Alcoholism is a disease that develops at a psychological level, because the patient develops addiction. Since it is much more difficult to return such a drinking person to normal life, it is easier not to allow him to drink in the first place. Their addiction is earlier and more aggravated. The stage of alcoholism in a person determines the course of treatment.
Causes
The following causes of alcoholism are distinguished:
- Genetic.
- Psychological.
- Social.
The main problem is genetic. It’s easier not to let a person get into alcohol than to cure him.
If the family has an addiction to alcohol, then the chance of developing the disease is increasing. This is due to abnormalities in the genes. Such people at a fairly early age begin to drink, instantly get drunk, and in fact they cannot be cured.
The best way is not to drink at all, not to keep alcohol at home, not to communicate with people who drink, in general, to do everything possible so that a person does not get involved in a harmful business.
To identify this predisposition, it is necessary to pass a general blood test for genetics.
The psychological reason. Self-doubt, low self-esteem. Also aggressive and emotional people who are capable of inappropriate actions are easily drunk too. A person without a socially positive attitude, who has no desire for something, who does not know how to allocate his free time. Lost interest in life.
The social factor. Left without work, easy access to alcohol, quarrels in the family, divorce and much more. Someone worthily experiencing their problems, someone falls into depression, hopelessness.
First symptoms
As expected, in the first stages of alcoholism in men and women, a person begins to notice for himself a craving for alcohol.
At this stage, there are no organismic changes yet, but a psychological habit is already emerging. A person can live without alcohol, but in times of failure, he will definitely want to drink. External changes are also not observed. Man continues to strive for his goals. It is important if he began to notice such symptoms behind him, it is worth gathering all his strength into a fist and abandon drinking alcohol.
When it may be too late
If at first a person could not cope with alcoholism, then he is overtaken by the following symptoms characteristic of the stage of chronic alcoholism:
- Lack of vomiting. After prolonged drinking, the liver ceases to perceive alcohol as a strong danger. That is why there is no vomiting.
- The norm is getting higher. A person begins to notice that he can drink at times more than a few months ago.
- Binge. During binge, a small amount of alcohol is enough for a person to feel severe intoxication. In the morning, a hangover appears, so the addicted person feels a strong craving for alcohol. The human psyche changes a lot, moments of apathy come, aggression is often present, hallucinations are possible.
Narcologists determine the degree of drunkenness and a more neglected degree of alcoholism. Each of them also has three stages.
Drunkenness
At this stage, addiction to alcohol is just beginning to develop, although at the physical level the patient is already experiencing the destructive power of a bad habit. However, the close environment of the patient already notices his changes in personality and behavior. Stages of drinking:
1. Occasional drunkenness. This is the initial stage of alcoholism in men, the signs of which are the following (also happens in women):
- sometimes drinks alcohol;
- a person does not yet know his norm in order to achieve a state of intoxication;
- the next day the patient is tormented by symptoms of poisoning;
- he is not attracted to alcohol, provocateurs contribute to this;
- at this stage, the person feels an aversion to alcohol.
2. Ritual drunkenness. At this stage of alcoholism in women and men, the patient justifies the use of alcohol for a festive occasion. It entails negative consequences:
- each holiday the patient associates with the use of alcohol;
- a person more often finds a reason for consumption;
- later the holiday is celebrated for several days.
3. Habitual drinking. This is the last stage of alcoholism and the initial stage of alcoholism, the symptoms in men with it are quite obvious. Drinking is a habit, and alcoholism is already a disease, that is, an ingrained habit. At this stage, the person:
- already drinking alcohol for no reason;
- drinks alcohol more than twice a week.
Stages of alcoholism
Only an experienced narcologist can determine the stage of the disease. Usually these stages are divided:
1. The first stage of alcoholism, the symptoms are as follows:
- The patient drinks more often and much more.
- A person is looking for a reason to drink and considers this the norm.
- Alcohol is vital for the patient, otherwise he feels unwell and oppressed.
- The patient rarely after drinking suffers from signs of poisoning.
- The patient sharply and irritably reacts to the prohibition of drinking alcohol.
