Living With An Alcoholic

You are the Responsible One When You Live with an Alcoholic

Daniel — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:21:00 +0000

When you live with an alcoholic, you not only feel alone, but most of the time you really are when it comes to chores and the kids. You are the only adult in the home it feels like most of the time. You will not be able to rest until all the work around the house is done and if you want to go somewhere, you will take the kids with you because the other parent will not be able to care for them while he or she is drinking. You might even have to have a job on top of everything lese.

You will have to make sure the bills are paid on time. You will also need to make sure that the family has enough money for everything after the alcohol is bought out of the family budget. You may have to get a job just to survive and pay the bills. This could be the hardest thing you have to do in your life, especially if you thought that your spouse or partner was going to take care of the work and you wee going to take care of the house and the family. Things change when the alcohol consumes one of the partners.

You will usually have to clean and take out the garbage. This is just because it will at least get done the right way. He or she may want to do dishes, but when you try to do something when you are drunk, it usually backfires. Dirty dishes in the cupboards that are said to be clean can be disturbing. Taking out the garbage can also be a challenge and if you want everything to be taken out, then you will probably have to do it yourself. You can plan on doing almost everything around the house including cleaning up messes that he or she may make.

The person may not want supper when you do, so you will have to make sure that there is enough food leftover for them. This is something that can cause arguments. If dinner is not just right, it can trigger an argument. You will never win, so you always do what is asked of you, even if it means making something new. This can get old fast and make you wish that you were the one drinking. Just do not ever give up hope.

You will have to secretly keep a hold on the money and know where it is going. An alcoholic in you life means that money is going to be tight because they will always have money for alcohol, but may not have enough for anything else. If you want to keep your home and have things for the family including food, you need to take control of the money. Even if they say no, you must find a way to do it.

The kids will be your responsibility and you will need to keep them in line by yourself. You can pretty much figure that anything that requires the attention of a parent is going to be your responsibility. In some cases, you will even hear that you were the one that had kids. It can be hard on the kids just as much as it is on you. Kids need both parents for support and most of the time, they do not have this when one parent is an alcoholic. Living with an alcoholic can be challenging and devastating to kids and to you.

Vitamins and Supplements that might be beneficial a person suffering from Alcoholism

Daniel — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:17:00 +0000

Alcoholism can cause the body to deplete nutrients that are necessary for the normal and healthy functioning of the body. Often times, alcoholics will have a vitamin deficiency especially the vitamins in the B complex category. A person with this illness might be eating some of the best balanced meals yet end up with a vitamin deficiency. There is also an indication that people with a deficiency of vitamin B might be more susceptible to becoming dependent on alcohol. Let’s take a closer look shall we….

Alcoholics might need additional concentrations of vitamins that their food is most likely not going to provide enough of and the vitamins and supplements that might need further replenishment are:

* thiamin or B1

* folic acid

* zinc

* phosphorus

* calcium

* magnesium

* potassium

* Vitamin E

Now, the group of vitamins known as B complex will be the best route for most people as it tends to be reasonable. It just makes sense to take the whole vitamin B complex together. The need to take B vitamins is increased when a person consumes a lot of alcohol or sugar. Furthermore, an alcoholic beverage, typically supplies a person with no nutrition yet it is a simple carbohydrate which provides energy and therefore acts a lot like sugar. Metabolizing these components increases a persons needs for vitamins.

Some problems that can develop if a person becomes vitamin B deficient are:

* Anemia

* Brain damage due to alcohol induced Korsakoff’s syndrome which is a memory disorder

Some of the benefits of taking the B complex of vitamins are:

* Helps with low blood sugar

* Helps to calm a person’s body down

* can help with depression

* can help with the D.T.’s

While I have seemingly focused on Vitamin B complex, other nutrients – when supplied as an additional supplement – might provide enhanced results.

These supplements are:

* high potency multivitamin and multimineral supplement

* vitamin c helps to neutralize toxins

* Chromium

* Lecithin

* L-Glutamine this is important as it can help reduce cravings for alcoholic beverages

Now that we have had a glimpse at what vitamins are needed in increased quantities for a person living with alcoholism and that are beneficial in helping to restore deficiencies, let’s look at what might prevent alcoholism.

