Alcohol-Stop It Now OeNever

Alcohol: Our Favorite Drug
Alcohol is our favourite drug. Most of us use it for enjoyment, but for most of us, drinking can become a serious problem.
Most people don't realise that alcohol causes much more harm than illegal drugs like heroin and cannabis. It is a tranquilliser, it is addictive and it causes many hospital admissions for physical illnesses and accidents.

Problems with alcoholMany of these problems are caused by having too much to drink at the wrong place or time. They include: fights, arguments, money troubles, family upsets, spur-of-the-moment casual sex. Alcohol can make you do things you would not normally do. Drinking alcohol can help cause accidents at home, on the roads, in the water and on playing fields.

Problems with alcohol - physical healthBeing very drunk can lead to severe hangovers, stomach pains (this is called gastritis), vomiting blood, unconsciousness and even death. Drinking too much over a long period of time can cause liver disease and increases the risk of some kinds of cancer. But there is good news for men over 40 and women of menopausal age - for them very moderate drinking may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Problems with alcohol - mental healthAlthough we tend to think of alcohol as something we use to make us feel good, heavy drinking can make you badly depressed. Many of the people who commit suicide have drinking problems. Alcohol can stop your memory from working properly and in extreme cases cause brain damage. In some people alcohol can cause them to hear imaginary voices. This is usually a very unpleasant experience and can be hard to get rid of.

Warning signsAlcohol is addictive. It is a bad sign if you find you are able to hold a lot of drink without getting drunk. You know you are hooked if you do not feel right without a drink or need a drink to start the day.

Dealing with alcohol problemsIf you are worried about your drinking or a friend's drinking, then you should take steps to make changes as early as possible. It is much easier to cut back before drinking problems damage your health than it is once they are out of hand.

First stepsIt may be enough to keep a diary of your drinking and then to cut down if you find you have been drinking too much. It helps if you can talk your plans over with a friend or relative. Do not be ashamed to own up to the problem. Most real friends will be pleased to help and you may find they have been worried about you for some time.

Getting helpIf you find it hard to change your drinking habits then try talking to your doctor. If you feel you cannot stop because you get too shaky or restless and jumpy, then your doctor can often help with some medication for a short time. If you still find it very difficult to change then you may need specialist help.

Changing habitsWe all find it hard to change a habit, particularly one that plays such a large part in our lives. There are three steps to dealing with the problem:
Realising and accepting that there is a problem.
Getting help to break the habit.
Keeping going once you have begun to make changes.

It is at this stage that you may find that you have been using alcohol as a way of handling stress and worries. A psychiatrist may be able to help you find ways of overcoming these worries that does not involve relying on drink.

Groups where you meet other people with similar problems can often be very helpful. Groups may be on self-help like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Most people dealing with their drink problems do not need to go into hospital. Some people will need to get away from the places where they drink and the people they drink with. For them, a short time in an alcohol treatment unit may be necessary. Drugs are not used very often except at first for "drying out" (also known as "detoxification"). It is important to avoid relying on tranquillisers as an alternative.

Most people with drinking problems are just like the rest of us, but there are some who are going to need extra help, such as the homeless. They may need a place to stay while they kick the habit and make a new start in their lives.

Although beating a drink problem may be hard at first, most people manage it in the end and are able to lead a normal life.
Alcohol and Depression
anyone who feels depressed and suspects they may be drinking too much.
anyone who suspects they may be drinking too much and is feeling depressed.
friends, family or colleagues of anyone who is both depressed and drinking.
It contains some basic facts about alcohol and depression, how to help yourself, how to get further help, and where to find more information.
How does alcohol affect the brain?
Tolerance
Alcohol is like many other drugs that act on the brain, such as tranquillisers. If we drink it regularly, we find that it has less effect on us. We need to drink more and more to get the effect we want. This is called 'tolerance' and is a powerful part of becoming addicted to alcohol.

