and diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, anemia, and in extreme cases organs begin to shut down due to the liver damage caused by the users consumption of alcohol.
People who are not addicts often just don’t understand the addict’s need to keep feeding their disease and continue on with the vicious-cycle they are in. “Normal” people don’t understand why. Families and loved ones of the alcoholic always want to know why the addict can’t just stop drinking. Addiction symptoms and advice for the addicts is more complicated than simply not drinking. In this very basic example Joe, our alcoholic, drinks to stop feeling sad, when he is sad, he starts drinking and begins to feel better, either the alcohol makes him feel happy, or it numbs the original feelings of sadness and/or depression regardless he believes he feels better than he did. This is where Joe’s vicious cycle begins. Joe will most likely argue with his wife over the fact that he stayed out all night drinking, Joe will again feel bad, and feel the need to stop drinking; after all, it’s hurting his marriage. Joe will try not to get a bottle on the way home from work, but he thinks, maybe just a small bottle won’t hurt. The thing about alcoholism is once you begin to drink, you can’t stop. To end Joe’s cycle of destruction he must not take that first drink!
Joe’s wife, Sue is noticing that Joe isn’t bathing as often as he should, there is money missing from their bank account, the car has a dent in it that wasn’t there the last time Sue drove it and she begins to wonder what is going on. The Addiction symptoms are right there in front of her, but if she hasn’t been around an alcoholic before so she doesn’t recognize Joe’s “cries for help”.
They Have to Hit Rock Bottom ....
Let me dispel a big myth: The alcoholic DOES NOT need to hit rock bottom before they stop drinking/using. They simply need to have a desire to stop drinking. Alcoholics Anonymous is a very large organization that uses a common 12-step method to guide the Alcoholic through their journey to recovery. There are many programs, treatment centers, clubs, and organizations all over the world that pride themselves in helping alcoholics to recover. Not all methods work for everyone. Joe may be able to attend AA meetings (free program), get a sponsor (another AA member willing to help you), and become a sober law abiding contributor to society. Other people go to church, and others trade one addiction for another addiction that is not damaging their health and well-being. One alcoholic I know traded in drinking for running and within 3 years of becoming sober began to run marathons for charities. Addicts will do just about anything excessively, so it is important to keep that in mind to take care of your self, everything in moderation, it’s hard for people who have “addictive personalities” to not overdo things that are also considered “good-for-you”. We want instant gratification; we want to change how we feel, we always want to feel better, faster.