Is it even possible that a vitamin could help to prevent Alcoholism? Let’s just touch on this briefly. It is not commonly known that B vitamins might help to reduce the craving for alcohol. But put another way, if a person is deficient in The Vitamin B complex this might cause a person to have an increased craving for alcohol. As such, based on some studies there is a suggestion that a deficiency of Vitamin B might make you susceptible to an unhealthy habit of drinking alcoholic beverages.

So, you might say that the lack of enough B1 can cause alcohol consumption; or vitamin B1 deficiency can be a consequence of drinking too much alcohol.

Well, as you can probably gather from this information vitamins can be a very big asset and a much needed component in the diet for those who suffer from alcohol dependency. It might even help to prevent someone from becoming dependent on alcohol. By applying good eating habits and a good vitamin regimen bad drinking might be avoided.

Keep in mind that vitamins and nutritional therapy are important in the maintenance of an alcoholic’s system in a major way. So, be sure to take consultation with a nutritional support physician to help you with the treatment of alcoholism.

Talking to Children about the Alcoholic Parent

Daniel — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:09:00 +0000

Living with an alcoholic is even more difficult when you have kids that are seeing this display. It is hard to explain to kids why one parent has to drink and not do anything with the family. In many cases, kids ask questions that need to be answered and you have a hard time doing it. You do not want them to hate the parent that drinks, but you also do not wan them to follow in the same footsteps. They also might not want to have friends over because of the drinking. As a parent, you have to talk to the kids so that they understand.

Be honest with the kids. If they have questions, you have to give them truthful answers. You do not have to say that the parent is a drunk, but you do have to explain that drinking is a disease and the parent needs help, but is not getting it. Explaining and answering their questions can be hard. Sometimes you just want to tell them that you do not know why the person drinks, but then you are not helping them understand anything. You need to be truthful, but you also have to shield them from some things about the alcoholic.

They have friends and they do not want their friends to see a drunken parent. This can be very hard for kids to understand. This is especially hard on the kids if the other kid’s parents are the ones forbidding the kids to come to your house. Many parents do not want their kids subjected to the problems or the alcohol abuse. They are afraid of what might happen. This hard for the kids and when the other kids cannot come and play at their house, they can become lonely and depressed.

You have to be strong for the kids, but you also need to make sure that they have a good life. This can be done by being there fro them and taking them to places where they will have fun with other kids. Sometimes it is easier to let the kids play at the neighbor’s house so they are not around the drinking, but then they are not getting the attention they need from the non-drinking parent. It is hard to have kids in a home where an alcoholic resides.

Ask them how they feel and listen. You need to understand how the kids feel. They have no one to talk to but you. It is not like they can discuss their feelings with their friends. You have to be there for them and listen to how they feel. It is not uncommon for children of alcoholic parents to grow up to drink. They are learning at a young age that drinking is acceptable unless you tell them differently.

Make sure that the kids understand that this is not how people should live. You have to stress the unhealthiness of drinking. You are the teacher and you have to make sure that the kids do not grow up thinking that this way of living is all there is for them. If you need help talking to a child, support groups and even a church minister can help. Children of alcoholic parents need to have some structure in their life outside of the home. You have to make sure that the kids are happy and well cared for so that they grow up to be well-adjusted adults even if you live with an alcoholic.

Youngsters Prone to Alcoholism

Daniel — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:18:00 +0000

Alcoholism is addiction to alcohol, which makes an individual dependent on alcohol to feel good. As a result, the addict graduates into excessive alcohol intake that causes fatal imbalances in his nervous system, making his body crave alcohol to feel normal. Heavy alcohol intake on a regular basis causes chemical imbalances in the individual’s brain. For instance, it alters the composition of chemicals such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA responsible for inhibiting impulsiveness) and glutamate (stimulates nervous system). Excessive drinking can also deplete these chemicals, in the absence of which the body seeks alcohol to ward off negativity. Such a condition, when left untreated, may fatally damage an individual’s health.

