Alcohol Dependency

Even though alcohol dependency is considered an illness it is a tough one to diagnose. The principal reason for this is that the person suffering from it typically denies that there is a problem. Until there is some acknowledgement that a problem exists it is impossible to begin working on a solution.

This is the conundrum faced by the loved ones surrounding the alcoholic -- the sick person is often the last to acknowledge the illness.

This can be heartbreaking for those who must watch the downward spiral of this illness developing. The signs are not always obvious so the condition can literally creep up on you without your being aware of it.

Many people consider alcohol to be a pleasant accompaniment to a good meal or a natural element of a good time. On the continent it is considered perfectly normal to sip wine with food. Europeans will quaff alcohol with lunch as well as dinner and think nothing of it.

On the other hand attitudes here in the United States can border on the puritanical with a love-hate relationship with alcoholic beverages being quite common. Love-hate relationships are typically intense and this intensity can lend power to the bottle that was not originally there. Though wine with meals is considered the norm among a large portion of the population the relationship with alcohol can still be somewhat fraught.

It is possible that this societal attitude may have something to do with the very real problem of alcohol abuse proliferating on school and college campuses across the country. Americans' relationship with the bottle is not a casual one and it is possible that this is the very thing that makes it so attractive to millions of young students across the country. For many of the youth alcohol has become a symbol of freedom and disregard for reigning authorities.

Whatever the attitude, alcohol dependency is not so much a function of how much you drink but how your body reacts to the presence of alcohol in the system. The fact is that someone can be a dreadful lush, tossing back copious amounts of alcohol with gusto, and not be dependent on the stuff. This doesn't mean that they somehow occupy some higher moral ground. It's really just how the body is genetically composed. Certain behavior will result in alcohol dependency for some and not for others.

So how do you know whether you relationship with alcohol is a casual and healthy one or a growing dependency? More to the point, how do you know if a loved one is in trouble with alcohol or not? Because the person who drinks may already be moving into denial it is often those surrounding them that begin to ask the questions.

Here are some of the signs:
* WITHDRAWAL - This is a physical response to the absence of alcohol in the system. When this happens suddenly it may induce symptoms like shaking, irritability, anxiety and nausea.
* INCREASED TOLERANCE - Some people have long been proud of their ability to drink others under the table but this tolerance is a warning that the system has a different relationship to alcohol than it does in healthy people.
* ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION - large amounts are casually consumed. This can happen in one of two ways: repetitive binge drinking; or steady drinking over a prolonged period of time.
* FAILED ATTEMPTS - The person with a developing alcohol dependency makes attempts to stop but is unable to.
* INCREASED TIME  - An increasingly disproportionate amount of time is spent indulging in drinking activities.
* NEGLECT - In order to prioritize drinking, other functions and activities begin to be neglected. A slow deterioration of daily functioning becomes apparent.
* CONSEQUENCES - The drinker becomes more and more alienated from the consequences of their drinking.
* DRINKING ALONE - While a glass of wine with dinner is a pleasant ritual even without company if it extends beyond that, or is accompanied by the anxious need for a drink to wash away the stress of the day, this may indicate a problem.

Because there is no test to diagnose alcohol dependency the condition is detected by a combination of many different factors that may include a simple glance at the family tree. If one or both parents were dependent on alcohol then there is a chance that the tendency has been passed on through the genes.

People that have suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as children may also be more susceptible to alcohol dependency. The relationship between this condition and other mental health issues like depression, anxiety and various personality disorders may contribute to an alcohol dependency.

So what can be done? It seems that awareness is the only solution. People who are susceptible because of a family history should be educated about the fact that they may be at risk. This is easier said than done as people may become defensive and sensitive to what they may perceive as implied criticism.

The situation is a delicate one and should be dealt with in a way that respects the dignity of those involved. Fortunately there are some very reputable agencies with broad experience operating in this field and they can be contacted directly without having to communicate through the medical profession. Alcoholics Anonymous, and many other organizations like them, are the undisputed professionals when it comes to substance abuse and alcohol dependency. Using a tried and tested process that includes support from other sufferers, self-help and 24 hour assistance, these organizations are helping millions to free themselves of their addictions and live healthy, rich lives.