- Pressure problems begin and gastritis develops.
- With hangover syndromes, the patient may still refrain from drinking.
2. The second stage of alcoholism. At this point, the predisposition to alcohol is already replaced by addiction. A person with a hangover syndrome must again drink alcohol, in another way he can not cope with discomfort. At this stage of alcoholism, the symptoms are:
- The patient no longer responds to criticism and the request of others to stop drinking.
- At this stage, there is a moral and mental decomposition of the personality.
- Sharp mood swings, aggression.
- Insomnia and depression.
- Constantly depressed state due to a hangover syndrome.
- Hypertension appears.
- A disease of the nervous and circulatory system develops.
- A stomach ulcer develops.
3. The third stage of alcoholism. This is the most dangerous stage, because the patient already at all levels experiences the loss of vital functions of the body, that is, he becomes disabled. At this last stage of alcoholism are noticed:
- Memory loss.
- Inattention.
- Weak thinking.
- Constant fatigue.
- Excessive irritability even to previously familiar things.
- Untidiness and untidiness.
- Difficult relationships with others.
- The patient's body is no longer resistant to alcohol.
- At the smallest dose of alcohol, drunkenness and signs of poisoning are felt.
- Cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, and diabetes develop.
- Often there is a heart attack.
- Degradation of personality.
- Alcohol may cause death.
At this stage of alcoholism, the symptoms and consequences in men and women are disappointing; treatment is carried out only in a closed medical institution under the close supervision of specialists. Alcoholics are treated not by one narcologist, but by a team of psychologists and other specialists.
Effects
As a result of how alcoholism passes and progresses, they note the permissions of their "I". Drinking people deny their disease.
- There is a degradation of personality. There is a destruction of the emotional volitional spheres, progressive apathy and ease, indifference to the outside world, only alcohol are noted.
- There is a period of bitterness, irritation, hysterical seizure (mainly in the fair half).
- The development of complex mental consequences.
- Personal qualities are reduced as a result of the loss of moral value and interest. Suicidal tendency.
- Intelligence and memory are deteriorating.
- A sharp change in mood, alcohol depression, aggression, dysphoria, hallucinations, delirium of jealousy.
- Dementia.
A serious somatic disease, a combination of anomalies of a different organ and system, which can lead to disability and even death, is considered a very important consequence of alcoholic drinks for the body. After all, practically all internal organs and systems of the patient are affected here.
CNS effects
The long and frequent drinking of alcoholic beverages affects virtually all organs and systems of the body, as well as the proper functioning of the central nervous system. The toxic effects of alcohol on the brain even occur with slight intoxication - changes in the regulatory mechanism of the entire structure of the cortex are noticed, the speed of the control center is destroyed, which provokes a partial loss of control over their behavior, mood changes, and in the future - the appearance of a negative reaction - aggression, irritation and inadequate psychopathic brain response.
Alcoholic beverages have different effects on brain activity - in most patients the stimulation of the entire nervous process is traced, and in some patients, ethanol has a depressing effect on the brain. Under the influence of ethyl alcohol, pathological changes in the metabolic process in neurons occur, which negatively affects the activity of all sensory organs, the intellectual ability of the brain and memory decreases, and the progression of central nervous system death leads to the formation of constant encephalopathy, cerebral infarction, and acute cerebral syndrome (epileptiform and cerebellar) develops ) It leads to diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Causes a structural change in the brain (pathological fragility).
Drugs for alcoholism
With alcoholism, the following drugs are most often used:
- Esperal. It contains disulfiram, production - France. There are tablets, ampoules. The easiest way to take pills is because they are easier to tolerate. The meaning of the effect of the drug is the creation of negative reflexes on the use of alcoholic beverages, through the destruction of ethanol. The medicine accumulates in the adipose tissue of a person and acts in full force for two days.
- Colme. They are made in the form of drops, have no color and aroma. Bottle with dispenser. The medicine is hard to find, it is often used for secret treatments for alcoholic beverages, adding an alcoholic to a drink where there is no ethanol, or to food. According to the recommendations, before taking the droplets, you need to dissolve in a liquid consistency. The main substance of the drug - cyanamide, has a property similar to a disulfirm, which helps to break down ethyl alcohol. It is advised to use in the treatment of chronic alcoholism of the second or third degree.
