Signs of alcoholism: withdrawal from binge drinking and addiction treatment

A person who regularly drinks alcoholic beverages has a characteristic appearance. There are a number of signs that allow you to accurately identify an alcoholic from a person who leads a healthy and sober lifestyle. Everyone needs to know these signs, since no one is immune from alcohol addiction, and anyone can get into trouble.

The first signs of alcoholism

Alcohol addiction develops gradually. This is a disease that appears unnoticed by a person.
First, an acquaintance with alcoholic beverages occurs in a cheerful company, and then regular drinking among friends becomes the norm. At the same time, people believe that nothing terrible is happening. But over time, the addiction to alcoholic beverages increases, and the person is no longer able to do without them. The very first sign of addiction is the emergence of tolerance to alcohol. This means that when it is consumed, the body gets used to the toxic effects. Therefore, in order to enjoy the drink, you have to increase the dosage. This behavior indicates the formation of addiction. If measures are not taken, the person will go on a drinking binge and become an alcoholic.

Later, the person begins to drink alone. He no longer needs companies . He also has problems with memory and attention, and a hangover appears. A characteristic sign of alcoholism is the absence of vomiting when drinking large amounts of alcohol. An addicted person loses control over the amount he drinks.

If relatives notice one or more symptoms, they should contact a drug treatment clinic. The advanced form of the disease is more difficult to treat and has many negative health consequences.

History of alcohol

The thief of sanity is what alcohol has been called since ancient times. People learned about the intoxicating properties of alcoholic beverages no less than 8000 BC - with the advent of ceramic dishes, which made it possible to produce alcoholic beverages from honey, fruit juices and wild grapes. Perhaps winemaking arose even before the beginning of cultivated agriculture. Thus, the famous traveler N.N. Miklouho-Maclay observed the Papuans of New Guinea, who did not yet know how to make fire, but already knew how to prepare intoxicating drinks. The Arabs began to obtain pure alcohol in the 6th-7th centuries and called it “al kogol”, which means “intoxicating”.

Reasons for drinking alcohol

You have probably heard the expression more than once: “let’s have a drink and warm ourselves up.” It is believed in everyday life that alcohol is a good way to warm the body. It’s not for nothing that alcohol is often called “strong drinks.” It is believed that alcohol has a healing effect not only for colds, but also for a number of other diseases, including the gastrointestinal tract, for example, stomach ulcers. Doctors, on the contrary, believe that an ulcer patient should absolutely not drink alcohol. Where is the truth? After all, small doses of alcohol really stimulate the appetite. Or another popular belief among people: alcohol excites, invigorates, improves mood, well-being, makes conversation more lively and interesting, which is important for a group of young people. It is not for nothing that alcohol is taken “against fatigue”, when feeling unwell, and at almost all celebrations. Moreover, there is an opinion that alcohol is a high-calorie product that quickly provides the body’s energy needs, which is important, for example, during a hike, etc. And beer and dry grape wines also contain a whole range of vitamins and aromatic substances. In medical practice, the bacteriostatic properties of alcohol are used, using it for disinfection (for injections, etc.), preparing medicines, but not at all for treating diseases. So, alcohol is taken to lift the mood, to warm the body, to prevent and treat diseases, in particular as a disinfectant, and also as a means of increasing appetite and an energetically valuable product. Where is the truth and where is the error? One of the Pirogov congresses of Russian doctors adopted a resolution on the dangers of alcohol: “... there is not a single organ in the human body that is not subject to the destructive effects of alcohol; alcohol does not have any such effect that could not be achieved by another medicinal agent that acts more usefully, safer and more reliably; there is no such painful condition in which it is necessary to prescribe alcohol for any long time.” So talking about the benefits of alcohol is a fairly common misconception. Take, for example, the obvious fact - the stimulation of appetite after a glass of vodka or wine. But this is only for a short time, while the alcohol causes the “ignition juice”. In the future, drinking alcohol, including beer, only harms digestion.

