Portrait of an Alcoholic

It is a fact that addiction is a disease characterized by typical symptoms. It is a primary, progressive, chronic and fatal disease. It is usually challenging to diagnose or address because denial is one of its symptoms.

Why do alcoholics continue to drink despite problems?

Even when we understand the disease of alcoholism, the only remaining mystery is the victim – why do alcoholics continue to drink after it is evident that drinking is destroying them?

The answer is surprisingly simple: At every stage, the disease itself prevents the alcoholic from realizing that they are addicted to alcohol. In the earliest stage, when the cells adapt and tolerance gradually increases, alcoholics do not consider giving up alcohol because nothing indicates that they are sick. No one else suspects that they might be. When their cells have become firmly dependent on alcohol for functioning in the middle stages, they may be aware that they need to drink more often and in greater quantities, but they do not know why. They do not know that their cells have been altered, nor do they know that their physical reaction to alcohol is drastically different from the nonalcoholics. They only know that when they stop drinking, they suffer, and so their priority is to get alcohol back in their system.

As the alcoholic drinks more often, alcohol’s toxic effects disrupt the brain’s chemical and electrical balances, causing profound psychological and emotional disturbances. The middle- and late-stage alcoholics are frequently irrational, deluded, and incapable of understanding what is happening inside them. They cannot see themselves as others see them. Their actions, thoughts, and emotions are warped by alcohol; their behaviour is governed by addiction.

To everyone else, it may appear that the alcoholic is somehow responsible for their disease because they ignore all warnings and continue to drink. But – and this is a key to understanding alcoholism – they are already an alcoholic when their behaviour and psychological stability first deteriorate. The physical disease is already well-established by the time the alcoholic begins to act like an alcoholic. In fact, the disease itself is responsible for most of the alcoholics’ psychological problems, and as it progresses, the alcoholics’ behaviour becomes more bizarre and their psychological issues more profound.

Because the physical damage is not evident until the later stages of the disease when alcoholics can no longer control their drinking, it is critically important that the early psychological and behavioural symptoms of alcoholism be recognized for what they are: the signs of an already established disease.

Diagnosing alcoholism

Alcoholics should not have to wait until their lives are nearly destroyed by alcohol before their disease is recognized; they can be diagnosed in the early stages of the disease.Addiction therapists or psychologists knows what to look for and who understands that psychological and emotional problems are among the first symptoms of underlying addiction can make an accurate diagnosis after careful examination. A family history of work addiction is one clue; marital difficulties, problems at work, recurring bouts of depression and anxiety, and changing drinking patterns are additional clues. A classic symptom of alcoholic drinking is a refusal to acknowledge or admit a drinking problem. The alcoholics will deny or renationalize their drinking behaviour because they are unaware of their addiction, believing that their drinking is merely a response to serious life problems.

The alcoholic’s interaction with others can also provide telling clues. If the spouse is worried; if a parent is frequently too busy to play with his children or constantly irritated by their demands; if they make new friends who happen to be heavy drinkers; if they find old friends boring – all these behaviours raise suspicion of alcoholism.

Problems with diagnosis

However, the alcoholic and others around them usually have a difficult time determining whether alcoholism is at the root of their growing problems. In the later stages of the disease, when addiction is apparent, and withdrawal symptoms provide an undeniable sign of physical dependence, the diagnosis is much easier to make. But in the early stages, alcoholic drinking can easily be confused with normal or problem drinking behaviour. Simply because a person argues with their partner, stomps out of the house, and gets drunk at a nearby bar does not mean that they are alcoholic. Marital problems and job difficulties are not sufficient by themselves to indicate alcoholism. But add personality changes and a growing preoccupation with alcohol and alcoholism is a very likely explanation.

Progression

Perhaps the strongest clue of all is the disease’s progression. Alcoholism does not do minor damage and then suddenly stop its attack. If the alcoholic continues to drink, they will not be able to reverse their psychological problems; they will only get worse. They will be able to drink in control for only a temporary period; inevitably, alcohol will control them. They will consume more and more often, even though alcohol is threatening their marriage, career and health.

Every alcoholic, of course, experiences a slightly different progression of overt symptoms, and not every alcoholic experiences all symptoms. Therefore, the “typical” alcohol is a summary of all, not necessarily a description of any individual alcoholic.

If you are concerned about your or a loved one’s drinking, call 90008 50001 or 98490 69609 or email info@hopetrustindia.com