Alcohol addiction is predominant among youngsters. Many youngsters who do not have material obligations also take up drinking as a pastime and gradually get addicted to it. Statistics show that nearly 60% of youngsters take up drinking to feel that they are mature. They see their parents drinking and take up the habit to become like them. There are several factors that lead to alcoholism among youngsters:

Genetics: If you have a history of alcoholism in your family, you are more vulnerable to alcohol addiction.

Emotional Instability: Anxiety, high stress levels, or any emotional trauma can cause excessive drinking, as they excite the stress hormones.

Psychological factors: Low self-esteem and prolonged depression may lead to alcohol abuse. If you have alcoholics in your circle of friends, you are prone to the disease.

Social and cultural factors: Most people associate drinking with social class and believe that one cannot belong to the elites if he does not drink, as drinking is fashion. Moreover, advertisements portray drinking as a part of “belonging.”

Prevention from Addiction

Awareness on the subject can make a world of difference in terms of changing the perception of drinking among the youth. Parents must educate children on the subject and encourage them to talk to them about their friends. Since such habits are generally adopted after getting inspiration from someone, knowing that there is an unhealthy element near your child can help you to take precautionary measures.

Treating alcohol addiction may require intensive personalized treatment. There are specialized healthcare institutions providing such treatment in groups. For those who do not want group treatments, there are several treatment programs on a one-on-one basis. These sessions last for hours and are conducted by top therapists.

Protect the Children from Alcohol Abuse

Daniel — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:04:00 +0000

If you have children in the home, you must protect them from alcohol abuse. These means that they have to be protected form the alcohol and the alcoholic that may be abusive. Kids are very impressionable and learn from what they see or what is done to them. You have to be the one to break the cycle. If you do not protect the children from the abuse no matter if it is physical or because they see a parent drinking, they could grow up with the same tendencies. As a parent or even a friend, you must step in and prevent any problems before they start.

Kids will follow in the footsteps of a parent if they do not understand the consequences. This is not always true, but in most cases, it is what happens. Even if a child does not take after the parent, they may grow up to accept this type of behavior and put their own lives in danger or have nothing but heartache. You have to protect the children so that they know that this is not the way to live. However, sometimes this can be hard to do if you want to remain in the home.

If there is abuse in the home because of alcohol, you need to shield the kids from this abuse. If the abuse is physical, mental or verbal, kids should not have to live with it. it the abuse is watching their parent drink themselves into a drunken state, they need to know that this is not how people should live. As a parent, you have to make a decision whether to stay or take you children somewhere else where they will not be subjected to the abusive behavior or have to watch mom or dad drink themselves to death.

Never tell the kids that drinking is just something you do. It is not something that you just do. They need to understand that alcoholism is a disease that can have devastating affects on the person the family. This is important for children to understand. This does not mean that telling them that their parent is a loser or a bad person. You have to be truthful without being demeaning to the parent with the problem. Children are smart and will know that other families do live as you do.

You may need to leave the home for a while if the drinking leads to abusive behavior. This is the only way to protect the children and make sure that they do not grow up thinking that this is acceptable behavior. You also do not want to keep them in an abusive home. Not all alcoholics drink all the time, but even so, the kids should not be subjected to any abusive behavior from a parent. They also should be told that drinking is all right. As they grow up, they would stand a good chance of following in the footsteps of the alcoholic parent.

Take the kids to Al-Anon so that they have someone other than you to talk with. This is very important so that the kids have someone to talk to and listen to other kids in the same situation. If they have somewhere to go with others their age, it could help them understand what is happening and how to cope with their home life. It can also help them understand if you have to leave the home.

Talk with the kids if they have questions. You have to be honest without being judgmental. The kids will understand more if you talk to them instead of trying to hide the problem. Kids today, know more than what parents knew when they were kids and they see and hear things that they probably should not. This is the reason that you must be honest. Never badmouth the alcoholic parent because the kids could resent you.

When you are talking to the kids, ask them if they have questions and try to answer them the best you can. You can also expect to be asked why mom or dad yells at them or why the person has to do the things that he or she does. Answer honestly and try to help them understand.