Alcohol

Alcohol paralyzes the action of such important organs as the liver and pancreas. An outstanding psychiatrist and public figure, a fighter against alcoholism, academician Vladimir Mikhailovich Bekhterev (1857-1927) described the psychological causes of drunkenness as follows: “The whole point is that drunkenness is an age-old evil, it has taken deep roots in our everyday life and has given rise to a whole system of wild drinking establishments. customs These customs require drinking and being treated to wine on every occasion.” The need for alcohol is not one of the natural life needs of a person, such as the need for oxygen or food, and therefore alcohol itself does not have a motivating force for a person. This need, like some other human “needs” (for example, smoking) appears because society, firstly, produces this product and, secondly, “reproduces” the customs, forms, habits and prejudices associated with its consumption . Of course, these habits are not inherent to everyone to the same extent.

Stages of addiction development

Dependence develops gradually. In this regard, the development of alcoholism is divided into 3 stages.

The first stage is characterized by the appearance of tolerance to alcohol and an increase in the amount drunk. When a person is asked why he uses, he looks for excuses. Often excuses are accompanied by aggressive behavior. When consuming a large dosage, a gag reflex does not occur. The patient's memory is also impaired.

A sign of the second stage is a strong craving for alcohol, which is difficult to control. People around notice changes in a person’s behavior. Alcoholic drinks become the main priority in the life of an addicted person. And when they are canceled, a severe hangover occurs.

The second stage is characterized by mental state disturbances. Neuroses, psychoses, excessive aggression, irritability, and insomnia appear.

The third stage is the final one. If medical care is not provided, the alcoholic completely degenerates. He is only interested in getting a new portion of alcohol. During this period, intoxication occurs even from small doses. The symptoms of a hangover are more painful. Various disturbances in the functioning of all organs occur, including coma and death.

Where does drunkenness begin?

The need for alcohol is not one of the natural life needs of a person, such as the need for water or food, and therefore alcohol itself does not have a motivating force for a person. So what is the reason for drinking alcohol? An outstanding psychiatrist and public figure, a fighter against alcoholism, academician Vladimir Mikhailovich Bekhterev (1857-1927) described the psychological causes of drunkenness as follows: “The whole point is that drunkenness is an age-old evil, it has taken deep roots in our everyday life and has given rise to a whole system of wild drinking establishments. customs These customs require drinking and being treated to wine on every occasion.” The reasons for first starting to drink alcohol are varied. But their characteristic changes can be traced depending on age.

Until the age of 11, the first acquaintance with alcohol occurs either by chance, or it is given “for appetite”, “treated” with wine, or the child himself tries alcohol out of curiosity (a motive mainly characteristic of boys). At an older age, traditional reasons become the motives for drinking alcohol for the first time: “holiday”, “family celebration”, “guests”, etc.

From the age of 14-15, reasons such as “it was inconvenient to lag behind the guys”, “friends persuaded me”, “for, etc.” appear. Boys are characterized by all these groups of motives for their first acquaintance with alcohol. For girls, the second, “traditional” group of motives is mainly typical. Usually this happens, so to speak, an “innocent” drink in honor of a birthday or other celebration. And although this happens with the consent of the parents, in the family circle, it is still dangerous to introduce children to wine. After all, once you touch alcohol, the psychological barrier is removed and the teenager considers himself entitled to drink with friends or even alone, if such an opportunity arises. No wonder people say: “rivers begin with a stream, and drunkenness begins with a glass.”

Alcohol is a common topic for people who are unfamiliar with it. A company has gathered, everyone is somewhat constrained. They drank - you see, they are already laughing, dancing, getting to know each other, having fun. Gradually, alcohol becomes an indispensable attribute of communication. Alcohol quickly and easily creates the illusion of psychological security and problem-free existence. A person gets used to this illusory way of solving problems, and increasingly switches from real actions to retreating into an alcoholic fog.

Where is the line?

An alcoholic is a person who suffers from alcoholism. Before the disease develops, there is usually a more or less prolonged period of episodic alcohol use. This period in medicine is called the period of alcoholization. The onset of the disease is considered to be the transition to systematic, daily alcohol consumption. The answers to the questions below will help you determine the degree of predisposition to alcoholism. Try to answer them honestly.

1. Have I already tried to limit my alcohol consumption several times?
2. Do I feel remorse because I drink?
3. Do I drink alcohol in the morning to relieve a hangover?
4. Do I have a hard time tolerating criticism from my workmates and loved ones about my drinking?

If you answered yes to at least two questions, you are at risk and should take appropriate action as soon as possible.

