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A Story: The Prisoner In The Dark Cave
There once was a man who was sentenced to die. He was blindfolded and put in a pitch-
After a rock was secured at the entrance to the cave, the prisoner was allowed to take his blindfold off and roam freely in the darkness. He was to he fed only bread and water for the first 30 days and nothing thereafter. The bread and water were lowered from a small hole in the roof at the south end of the cave. The ceiling was about 18 feet high; the opening was about one foot in diameter. The prisoner could see a faint light up above, but no light came into the cave.
As the prisoner roamed and crawled around the cave, he bumped into rocks. Some were rather large. He thought that if he could build a mound of rocks and dirt that was high enough, he could reach the opening and enlarge it enough to crawl through and escape. Since he was 5'9", and his reach was another two feet, the mound had to be at least 10 feet high.
So the prisoner spent his waking hours picking up rocks and digging up dirt. At the end of two weeks, he had built a mound of about six feet. He thought that if he could duplicate that in the next two weeks, he could make it before his food ran out. But as he had already used most of the rocks in the cave, he had to dig harder and harder. He had to do the digging with his bare hands. After a month had passed, the mound was 9 1/2 feet high and he could almost reach the opening if he jumped. He was almost exhausted and extremely weak.
One day just as he thought he could touch the opening he fell. He was simply too weak to get up, and in two days he died. His captors came to get his body; they rolled away the huge rock that covered the entrance. As the light flooded into the cave, it illuminated an opening in the wall of the cave about three feet in circumference.
The opening was the opening to a tunnel that led to the other side of the mountain. This was the passage to freedom the prisoner had been told about. It was in the south wall directly under the opening in the ceiling. Al the prisoner would have had to do was crawl about 200 feet and he would have found freedom. He had so completely focused on the opening of light that it never occurred to him to look for freedom in the darkness. Liberation was there all the time right next to the mound he was building but it was......... in the darkness.
Addictive behaviour has been defined as "a pathological relationship to any mood-
Such a definition helps us move from our stereotyped pictures of the dives and back alleys of drug and alcohol addiction to the respectable corporate and religious lives of work and religious addicts.
Our families are the places where we have our first relationships. Families are where we first learn about ourselves in the mirroring eyes of our parents, where we see ourselves for the first time, if we are loved, respected, worthy of the time of our family. In families we learn about emotional intimacy. We learn what feelings are and how to express them. Our parents model what feelings are acceptable and family authorised and what feelings are not okay to express.
In our families we adapt to the needs of our family system. We take on roles necessitated by the dynamics of the system. Such roles demand that we learn certain feelings and that we give up certain feelings. If we are brought up in a strict disciplining family, we learn to adapt and comply, or else we rebel. If a parent is ill or depressed, we often learn to play down our own feelings and learn to look after that parent.
When relationships go wrong in families, if parents are unable to express love (e.g. say “I love you”) or a parent loves too much, or is abusive or an addict of some kind, we learn to defend ourselves with ego defences. We repress our feelings; we deny what's going on; we displace our rage onto our possessions or our friends; we create illusions of love and connectedness; we idealize and minimize; we dissociate so that we no longer feel anything at all; we numb Out.
Our addictions are our mood alterers. They are what we develop when we numb out. They are our ways of being alive and our ways of managing our
Alcohol use is involved in:
- One-
half of all murders, accidental deaths, and suicides - One-
third of all drownings and boating and aviation deaths - One-
half of all crimes - Almost half of all fatal automobile accidents
The health problems associated with alcohol include brain damage, cancer, heart disease, and cirrhosis of the liver.
Alcohol is a potent non-
Temperate and occasional users of alcohol who are in normal health do not appear to suffer negative effects from use of alcohol. In moderate doses, alcohol has beneficial effects: relaxation, appetite stimulation, and creation of a mild sense of euphoria.
Consumed in substantial amounts, alcohol's toxicity may be because it acts as a foreign
substance in the body's metabolism. The short-
Various factors affect the speed of alcohol's absorption into the body.
- Watery drinks such as beer are absorbed more slowly.
- Foods (especially fatty foods) delay absorption.
- Carbonated beverages speed up the emptying of the stomach into the small intestine, where alcohol is absorbed more quickly.
- The drinker's physical and emotional state (fatigue, stress) and individual body chemistry unpredictably affect absorption.
- Gender: women have less alcohol dehydrogenase, which breaks down alcohol in the stomach; so more alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream.
Alcohol moves from the bloodstream into every part of the body that contains water, including major organs like the brain, lungs, kidneys, and heart, and distributes itself equally both inside and outside of cells. Only 5 percent of alcohol is eliminated from the body through the breath, urine, or sweat; the rest is oxidized or broken down in the liver.
In the liver:
- Alcohol is broken down in steps by enzymes until only carbon dioxide and water remain
as by-
products. - Alcohol is processed at the rate of 0.3 ounce of pure ethanol per hour (less than
1 ounce of whiskey), and unprocessed alcohol circulates in the body. (The alcohol
from two cocktails—each about 1.5 ounces—ingested before dinner is still present
in the body, in a diminished amount, 3 to 4 hours later.)