The threats of alcoholism

Daniel — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:17:00 +0000

Alcoholism is one of the most wide-spread problems in the world in terms of substance abuse. Along with caffeine, alcohol has been shown to be one of the most widely abused substances. Prolonged alcohol abuse can really take a toll on both the body and the social life of an individual, and in this article, we’ll explain some of the dangers that are associated with alcoholism in order to clearly show exactly what types of problems alcoholics face with regards to their health.

One of the organs that is most damaged from the long-term abuse of alcohol is the liver. It is the biggest organ located inside the human body, and drinking can cause cirrhosis to occur. Cirrhosis is caused by alcohol, and results in the healthy tissues of the liver being turned into scar tissue, inhibiting the liver’s function. Early signs of cirrhosis of the liver may include pain in the abdomen, nausea, fatigue, and swelling of the ankles.

There are also many heightened risks of cancers that an individual subjects themselves to when they regularly abuse alcohol over a long period of time. Alcohol has been indeed classified as a carcinogen by the United States, and one faces an increased risk of cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and larynx when regularly drinking.

One of the most morbid side-effects that alcohol abuse can have on the human body is known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. When a woman is pregnant and she drinks alcohol, the fetus is exposed to all of the harmful effects of the substance. They may face developmental problems, such as an inability to successfully receive oxygen and nutrition. Also, the child may end up having several different deformities due to the alcohol consumption, such as malformations of the face, organ deformities, or mental retardation. Even when not pregnant, a woman’s reproductive health can be greatly damaged by an alcohol abuse problem. Menopause may hit earlier in problem drinkers, and some women with serious drinking problems find that they have decreased fertility and irregular menstrual cycles. Men who are heavy alcoholics often are found to have lower sperm counts and weaker sperm than those who do not drink.

There is a long list of other problems that alcoholism can result in when left unchecked. The heart is particularly susceptible to alcohol’s harmful effects. Alcoholics often have higher levels of blood pressure than the rest of the population, and alcoholics face an increased rate of heart disease. Decreased blood flow to the arms and legs is another common side-effect. Heavy prolonged drinking can also lead to strokes and brain damage.

As you can see, there are plenty of things that alcohol does to damage your body. Drinking in moderation may not result in all of the problems listed above, but if you are concerned for your health and you have a problem with drinking, you should address it as soon as you can in order to limit the damage that is done to your body and work towards a better tomorrow.

Read more on The threats of alcoholism…

Who Are These Alcoholics?

Daniel — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:00:00 +0000

To know them, requires defining the disease Alcoholism first. The definition in simplest terms: A chronic disease in which the person suffering from it has a dependence on alcohol, experiences withdrawal symptoms when trying to avoid or decrease intake of alcohol, suffers bodily organ damage due to the alcohol and has a decreased ability to function at work or in relationships as a direct result of this disease. The disease Alcoholism has been shown in studies to be the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

Alcoholism can have a damaging affect on every organ system in the human body. Knowing this, we can see that the Alcoholic is someone who is going to suffer long-term from the results of this very devastating disease. The damage is not only to the sufferer’s body, but also to every aspect of life – work, home, socially. The outward appearance and mannerisms of an alcoholic does not endear them to those who might otherwise offer, through compassion, some assistance to them. An alcoholic does not wear a sign proclaiming that he is suffering from a disease. Society looks at the alcoholic and may see instead invisible signs that say: low-life, scum, deserter, waste, bum etc. Society as a whole tends to blame the alcoholic for the destruction surrounding them and demands that they just “get their act together and stop immediately”. The sad fact is, that the alcoholic cannot stop drinking immediately. Treatment for alcoholism is many faceted and involves time and commitment, because of the addictive nature of the disease.

According to the US National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Study, the person suffering from Alcoholism can be seen in the following statistics:

Those who currently drink alcohol – 44%

Those who formerly drank alcohol – 22%

Those who abused or were dependent on alcohol over the past year – 7.5-9.5%

Lifetime occurrence – 13.5-23.5%

The person suffering from Alcoholism can be male, female, elderly, middle-aged, young adult, a teen, even a child as young as twelve or thirteen. One shudders to think of any younger possibilities. You may also find this person in the company of family members who also suffer from this same disease.