External signs of alcoholism

Excessive indulgence in alcoholic beverages affects not only the functioning of internal organs, but also appearance. An alcoholic is easily recognized by his face.

1. The skin of a sick person is pale and flabby. Deep wrinkles appear on the face, and blue bags appear under the eyes.
2. The whites of the eyes also change. They become jaundiced due to liver problems. In addition, capillaries burst in them.
3. The voice of a sick person becomes rougher. Hair becomes oily and loses its former shine.

A dependent person looks untidy. He stops performing hygiene procedures. He also does not wash or change clothes. As a result, an unpleasant odor appears from the patient. He doesn't care about appearance at all. The main thing is to take another portion of the destructive drink.

Behavioral signs

Not only the appearance changes, but also the behavior. It changes beyond recognition. Even sober person is no longer the same as he was before.

First of all, he changes his social circle or is alone. The same alcoholics become his friends. Efficiency disappears, priorities in life change. The person becomes irresponsible. Mental abilities also decrease.

A characteristic sign of alcoholism is excessive irritability and aggressiveness. Especially when the patient is sober. This behavior can escalate into violence. The man begins to hit those around him .

When the first changes in behavior appear, you should contact a drug treatment center, where experienced doctors provide assistance to patients with addiction around the clock.

Excess weight

Regular consumption of even small doses of alcohol leads to the fact that the production of the hormone leptin, which controls feelings of hunger and satiety, is suspended. Therefore, a person begins to feel like he is constantly hungry. And the most high-calorie foods are used: chips, cookies, snacks, fast food, etc. It is not surprising that after a couple of weeks of such uncontrolled eating of everything in a row, you will notice an increase in weight and volume. Men most often do not pay attention to this, while for girls this state of affairs does not go unnoticed. But many people don’t even realize that the root cause of excess weight gain is alcohol. If you have gained a little weight, it is worth considering whether you are abusing alcohol?

Often the root cause of excess weight gain is alcohol.

Mental disorders

Alcoholic drinks have a negative impact on the brain, destroying nerve endings and affecting mental health. The patient's coordination is impaired, his gait becomes unsteady, and memory loss The person becomes distracted and inattentive.

disorders occur :

• sleep disturbances and nightmares;
• increased fatigue;
• panic attacks;
• excessive suspicion and distrust of others;
• depression that occurs during alcohol withdrawal;
• the occurrence of suicidal thoughts;
• visual and auditory hallucinations.

seizures similar to epileptic seizures may occur At this stage, everything can end in the death of the patient. Therefore, his relatives should help him return to a full life by contacting a drug treatment clinic.

Excessive talkativeness

Several brain structures are responsible for speech, but the prefrontal cortex is responsible for human talkativeness. It is she who controls human behavior, but under the influence of alcohol her work is suppressed or completely weakened. This is how police often identify a driver who has taken alcohol by his speech. In a drunk person, speech is fluent or, on the contrary, speech is too sluggish. The extent to which signs of speech impairment appear when drinking alcohol depends on age, gender or general health.

Features of male addiction

Addiction in men occurs gradually. At first, they occasionally drink after work in the company, and then a permanent habit appears, the single serving of drinks increases. Close people begin to notice the first signs of alcoholism.

These include an irresistible craving for alcohol and loss of control over the amount of alcohol consumed. After taking the next dose, a person’s mood rises, he is cheerful and cheerful. When alcohol is withdrawn, the opposite effect occurs: a depressed state occurs, apathy, lethargy, and depression appear.

Characteristic external signs and changes in behavior occur. The man stops doing housework, becomes aggressive, irritable, and may hit his wife and child. Problems also appear in the sexual sphere - sexual desire disappears, erectile dysfunction is common.

Features of women's addiction to alcoholic beverages

Alcohol addiction in women is an equally dangerous problem. She also requires the help of narcologists. Girls tend to form bad habits more quickly. Even after treatment, there is a possibility of relapse .

Women's appearance suffers. Wrinkles, dry skin, dark circles under the eyes appear. In the initial stages, imperfections can be hidden with the help of cosmetics, but over time it becomes noticeable to others. Excess weight often occurs. Hair becomes faded and greasy. Mental abilities decrease.

A woman ceases to be interested in household chores. She does not do cleaning or cooking. There is only one desire - to take another portion of alcohol.

