A Portrait Of An Alcoholic 

 

Is there an accurate portrait of what an alcoholic looks like? In other words is there such a thing as a typical alcoholic or not?

Popular myths might like to portray an alcoholic as a person who is falling down drunk all of the time and as a person who is constantly carrying around a bottle and sneaking drinks whenever he can.

This portrait might also include a person who drinks as soon as he awakens in the morning because he cannot function properly throughout the workday without having a drink (or many drinks). While this may describe some alcoholics, it certainly does not describe them all. Alcoholics do not really confirm to any strict stereotypes.

An alcoholic can be a down and out person who has lost his job and has drank all of his money away to the point where he has lost his home and family and must survive on the streets.

On the other hand many upstanding, professional members of the community also have problems with alcohol, even if they are able to hide it better.

There is a great deal of difference between what is deemed social drinking as opposed to problem drinking and that of alcoholism.

Social drinking is classified as being mild to moderate drinking (such as for example one to three drinks at a time) which is done for the purposes of simply unwinding or relaxing at a social get together with family members or friends.

In the case of social drinking, the drinking is kept in check- there is no impaired judgement, no loss of control and no loss of any level of responsibility on the individuals part.

Problem drinking on the other hand is drinking that takes place on a continual basis despite the fact that a host of problems arises because of it.

These problems could involve social problems, legal problems, physical problems or occupational related problems that are directly caused by drinking or else are made worst by consuming alcohol.

An example of this might be a college student who goes on a drinking binge every second or third weekend and then misses a day or two of classes at the start of the school week in order to recuperate.

This person shows no other noticeable symptoms that his drinking has developed into a problem. Alcoholism is most definitely problem drinking that is taken to the next dangerous level.

 Did You Know

 

There are four general rules that are used by diagnosticians to determine alcohol abuse:

1. Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, home (e.g., repeated absences or poor work performance related to substance use; substance-related absences, suspensions, or expulsions from school; neglect of children or household)

2. Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous such as driving a car or operating machinery.

3. Recurrent substance related legal problems

4. Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems that are caused or made worse by the substance abuse.

 

 
 
There are the added factors inherent in alcoholism such as a total preoccupation with the consumption of it as well as the compulsion to always have it, as well as tolerance (requiring higher and higher quantities to get the same high feeling) and a multitude of symptoms of withdrawal.
 
The state of withdrawal makes reference to uncomfortable physical kinds of symptoms that occur after a great deal of alcohol has been consumed. A person may experience many of these or only a few.
 
Examples of withdrawal symptoms include nausea, headaches, trembling, uncontrollable thirst for liquids, and a feeling of being edgy or antsy.
 
Interesting Facts

If a family member is worrying you with their behavor when they are drinking, make arrangements so that you have a safe place to go when their drinking gets out of hand.
 
Once a person has been identified as being an alcoholic, they are then considered to have a medical condition or disease and it is believed that the disease of alcoholism can develop as a result of a number of different factors such as genetic factors, environmental factors and psychosocial factors.
 
 

 
 alcohol affects
 

Better Your Health

Site Map
What is the Attraction To Alcohol
Alcoholism is a Widespread Problem
◦ The Difference Between Alcohol Dependence And Alcohol Abuse
◦ FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 1
◦ FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 2
◦ A Brief Summary Regarding Alcoholism
◦ Alcohol Abuse and the College Campus
◦ The Brain And Alcohol
◦ Health Risks For Women Alcoholics
◦ Holiday Survival Guide For The Alcoholic
◦ How A Child See's Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism Detoxification Steps
◦ Alcoholism and the Workplace
◦ The Children of Alcoholics
◦ Common Questions About Alcoholism
◦ Tests for Alcohol Use
◦ Do All Alcoholics Need a Rehab Center
◦ The Dangers and Penalties Of Drinking and Driving
◦ The War On Drunk Driving
◦ How To Determine When Someone Needs Professional Help
◦ Some Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
◦ Diet Hints To Assist With Alcoholism Withdrawal
◦ Helping Someone To Overcome Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism Risk Is Linked to Early Aged Drinking
◦ A Portrait Of An Alcoholic
◦ The Symptoms of Alcoholism
◦ Basic Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Hard Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Cautions Concerning Non Alcoholic Beer
◦ The College Campus And Alcoholism
◦ Dangers of Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 1-6
◦ Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 6-12
◦ What Causes An Alcoholic Blackout
◦ New Shot to Treat Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism's Physical Effects
◦ Group Support For Alcoholism
◦ Threats From Alcoholism
◦ The Truth About Alcoholism
◦ Treating The Three Main Issues In Alcoholism
◦ Treatments for Alcoholism
◦ Vitamins and Supplements For The Alcoholic
◦ Recovering From Alcoholism
◦ Help Your Teen Avoid Becoming An Alcoholic
◦ What Is Alcholism
◦ Family Members Drinking Too Much
◦ Explain Alcoholism
◦ Who Are The Alcoholics
◦ Women Fighting The Consequences of Alcoholism
◦ Al Anon Support For The Alcoholic's Family
◦ Health Consequences Of Alcoholism
◦ Medications Used For Treating Alcoholism
◦ Screening Tests For Alcoholism
◦ What Is The Difference Between Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism
◦ What the Bible Says About Alcohol Abuse
◦ How to Stop Drinking Alcohol without AA
◦ The Truth About Alcoholics Anonymous
◦ Alcoholism - Curable or Just Controllable
◦ The Causes of Alcoholism
◦ So How Much Drinking Really Is Too Much?
◦ Is Alcoholism Hereditary
◦ What Children Need to Know About Alcohol
◦ How to Recognize When Children are Drinking
◦ What You Need to Know about how to Set Up an Intervention for an Alcoholic
◦ How to Quit Drinking Without Gaining Weight