Alcoholism - causes, symptoms, stages, treatment, prevention

There is a popular belief that alcoholism is only inherent in countries with low culture and a low standard of living. In fact, alcohol addiction has long been a problem in European countries. The availability of various intoxicating drinks, often low-alcohol, becomes the first step towards long-term and painful treatment.

What pushes people into the abyss of alcoholism

We are probably all used to calling alcoholics people who are unable to adapt to the surrounding reality and hide their weakness of character in a glass of vodka and port. Indeed, many experts confirm that weak-willed individuals are at risk, but in addition to such an obvious reason, other aspects must be highlighted.

1. Genetic predisposition. Narcologists have long noticed the negative tendency of passing on alcohol addiction from parents to a child. According to the latest research, the likelihood of problems with the "green snake" in the presence of such a pathological condition in the family history increases by 3-5 times. Of course, the risk of becoming a slave to the bottle largely depends on the environment, but heredity cannot be discounted either.

The development of diagnostic methods has allowed scientists to identify two groups of genes responsible for the neuropsychic effect of drinking alcoholic beverages. A persistent desire to re-experience the effect of euphoria is formed in the human brain. This type of alcoholism is difficult to treat. The best method of therapy is prevention - a complete rejection of any alcoholic beverages.

2. Psychological causes of alcoholism. The first place among the motivators for drinking high-proof cocktails is the desire to relax after a hard (emotional or physical) day at work. Gradually, the doses of cognac, vodka or wine increase and become a necessity. Without the usual rest, a person does not see himself in society and can no longer refuse friendly treats.

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Separately, it is necessary to mention the harm of misunderstanding the information heard from TV or printed in popular publications. Alcoholic beverages cannot be used as a treatment. If a doctor says that red wine strengthens blood vessels, this does not mean that it should be drunk daily.

“Wine alcohol does not give strength, but ages the body, soul and mind” R. Koch

3. Social sources of problems. Often it is the inability to live correctly in society that becomes the foundation of various addictions. A bad job, low salary should become an impetus for radical changes in behavior, and not a reason to drown your sorrows and dissatisfaction in vodka. A weak person always considers others more successful, happier and richer. Envy makes you seek solace in a glass.

The influence of the media can also be attributed to the social causes of the disease. Young people, seeing how adult strong men and women drink whiskey or cognac, try to be like them, and become addicted to alcoholic beverages.

The physiological aspects should also be mentioned. The first signs of alcoholism quickly turn into chronic addiction in the presence of concomitant mental illnesses (schizophrenia, depression, neuroses). Ethanol contained in the "green snake" quickly destroys the nervous system and aggravates the course of the pathology.

Stages and signs of alcoholism

You don't need to think that an addicted person necessarily sleeps in a ditch and begs money from passers-by. Symptoms of the pathological condition can be noticed in quite successful people. It's just that the disease has not yet reached the level when the desire to drink becomes more important than public opinion.

In modern medicine, alcoholism is conventionally divided into three stages, each of which has its own specific manifestations.

1. At the first stages, the disease does not yet have obvious signs. The patient can do without alcohol for some time, the hangover syndrome does not force him to drink in the morning. You should start worrying when you notice an excited state before a party and unmotivated aggression when refusing alcoholic beverages.
2. The next step to alcoholism is the need to constantly increase the dose. Some people even consider the ability to drink a lot without getting drunk to be their achievement. In fact, this is a very alarming bell for the body. Symptoms of the second stage include decreased intelligence, severe frequent hangovers, psychological changes (for the sake of drinking, the patient is capable of lying to his family or showing aggression).
3. If you do not take any steps to quit the addiction, then alcoholism provokes withdrawal syndrome, which is characterized by psychosis, seizures, hallucinations, and damage to internal organs.

Sometimes specialists at the Korsakov Clinic also identify the fourth stage. At this stage, treatment does not bring any results. The patient practically does not eat, thought processes become incoherent, speech is meaningless.

Diagnostic methods

To date, there are no hardware or laboratory methods for detecting the initial stages of alcoholism. Such diagnostic methods can only record the result of poisoning with alcoholic beverages. Ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, X-rays, urine and blood tests visualize damage to internal organs, but not mental changes.

To confirm concerns, it would be better to consult an experienced narcologist. A conversation between the patient and specialists in the field of psychology, neurology and psychiatry will give a better result than a comprehensive examination. If we talk about medical parameters, then the following signs should be a reason to start working on yourself:

• unmotivated mood lift before drinking (change in facial expressions, movements);
• absence of gag reflex when the dosage is significantly exceeded;
• severe hangovers that require repeated use of alcoholic beverages.

We should also mention the pathological change in life priorities. An alcoholic puts the desire to drink above the demands of the family and common sense.

Alcohol slavery therapy

It is important to understand that alcoholism treatment should be started as early as possible. The first stages of the disease are much more amenable to influence than the last stages of the disease. The main thing is that the patient wants to get rid of the yoke. Coercion rarely brings the desired result.

Most often, therapeutic actions are divided into several stages.

Detoxification of the body. Removal of poisons is considered one of the most important steps on the path to recovery. Modern pharmacology allows you to cleanse internal organs and tissues from the decay products of alcoholic beverages using reabsorption techniques, filtration by forced diuresis. After such procedures, the normal functioning of the cardiovascular, nervous and digestive systems is restored.

Correction of neuropsychic activity. This stage of treatment is necessary to change the patient's consciousness. Experienced psychologists conduct daily conversations, gradually rebuilding the patient's priorities. To achieve the desired effect, an individual program is selected, depending on the severity of the disease and the stage of alcoholism.

Coding. This method of psychological suggestion is considered the most effective in the fight against the "green serpent". Most often, fear is the basis of treatment. The patient is told that the consequences of alcohol abuse will cause severe poisoning or even death. Such therapy often leads to a change in a person's character, since their nervous system requires a constant dose of prohibited alcohol. Therefore, before starting the treatment, it is necessary to undergo a full examination and obtain the patient's consent.

Social rehabilitation. The influence of others at the time of a person's exit from alcohol slavery is of no small importance. Most breakdowns are associated with the patient's social circle. It is necessary to learn to live a full life without feasts and artificial stimulation of the brain. This can only be done with the help of friends, family and a complete rejection of connections with drinkers.

The last step in treatment is usually the restoration of general health. Alcoholism is the main source of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, heart, blood vessels, liver, and brain. Normalization of the internal organs takes time. A proper balanced diet, gentle physical activity and adequate rest are recommended.

Preventive measures

Vladimir Mikhailovich Bekhterev wrote: "Alcoholism is such a social evil that it is difficult to imagine". It is the influence of society that has the greatest impact on people's minds. The best way to prevent this is by setting a personal example for parents and conveying the right information to children and teenagers. The state, medical and school institutions should contribute to the right choice of people.

It is very important to help people who begin to experience the first symptoms of alcoholism. You need to convince them to start treatment, then victory over addiction is real. Moreover, according to statistics, more than 85% of patients who seek help from medical institutions in time return to a normal, full life without alcoholic beverages.

Do not bring the situation to an incorrigible state, contact the Korsakov Clinic in time. The doctors of our medical center will do everything possible to ensure that the problem of alcoholism disappears from your life forever!