You Have A Distorted Sense Of What Intimacy And Sexuality Are
Your expectations about sex and intimacy look more like a plot of a bad pornographic film than real life. These unrealistic expectations make you think your partner should be performing more like a porn star than a typical person. You may think there is something wrong with your partner since they dont act that way.
Social And Health Consequences
- Have you ever overdosed or needed emergency medical treatment as a result of substance abuse?
Addiction to drugs or alcohol often leaves individuals unable to take care of themselves and can lead to a number of health issues. Answering yes to any of these questions can signal that you have a substance addiction.
Alcoholics Anonymous And Other Support Groups
Many people addicted to alcohol also turn to 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous . There are also other support groups that dont follow the 12-step model, such as SMART Recovery and Sober Recovery.
Regardless of the type of support system, its helpful to get involved in at least one when getting sober. Sober communities can help someone struggling with alcohol addiction deal with the challenges of sobriety in day-to-day life. Sober communities can also share relatable experiences and offer new, healthy friendships. And these communities make the person with an alcohol addiction accountable and provide a place to turn to if there is a relapse.
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Am I Addicted To Alcohol Signs Of Alcohol Addiction
Fancy a drink after work? Go on, just the one
But how often is it three, four or more? Have you ever stopped and considered: Am I addicted to alcohol? In this article we look at the signs of alcohol addiction.
Alcohol is all around us. And its nothing if not mainstream. Think about it every day we see TV adverts and supermarkets pushing cheap booze, implying that drinking is the key to having a good time. Its no wonder that so many people are addicted to alcohol.
During the summer months the warm weather makes it difficult to say no to drinking. With barbeques and after work events going on almost every week, it can be difficult to say no.
Dr Christos Kouimtsidis, Consultant Psychiatrist, at The London Psychiatry Centre, specialises in helping patients with addiction, and says: It can sometimes be difficult for people to pinpoint when they begin to have a problem with drink, because it can happen gradually over a period of time. Alcohol addiction is when drinking becomes counterproductive, but nevertheless, we cannot resist.
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Signs Of Cocaine Abuse
Cocaine is best known in its white powder form. Most often, this drug is snorted, smoked, or injected. As cocaine is a stimulant, one of its hallmarks is that its main effects wear off around 30 minutes to 2 hours after the last use. In addition to the general signs of drug abuse discussed above, cocaine has some specific side effects, including:
- Increased energy
- Fast white lady
- Yao
As Medical News Today discusses, cocaine is highly addictive and the strongest natural occurring stimulant in existence. Cocaine addiction is associated with dramatic personal losses there are reports of professionals spending $20,000 to $50,000 on cocaine binges, parents selling their children, and people becoming unemployed, having to file bankruptcy, and ending up homeless. It is clear that cocaine use can spiral out of control. For this reason, the earlier the abuse is intercepted, the better.
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What Are The Risks Of Developing Alcohol Use Disorder Or Alcoholism
There are a number of short-term and long-term health risks that accompany alcohol use disorder.
Short-term risks include:
- Injuries, for example, drownings, burns, vehicle accidents, and falls
- Alcohol poisoning
- Stillbirth, miscarriage, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders among pregnant women
- Risky sexual behavior that could result in a sexually transmitted disease or an unintended pregnancy
All of these are risks that you run when you drink too much in the short term. However, just because you made it through the night without a disaster doesnt mean there arent longer-term risks that you face as well.
Long-term risks of alcohol use include:
- Cancer of the mouth, esophagus, breast, throat, colon, and liver
- Heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease, stroke, and digestive problems
- A weakened immune system, which increases the risk of getting sick
- Social problems including family problems, unemployment, and lost productivity
- Mental health problems including anxiety and depression
- Memory and learning problem including poor school performance and dementia
As you can see, excessive alcohol use over time can lead to a number of serious problems or even the development of chronic diseases. Understanding whether or not your drinking is under control can help you to understand whether you are at risk for any of these outcomes.
How To Approach A Loved One About Their Drinking
Navigating addiction is tricky. It can be difficult to know how to provide the best chance for facilitating help. As a family member, friend, or significant other, it can often feel like it is your responsibility to take care of that person and make sure that they get the help they need. The road to recovery can be long and sometimes frustrating for both parties involved. When results arent immediate, recovery can be discouraging.
When it comes down to it, people will only get clean and sober when they want to. People who are forced into treatment often relapse because they never wanted to get sober in the first place. It has to be their decision. That being said, there are things that you can do to help someone with an addiction to alcohol:
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Selecting From A Wide Number Of Treatment Options
Finding the best alcohol rehab treatment in New Jersey is not as simple as asking your doctor, therapist, or insurance provider for recommendations. Neither is it as easy as reading reviews of NJ rehabs online. Choosing a facility that meets your needs can be quite complicated because you will need to conduct your own research. You cant make an informed decision without comparing different rehab centers.