The Alcoholic can also be seen in the affects that alcohol renders on the body’s systems promoting further diseases such as Cirrhosis of the liver, or breast, mouth and oropharyngeal, liver and esophageal cancers. Alcoholism can even contribute to hemorrhagic stroke.

We notice the Alcoholic in the following scenarios playing the part of the accused, victim, participant or as a statistic in some national news story:

Vehicular accidents

Homicides

Suicides

Divorces

Domestic Violence

Alcoholism affects not just the one who consumes alcohol; it has a devastating affect on the lives of those around them as well. You can find the Alcoholic mirrored in the sad eyes of three quarters of all American foster children and in the eyes of the 60 – 70% of abused spouses and partners who suffer from domestic violence and report it.

Read more on Who Are These Alcoholics?…

Offer Love and Conversation to the Alcoholic

Daniel — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:15:00 +0000

If you live with an alcoholic, you want to offer love and conversation when they are not drinking. Trying this when they are drinking may be harder to do since you never know what their mood is or how they will react. You have to have an open line of communication even if the person is an alcoholic. You should not try talking about anything important when they are drinking, but engage is light conversation and leave the heavy discussions for when they are sober. Then you can have a friendly conversation. Just show them some love and hope that they like that better than what they get when they drink.

If the alcoholic is not a mean drunk, you can offer love. This of course depends on the mood of the alcoholic when he is drinking. Some alcoholics are mellow drunks, but even the mildest mannered alcoholic can switch moods just like that without warning. It can be like a roller coaster. One minute they can be sweet and loving and the next screaming at you because you said something that they did not like. This is a pattern with most alcoholics. You never know what you can say or do. It can change from day to day or even minute to minute.

When the alcoholic is not drinking, engage in conversation and try to touch on the drinking. This is the only time you have to discuss drinking. In most cases, they will tell you that they do not have a problem. They do not see it the same way that you do. You could point out a few things that they do when they drink and hope that they remember. You can tell them how it makes you feel when they have to drink all the time. It probably will not help them, but it can help you.

Explain that you want to care about them and do not want to see something bad happen. You can pour out your feelings and at least let them know how you feel, but chances are, they will only quick drinking for a few days and then start hiding it from you. This is common with alcoholics. If they know that you do not want them to drink, they will find ways to do it and hide it. It would not be uncommon to find empties in cupboards, down in the basement or out in the garage.

Talk about the future and things you would like to do. Make it clear that you want to enjoy a life with them, but you want them to be around for it. Make it clear that you are not really happy with the ways things are, but you would like to help make a change. Never tell them that they have to change, make it a change for both of you. You may not need to change, but telling them that is not going to mean a thing. You have to tell them that you will change with them.

Explain some of the health risks that you discovered. This may be one thing that could help. If they do not want to die at a young age, they may think about what you have to say. Of course, if they do not feel as if they have a problem, you could be talking to deaf ears. You can still try. Maybe if they see or feel some symptoms, they will think about what you said.

Try not to get upset or yell. Engage in a light conversation and if you feel yourself getting upset, take a moment to collect your thoughts. The last thing the alcoholic wants to do is listen to you yell at them. If you do not walk away and calm down, they might just leave and find somewhere to drink. This will defeat the purpose of your talk. You have to be on eggshells when you live with an alcoholic if you want to help them. You can be caring when you talk, but do not expect that in return from the alcoholic. That may come over time.

What is Alcoholism

Daniel — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:22:00 +0000

Alcoholism refers to a chronic disease that is often progressive and can cause fatal damage to an individual’s health when left untreated. The deadly disease attacks millions of people across the world that first ruins the health of an individual and then traumatizes his emotional and mental states by disrupting his family and social lives. Unfortunately, the disease is predominant in the 18-21 age group.