Behavior also changes. Just like in men, aggressiveness and irritability arise. Some women are prone to tearfulness. Dependent girls lose moral values. Casual sexual intercourse is possible.

Literature:

1. A manual on narcology for doctors and paramedics of primary medical care / A. A. Churkin, T. V. Klimenko. - Moscow ; Khanty-Mansiysk: Health and Society, 2006 (Cheboksary: ​​IPK Chuvashia). – 173 p.
2. Alcoholism / Donald W. Goodwin; [Transl. from English B. Pinsker]. – M.: Olimp-business, 2002. – XII, 224 p.
3. Dangerous and harmful alcohol consumption: identification, prevalence and consequences / edited by S. L. Plavinsky, A. N. Barinova. – St. Petersburg: Eco-Vector, 2021. – 287 p.
4. Alcoholism: (Clinical therapeutic, pathogenetic and forensic psychiatric aspects). Sat. scientific tr. / All-Russian Scientific Research Institute and fate. psychiatry named after V. P. Serbsky; Ed. G. V. Morozova. – M.: B.I., 1982. – 128 p.
5. Alcohol code validity period

T. Voronovich. Alcoholism nature, treatment, recovery. S. Grebnev. Psychology and psychotherapy of a person with alcohol addiction. V.Yu. Zavyalov. Personality and alcohol. B.D. Tsygankov. Psychiatry guide for doctors.

Signs of teenage addiction

Today, the problem of alcohol addiction among teenagers has become popular. Young people begin to try alcoholic drinks and quickly get used to them. The rate of formation in adolescence is much higher than in adults. The problem can be noticed at an early stage.

1. A person's appetite decreases. Digestion is also disrupted and excess weight appears.
2. School performance is declining. The teenager is not interested in studying.
3. The money that parents give for pocket expenses begins to quickly run out.
4. The child prefers to be left alone more often. Some, on the contrary, hang out in dubious companies.
5. Aggression, anxiety, and irritability appear. The teenager does not listen to his parents and is prone to breaking the law.
6. Appearance becomes untidy. Hygiene is also lacking.
7. Mental and physical health problems arise. Alcoholism is characterized by headaches, memory impairment, abdominal pain and mental disorders.

Relatives of a teenager should consult a doctor at the first suspicion of addiction to alcoholic beverages. The faster help is provided, the less serious the health consequences. You can get help at the Detox drug treatment clinic.

Content:

1. Alcohol addiction: features of the course.
2. Risk factors for the development of alcohol addiction.
3. Symptoms of the prodromal period.
4. Signs of the initial stage.

Let's be honest, almost everyone drinks. Yes, its quantity and quality, regularity, and frequency of episodes of abuse of strong drinks can vary dramatically, when, due to intoxication, a person does not behave quite adequately. And in principle, this is normal for our culture when a rare holiday, meeting with friends, or corporate event goes without alcohol. But how can you discern the line between moderate, controlled drinking and the first signs of alcoholism? How not to miss the moment when you can (and should!) contact a narcologist?

Signs of beer alcoholism

Beer alcoholism is the most common type of addiction. It occurs in every third inhabitant of the planet of any gender and age. Manifests itself in the form of addiction to drinking beer. It is no less dangerous, and the most difficult to cure.

Features of addiction :

• pathological craving for beer consumption;
• inability to relax without this drink;
• constant headaches;
• insomnia;
• appearance of a “beer belly”;
• sexual dysfunction.

When asked to stop drinking a drink, a person reacts aggressively and also looks for excuses for his behavior .

Treatment of beer alcoholism should begin at an early stage, as soon as the first symptoms are noticed.

So what, you can’t drink at all now?

You can, but with a calculator and a measuring cup.

Seriously though, it’s “absolutely safe” to not drink at all. Any standards are rather rough general estimates that do not take into account the individual characteristics of each person. The large difference in these norms in different countries is very indicative. In addition, when we talk about standards for “safe” alcohol consumption, we mean low harm to health, but this harm still exists, and the very concept of “safe” does not sound entirely correct.

In Russia, this norm is set at 3 standard units of alcohol per day for men and 2 units for women.