You should use a logical process when selecting the right alcohol rehab to ensure you are reviewing facilities that are qualified and reputable. You will also need to select one that offers the right services, amenities, and rates. To decide where to go, outline a series of steps. For instance, a three-step process might be to determine your goals, speak with a rehab consultant, and decide what facility features and services you need.
Am I An Alcoholic Warning Signs Of Alcoholism And Alcohol Use Disorder
Our culture is constantly promoting drinking at some level, which can make it difficult to understand whether your level of drinking is a problem. If youre wondering am I turning into an alcoholic? here are a number of different questions youll want to ask yourself and warning signs youll want to look out for.
Alcoholic Warning Signs:
- Prioritizing drinking over your other responsibilities
- Drinking first thing in the morning
- Having feelings of guilt that are associated with drinking
- Feeling unable to control how much alcohol you drink or to stop drinking
- Continuing to drink despite family, financial, and health problems
If you or a loved one have experienced any of these warning signs, it might be a good idea to seek help to learn more about whether or not you are suffering from alcohol use disorder. This disorder can look very different between different individuals, so its important to seek outside help if you worry that you or a loved one is exhibiting some of these warning signs.
One useful thing you can do is to take an alcoholic test or an am I an alcoholic quiz which are easily found online. We also have an alcoholic quiz on our website available for your use. These quizzes ask you relevant questions to help you understand where you fall on the spectrum from a healthy relationship with alcohol to a destructive relationship with alcohol.
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How Does Alcohol Dependence Develop
No one sets out to become an alcoholic, but regular, heavy drinking can result in alcohol dependence and alcoholism.
When we drink, alcohol enters the brain and disrupts the delicate balance of chemicals called neurotransmitters that keep the body functioning normally. This disruption leads to the numerous behavioral changes and physical signs associated with intoxication, such as euphoria, loss of inhibition, impaired coordination, slurred speech and drowsiness.
Fortunately, these effects are temporary and wear off after the body breaks down the alcohol. But when exposure to alcohol is ongoing, the brain seeks to compensate for these effects, and a complex cascade of long-term chemical changes begin to occur.
To counteract the brain-slowing effects of alcohol, for instance, the brain increases the activity of excitatory neurotransmitters, which stimulate nerve activity and heighten arousal. As these changes occur, people require increasingly larger amounts of alcohol to become intoxicated. As a result, their drinking will often escalate.
At the same time, the drinker will likely begin to experience intense cravings for alcohol and distressing physical withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating, anxiety, tremors, an elevated heart rate and insomnia, when they stop drinking.
To avoid these uncomfortable symptoms, which can occur as soon as six hours after people who are dependent on alcohol consume their last drink, a person may begin drinking frequently or around-the-clock.
Risk Factors For Drinking Problems And Alcoholism
Risk factors for developing problems with alcohol arise from many interconnected factors, including your genetics, how you were raised, your social environment, and your emotional health. Some racial groups, such as American Indians and Native Alaskans, are more at risk than others for developing drinking problems or alcohol addiction. People who have a family history of alcoholism or who associate closely with heavy drinkers are more likely to develop drinking problems. Finally, those who suffer from a mental health problem such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder are also particularly at risk, because alcohol is often used to self-medicate.
The path from alcohol abuse to alcoholism
Not all alcohol abusers become full-blown alcoholics, but it is a big risk factor. Sometimes alcoholism develops suddenly in response to a stressful change, such as a breakup, retirement, or another loss. Other times, it gradually creeps up on you as your tolerance to alcohol increases. If youre a binge drinker or you drink every day, the risks of developing alcoholism are greater.
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Signs Of Worsening Alcohol Use
Alcohol addiction always follows a downward spiral. The only variable is how fast things fall apart. Some signs of worsening or accelerating alcohol addiction may include:
- Anger When Confronted About Alcohol Use.Someone struggling with addiction may become angry, defensive, or try to excuse their drinking. They may avoid or push people away who try to talk to them about their drinking.
- Rapidly Declining Health. Alcohol is toxic to humans. Heavy drinking will produce negative consequences. Frequent vomiting, gagging, stomach ulcers, digestion issues, impaired coordination, and general poor health due to gastrointestinal problems are usually the first signs of worse problems to come.
- Binge Drinking. Some people binge drink as a matter of course, but others may have to work up to that. In the case of alcoholism, this is typically a multi-day, or sometimes even a multi-week, drinking spree.
- Getting Fired for Performance Issues. This is common in worsening alcoholism. Work performance often declines as drinking becomes more and more of a priority. When drinking becomes the primary concern, things which used to matter lose their importance.
- Open Hostility Towards Friends or Family. This is unfortunately very common as friends and family are close enough to see when things are getting bad. When they try to help, someone may isolate themselves to continue their drinking uninterrupted.