Types Of Alcohol Addiction

There are two types of alcohol addiction – alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Alcohol abuse is a state in which an individual indulges in excessive intake of alcohol, which takes a toll on his health, but retains the capacity to refrain from the habit. Alcoholism, on the other hand, is a dangerous stage wherein the individual completely loses control over alcohol intake and continues to consume it in spite of suffering from severe health hazards. This state is characterized by physical dependence on alcohol, which can be attributed to various social factors as well genetic and psychological issues.

Causes Of Alcoholism

It is caused buy several factors, some of them are discussed below:

Genetics: If you have a history of alcoholism in your family, you are more vulnerable to alcohol addiction.

Emotional Instability: Anxiety, high stress levels, or any emotional trauma can cause excessive drinking, as they excite the stress hormones.

Psychological factors: Low self-esteem and prolonged depression may lead to alcohol abuse. If you have alcoholics in your circle of friends, you are prone to the disease.

Social and cultural factors: Most people associate drinking with social class and believe that one cannot belong to the elites if he does not drink, as drinking is fashion. Moreover, the advertisements portray drinking as a part of “belonging.”

Prevention Of The Deadly Disease

An interesting fact about alcohol addiction is that the person indulging in the habit feels better not while indulging in it but at the time of deciding to indulge. This suggests that there is a scope to deal with this crisis situation by exercising control over the moment the thought of indulging in the act comes to mind. Alcohol addicts should ward off the thought of indulging in the behavior when it comes to their mind.

Treating alcohol addiction may require intensive personalized treatment. There are specialized health-care institutions providing such treatment in groups. For those who do not want group treatments, there are several treatment programs on a one-on-one basis. These sessions last for hours and are conducted by top therapists.

When To Seek Medical Care

Daniel — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:16:00 +0000

Alcoholism refers to a chronic disease that is often progressive and can cause fatal damage to an individual’s health, when left untreated. Typically, there are three stages of alcoholism: early stage, middle stage, and late stage. In the early stage, the symptoms are not very prominent and the patient tends to ignore them. In the middle stage, an alcoholic realizes that he has a problem but has already lost the ability to control alcohol intake. It is in this stage that the medication must start to avoid the person’s arrival at the late stage.

However, raising the level of awareness on the subject can make a significant difference in the lives of the affected. Therefore, we must focus on educating people, particularly youths, on the dangers of alcoholism. The sooner you identify the symptoms, the earlier you can come to your rescue. Ask yourself the following questions to find out whether you may fall prey to alcoholism.

* Do you find yourself drinking alone regularly?

* Do you keep on finding excuses to drink?

* Do you feel an inability to stop yourself from drinking?

* Do you find it difficult to reduce the amount of alcohol intake?

* Do you have a history of alcoholism in your family?

* Do you get violent when somebody advises you not to drink or stops you from drinking?

* Have you developed poor eating habits after taking up drinking regularly?

* Are you unable to take care of your physical appearance after taking up drinking excessively?

If you have answered these questions as no, then you are perhaps a “problem drinker,” meaning that you drink only to cope with momentary crisis situations. However, if your answers to most of these questions are yes, then there are chances that you may fall prey to alcoholism. But do not panic because progress in medical science has created many avenues for treatment of alcoholics such as:

* Detoxification and withdrawal: This is a serious procedure that usually takes one week, wherein the patient is given sedating medication to avoid withdrawal seizures.

* Assessment and treatment: This process identifies and cures diseases related to alcoholism such as high blood pressure and blood sugar and heart and liver diseases .

* Psychological and psychiatric treatment: This program gives group counseling and therapy to help patients to recover from traumatic effects of alcoholism.

* Acceptance and abstinence: This helps an alcoholic to realize that he needs medical help to overcome the stage of alcoholism. After this, the goal is abstinence in the patient.

Read more on When To Seek Medical Care…

Living With An Alcoholic

You are the Responsible One When You Live with an Alcoholic

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Vitamins and Supplements that might be beneficial a person suffering from Alcoholism

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Talking to Children about the Alcoholic Parent

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Youngsters Prone to Alcoholism

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Protect the Children from Alcohol Abuse

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The threats of alcoholism

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Who Are These Alcoholics?

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Offer Love and Conversation to the Alcoholic

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What is Alcoholism

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When To Seek Medical Care

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