- Naltrexone. It is a medicine that blocks the enjoyment of alcohol. Made in capsules.
- Ferronite. Affects the liver enzyme system. When drinking alcohol, it causes acute poisoning with acetaldehyde, which is accompanied by such signs as: reddened skin, asthma attack, wet sweat, nausea.
- Naloxone They are not used directly for coding, but it can be useful if help is needed if there is a coma when drinking alcohol. The drug is effective in overdose of narcotic substances, since Naloxone is an antagonist of opioid receptors.
Herbs From Alcoholism
Is it possible to recover from alcoholism? Easily! The main thing is that the patient is aware that he needs help. Not necessarily the solution to the problem of alcoholism may be medical assistance (coding). You can use old grandmother’s advice just by applying decoctions of certain herbs.
Thyme
The most common herb for alcoholism is thyme. It began to be used many years ago. To prevent the disease, it was often added to tea. For its use as a therapeutic agent, a thyme decoction is made. Pour boiling water over dried grass and, insisting in a dark place for a day, it turns out a miracle cure. You can buy it in a pharmacy, assemble it yourself. It should be noted that only thyme teas are sold in the store.
Thyme is incompatible with alcohol. That is why a person who drank a decoction will not be able to drink alcohol. He will experience nausea and vomiting.
It is not necessary to consider that thyme is a magic herb, and after a single case the alcoholic will stop drinking. In order for the desired effect to appear, he must drink a thyme broth for at least two months.
Lovage and bay leaf
Lovage root is widely used by healers. Many years ago it was practiced as a treatment for the heart. But together with the bay leaf, a lovage can be an excellent remedy for alcoholism. It will be most useful to use the root of a lovage who has only bloomed. This drug is also sold in pharmacies, but when you buy it you can not be sure of its freshness. Herbs bought at the pharmacy can help, but it takes longer to heal.
After drinking the infusion of these herbs before the celebration, you can be sure that a person will not be able to drink alcohol. Even after a single glass of alcohol, a person will appear dizzy, in some cases even vomiting.
Treatment time. It should be judged by the stage of alcoholism. If such an infusion will remove the alcoholic from the binge, it will take about ten days for the body to begin to reject alcohol. If you use this tool as a prophylaxis, then it will be enough once.
Hoof
This is one of the few herbs to be added directly to alcohol. It has the properties of removing toxins from the body and cleansing the liver. As a treatment, only the root powder of this plant is used. Therefore, it is better to purchase it ready-made in a pharmacy. You can assemble it yourself, but you will need to properly dry and grind it.
By cleansing the body of toxins and harmful substances, the hoof, entering the body together with an alcoholic drink, first of all begins to cleanse the body from it. Thus, a person develops severe nausea and vomiting. With prolonged use of a decoction, a person’s hoof will vomit even with the smell of alcohol.
Alcoholism Prevention
Prevention is considered necessary and useful, because it is much easier to anticipate and stop than to combat the consequences, and the cure is difficult and not every time successful. Many drunk people after such treatment feel light, but after some time they start drinking alcohol again. The course of therapy is divided into the following types:
- primary;
- secondary;
- tertiary.
Prevention takes the form of communication. This helps prevent the occurrence of alcohol addiction. This includes communication, watching various videos, as well as listening to interviews with different personalities who drank alcohol. The person who fights with this problem is removed from society and begins to promote a healthy lifestyle. As statistics show, the conversation comes down to a story about diseases that can occur when taking alcohol. The gastrointestinal tract is destroyed, the liver and kidneys, pancreas begin to get sick, pancreatitis occurs, which turns into diabetes.
A given ideology is very influential. Previously, there was no such thing as a glass of delicious wine for breakfast to make digestion work better. Today, more and more serious dinners are held with a drink. More and more families collapse due to alcohol. Even a regular beer drink can do a lot of damage. After all, beer can disrupt the nervous system and increase the amount of female hormone in men.