How Addictions Can Affect You
The strain of managing an addiction can seriously damage your work life and relationships. In the case of substance misuse , an addiction can have serious psychological and physical effects.
Some studies suggest a person’s risk of becoming addicted is partly genetic, but environmental factors, such as being around other people with addictions, are also thought to increase the risk.
Behaviours such as substance misuse can be a way of blocking out difficult issues. Unemployment and poverty can trigger addiction, along with stress and emotional or professional pressure.
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Previously And Continuously Trying And Failing To Quit Drinking
Whether its because they realize they have a drinking problem, or to prove a point to a worried loved one, some alcoholics attempt to quit drinking on their own. However, without professional help or treatment to counteract withdrawal symptoms, these individuals often relapse and start drinking again within a few months, weeks, or days of quitting.
You Want To Stop But Can’t
Maybe you’ve been concerned enough that you’ve already thought about or actually tried to cut down on your drinking — and it didn’t happen. Alcohol masks unhappy emotions, so those feelings may come back when you quit drinking, making it harder to stick to your goal. If you try to abstain, but then obsess over alcohol or switch to another drug or behavior, that’s a red flag.
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How Do I Know If I Am Addicted To Drugs Or Alcohol
Knowing if you are addicted to drugs is not always something you will notice until someone points it out, or you have a sober moment/realization. However, there is a noticeable line between enjoyable activity and activity that is fueled by a possible addiction. Drug and alcohol abuse on college campuses is problematic, and many students do struggle with the issue. Moreover, most college students will chalk this up to only having a good time and partying being part of college life. Once you start to place importance on consuming drugs and alcohol, you should start to realize you may be addicted. If you realize you are drinking more and consuming more drugs, you may have placed a higher priority on drug and alcohol use. There is a reward response when doing drugs or alcohol, and if this makes you feel better or in more control, this means you rely on drugs or alcohol.
Signs And Symptoms Of Alcoholism How To Know If Someone Has A Problem With Drinking
Nzinga Harrison
Throughout history, alcohol has played a significant role in different cultures around the world. Alcohol is used by people as a way to relax, bond, celebrate, and socialize. In the United States, its common for adults to have a drink with friends on the weekends, at weddings and parties, or as a way to unwind from work.
Alcohols effects vary from person to person and depend on a variety of factors, such as:
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Number of alcoholic drinks consumed
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How often alcohol is consumed
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The general state of health
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Family history
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What You Will Learn That You Dont Already Know
So now the question that has to be on your mind: what am I going to teach you about your child’s drinking that you dont already know?
What am I going to say that you havent already read or heard somewhere?
This is going to be revolutionary for you to hear, so slow down your brain and listen with your soul: What does a child NEED more than anything else? After food, water, and air, the answer is SO obvious, and yet we keep missing itover and over.
To see the answer, lets start with an infant. When an infant criesother than from obvious physical painwhat does he want? You already know, because you just pick him up. Youre pretty smart. You already know that every child wants to feel cared for. Every child wants to feel LOVED.
Picking them up and holding them is just a demonstration of that. And if youre genuine in caring about them, they FEEL it.
But infants are relatively easy to love. They smile and melt your heart, make cute little noises, and laugh in ways we never hear anywhere else. Theyre adorable.
But when they get older, they learn to spill things, make messes, ferociously say NO when you tell them what to do, scream in their car seat, fight with their siblings, refuse to listen to you, say ugly and hateful things to you and other people . . .
Were not so happy either.
How To Help An Addict Or Alcoholic
If a person finds themselves addicted to drugs or alcohol, all is not lost and there are things that can be done to help their situation. Life isnt over at that point, but rather it can be fixed and a person can go back to actually living. Being addicted to drugs is merely surviving on a daily basis while endlessly and mindlessly consuming toxic substances in order to survive.
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Signs Of Benzodiazepine Abuse
Benzodiazepines are a prescription medication used to treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, and other conditions. These drugs are among the most highly prescribed in America. Benzodiazepines are mainly available in tablet or capsule form, though some are manufactured as injectable liquids and syrups. Short-term use is generally safe, but abuse can cause numerous complications.
As benzodiazepines are sedatives, some of their side effects overlap with the general signs of addiction. Persons using benzodiazepines may experience the following side effects, including:
- Impaired coordination
- Confusion
- Heahache
There are many well-known brands of benzodiazepines, including Xanax, Diazepam, Valium, and Klonopin. These pharmaceuticals can be acquired in numerous ways. Some people have legitimate prescriptions but may have used deceptive means to get them from more than one doctor. Currently, doctors do not have the benefit of a national database that stores information on a clients active prescriptions. The illegal circulation of benzodiazepines does not only happen on the street, it also happens when those holding a prescription share these drugs with others.
It is important to understand that even though benzodiazepines are legal, they may be used in a way that makes the use illegal. If a person is showing the signs of abuse, it is critical to get them help.