Now let's take a calculator and a measuring cup. One standard unit is 10 grams of ethyl alcohol. To roughly estimate the alcohol content of a drink, simply multiply its volume by the alcohol concentration indicated on the label and divide the resulting amount by 10 to convert to standard units. For example, a glass of dry wine (150 ml × 10% = 15 grams of alcohol) will contain approximately 1.5 standard units of alcohol. Based on this, you can estimate how much alcohol you drink per week and whether you exceed the standard.

If you drink more than the norm, then you are abusing alcohol. If it is very difficult to give up alcohol, even without taking into account the level of consumption, we are already talking about addiction.

You can also take a special WHO test to assess the overall risks associated with drinking alcohol.

Withdrawal syndrome: main manifestations

Withdrawal syndrome is the main symptom of alcoholism. It is a complex of symptoms that occur during complete or partial withdrawal of alcoholic beverages. The longer a person has consumed alcohol, the more severe the condition will be after quitting it.

The addict suffers from depressive disorders, psychosis, and becomes aggressive. Withdrawal occurs. As a result is disturbed , headaches, nausea, and vomiting appear. Deviations in the functioning of all organs may occur. If assistance is not provided, convulsions, coma and death of the patient are possible.

Consequences of alcoholism

Alcoholism threatens irreversible health consequences, regardless of how long and in what quantities a person drinks alcohol. The cardiovascular and nervous systems, the digestive tract and the psyche are most susceptible to damage. The resulting disturbances may not completely go away even after treatment.

Social relationships in society are changing. Usually patients lose their family, job, and are left alone. There is a tendency to commit illegal actions. There is a high probability of accidental death from alcohol poisoning, heart attack, stroke, or road accident.

Suppression of speech function

Alcoholism affects the functioning of the central nervous system and can lead to impaired speech function - dysarthria. This is a disease in which the muscle tone of the vocal apparatus decreases. The work of the articulatory apparatus also suffers, that is, the tongue, lip muscles, and facial muscles do not work actively enough when speaking. As a result, speech disorders are formed.

The first signs of such problems are:

• omission of phrases;
• difficulties in expressing your thoughts;
• hesitating or repeating words;
• slow pace

A person finds it difficult to understand speech addressed to him, especially if he is asked to do something. The request has to be repeated several times before it is fulfilled. Also, with dysarthria, a person speaks slurred, as if he has “porridge in his mouth.”

Treatment of alcohol addiction in Krasnodar

Anyone can suffer from alcoholism, regardless of age and gender. The main thing is to notice the first signs of addiction in time and seek help. The drug treatment clinic "Detox" provides 24-hour assistance in Krasnodar and the region.

Individual work is carried out with each patient. Qualified narcologists prescribe drug therapy aimed at quickly removing toxins from the body and maintaining the functioning of all organs. also available at the clinic . Doctors will help you find the causes of the problem and return to a full life. Only in combination these treatment methods contribute to the achievement of results.

A team of narcologists visits your home at any time of the day. Specialists will put on a drip to help you stop drinking and give recommendations to relatives. If necessary, the patient will be taken to the clinic in a resuscitation vehicle. At the drug treatment center he will be under round-the-clock supervision by psychologists and narcologists.

The Detox Clinic will help you quickly and inexpensively complete a full course of treatment for alcoholism and get rid of addiction. help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week . A home visit is carried out within an hour after receiving the call. The center's specialists will help you get back on your feet and return to a full life.

Advice for husbands of alcoholic women

It is a medical fact: women's addiction to alcohol develops much faster than men's. Uncontrolled drinking gradually destroys health, psyche, appearance, and often the result is death.

The husband of an alcoholic woman needs to understand that in such a situation it is useless to put pressure on his conscience and start educating him - this time has already passed. Addiction does not obey the laws of logic, does not track cause-and-effect relationships, and does not know how to distinguish good from bad. It is important that a woman realizes that alcoholism is her problem, and she needs to solve the problem herself. You don’t need to follow her lead, succumb to persuasion that this is the last time she drinks, don’t give money for drinks: there won’t be a last time if you don’t start treatment.

If you can get through, then you need to persuade the woman to accept qualified treatment. Advice: start conversations when the woman is sober. It is important to avoid reproaches, scandals, and physical influence. Your moral support can give a good result, and the woman will agree to treatment.

Meanwhile, a man should not forget about his life. Take several sessions with a psychologist, attend support groups for codependents, focus on your health - together, this will help you get through difficult times.