Alcohol can also lead to:
Dementia - memory loss, rather like Alzheimer’s dementia.
Psychosis - long- term drinkers can start to hear voices.
Dependence - if you stop drinking, you get withdrawal symptoms such as shaking, nervousness and (sometimes) seeing things that aren't there.
Suicide - 40% of men who try to kill themselves have had a long- standing alcohol problem. - 70% of those who succeed in killing themselves have drunk alcohol before doing so.
What is the connection between depression and alcohol?
We know that there is a connection - self-harm and suicide are much more common in people with alcohol problems. It seems that it can work in two ways.

If we drink too much, too regularly, we are more likely to become depressed.

Regular drinking can leave us tired and depressed. There is evidence that alcohol changes the chemistry of the brain itself and that this increases the risk of depression.

Hangovers create a cycle of waking up feeling ill, anxious, jittery and guilty.

Regular drinking can make life depressing - family arguments, poor work, unreliable memory and sexual problems.

If we drink alcohol to relieve anxiety or depression, we will become more depressed
Alcohol helps us to forget our problems for a while. It can help us to relax and overcome any shyness. It can make talking easier and more fun, whether in the pub, a club or at a party. It is a very effective way of feeling better for a few hours.

If you are depressed and lacking in energy, it can be tempting to use alcohol to help you keep going and cope with life. The problem is that it is easy to slip into drinking regularly, using it like a medication.The benefits soon wear off, the drinking becomes part of a routine, and you have to keep drinking more to get the same effect.
Warning signs
You regularly use alcohol as a way of coping with feelings of anger, frustration, anxiety or depression.
You regularly use alcohol to feel confident.
You get hangovers regularly.
Your drinking affects your relationships with other people.
Your drinking makes you feel disgusted, angry or suicidal.
Other people tell you that when you drink you become gloomy, embittered or aggressive.
You need to drink more and more to feel good.
You stop doing other things to spend more time drinking.
You start to feel shaky and anxious the morning after drinking the night before.
You drink to stop these feelings.
You start drinking earlier in the day.
What if I am drinking too much?
Set yourself a target to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink.
Avoid any high-risk drinking situations(check out your diary).
Work out other things you can do instead of drinking.
Involve your partner or a friend. They can help to agree a goal and keep track of your progress.

We know that many people are able to cut down their drinking after discussing it with their GP. Some people can stop suddenly without any problems. Others may have withdrawal symptoms - craving, shakiness and restlessness. If this happens, your doctor can help.
Depression and stopping drinking
There is evidence that, although many heavy drinkers feel depressed when they are drinking, most will feel better within a few weeks of stopping. So, it is usually best to tackle the alcohol first, and then consider dealing with the depression if it has not lifted after a few weeks.
After a few alcohol-free weeks, you will probably feel fitter and less depressed. Friends and family may find you easier to get on with. If your feelings of depression lift, this strongly suggests that they were caused by the drinking.
If the depression is still with you after four weeks of not drinking, talk to your doctor or about further help. It may be useful to talk about your feelings, particularly if your depression seems linked to relationship problems, unemployment, divorce, bereavement or some other loss. Counselling may be helpful.

If the depression does not lift and is particularly severe, your general practitioner may recommend a talking treatment called 'cognitive psychotherapy' or suggest anti-depressant medication. In either case, you will need to stay away from alcohol and go on with the treatment for several months. There are some medications used to reduce the craving for alcohol, but these are usually only prescribed by a specialist.

Treatment for both alcohol problems and depression can be very successful. It helps to regularly see someone you can trust, either your own doctor, counsellor or a specialist psychiatrist. Changing our habits and style of life is always a challenge and takes time to achieve.
Dos and Don'ts of Drinking safely
Do sip your drink slowly - don't gulp it down.
Do space your drinks with a non-alcoholic drink in between.
Don't drink on an empty stomach. Have something to eat first.
Don't drink every day. Have two or three alcohol-free days in the week.
Do provide non-alcoholic drinks as well as alcohol on social occasions.
Do ask your doctor or chemist if it is safe to drink with any medicine that you have been prescribed.
Do keep to the target (amount of alcohol per week) you have set yourself.
Do check your drinking every few weeks with your drinking diary.
Finding Help
If you just can't stop drinking, or can't keep it to a safe level, you can get help from:

Your general practitioner
Self help groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous


Dr. Dhananjay Gambhire.
MD. DPM.
Consultant Psychiatrist.
Mob no. 9323187784.