The liver's fixed rate of alcohol breakdown means that drinking coffee or taking
a cold shower does not speed the sobering process. Therefore, giving coffee to a
person who is drunk may produce a wide-
Within moments of ingestion, alcohol reaches the brain where it:
- Stimulates and agitates, initially producing euphoria
- Depresses and sedates, producing calmness and tranquillity
- Anaesthetises
- Induces a hypnotic state and sleep
Alcohol quickly depresses inhibitions and judgment. As inhibitions are released the
drinker may feel friendlier, more gregarious, and more expansive. The suggestion
to "have a drink and loosen up" is based on the biology of alcohol in the body. Sexual
inhibitions may be released, which gives alcohol the reputation as an aphrodisiac;
in fact, alcohol impairs sexual function and performance, and eventually blunts desire.
Increased consumption may produce Jekyll and Hyde personality changes in drinkers,
leading to aggressiveness and cruelty. Radical mood changes (such as bouncing from
euphoria to self-
Alcohol adversely affects motor ability, muscle function, reaction time, eyesight, depth perception, and night vision. Since these are the abilities needed to operate a motor vehicle and since even moderate amounts of alcohol impair these abilities, drivers should never— NEVER—drink and drinkers should not drive.
As a drinker continues to drink, alcohol depresses lung and heart function, slowing breathing and circulation. Death can occur if alcohol completely paralyses breathing. However, this state is seldom reached because the body rejects alcohol by vomiting, or the drinker becomes comatose before he or she can imbibe a fatal dose. Acute alcohol overdose leading to death occurs most often in situations such as young peoples parties where individuals may be encouraged to ingest large amounts of alcohol rapidly.
A hangover is a combination of physical symptoms.
- Headache: Blood vessels in the head, dilated by alcohol, painfully stretch as they return to their normal state.
- Upset stomach: Alcohol irritates the gastric lining, leading to acute gastritis.
- Dehydration: Alcohol acts as a diuretic, stimulating the kidneys to process and pass more water than is ingested.
A hangover is a withdrawal state. If you medicate this withdrawal with more alcohol,
the alcohol will continue to circulate in the blood and will not be completely eliminated.
Taking amphetamines (uppers) merely masks hangover symptoms.
The best hangover cure is aspirin, liquids, sleep, and time. Bland foods, especially liquids, may also help. The best prevention for a hangover is moderation or abstinence.
Physical Effects of Alcohol Abuse
Since alcohol so easily permeates every cell and organ of the body, the physical
effects of chronic alcohol abuse are wide-
Alcohol also can impair vision, impair sexual function, slow circulation, cause malnutrition,
cause water retention (resulting in weight gain and bloating), lead to pancreatitis
and skin disorders (such as middle-
The liver breaks down alcohol in the body and is therefore the chief site of alcohol damage. Liver damage may occur in three irreversible stages.
- Fatty Liver. Liver cells are infiltrated with abnormal fatty tissue, enlarging the liver.
- Alcoholic Hepatitis. Liver cells swell, become inflamed, and die, causing blockage. (Causes between 10 and 30 percent mortality rate.)
- Cirrhosis. Fibrous scar tissue forms in place of healthy cells, obstructing the flow of blood through the liver. Various functions of the liver deteriorate with often fatal results. (Found in 10 percent of alcoholics.)
A diseased liver:
- Cannot convert stored glycogen into glucose, thus lowering blood sugar and producing hypoglycaemia.
- Inefficiently detoxifies the bloodstream and inadequately eliminates drugs, alcohol, and dead red blood cells.
- Cannot manufacture bile (for fat digestion), prothrombin (for blood clotting and bruise prevention), and albumin (for maintaining healthy cells).
Alcohol in the liver also alters the production of digestive enzymes, preventing the absorption of fats and proteins and decreasing the absorption of the vitamins A, D, E, and K. The decreased production of enzymes also causes diarrhoea.
THE BRAIN AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM -
A neurological disorder called Wernicke-
THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM -
THE HEART -
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS -
DEFINITION -
CAUSE -
DIAGNOSIS -
In some children, FAS does not appear until adolescence, when they exhibit hyperactivity and learning and perceptual difficulties. These impairments are symptomatic of minimal brain dysfunction (MBD), which affects between 5 and 19 percent of schoolchildren, according to a study by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Studies of children with FAS who are now teenagers have uncovered new physical problems—ear infections, hearing and vision loss, and dental problems— that were not identified when the children were first studied at a younger age. Only a small percentage of the children born to alcoholic women suffer FAS. The reasons for this are unknown, although it is thought that some children have an increased genetic sensitivity to alcohol. Maternal risk factors for this condition include:
- Chronic drinking during pregnancy
- Previous problems with drinking
- Previous children
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION -
For many years, alcoholics were viewed as morally defective persons who were the objects of scorn and pity but were not seen as suffering a disease. While the acceptance of this condition as a disease clears the way for understanding, treatment, and recovery, at the same time alcoholics can and must take responsibility for their own recovery. And since alcoholism, like diabetes, is treatable but not curable, recovery from alcoholism lasts a lifetime.
THE BEGINNING STAGES OF ALCOHOLISM
Like cancer, alcoholism consists of many diseases, and alcoholics develop alcoholism
in different ways. Some alcoholics begin drinking to the point of intoxication from
their first drink, immediately behaving in ways destructive to health and relationships.
Others suffer a progressive disease, beginning with acceptable social drinking. In
the early stages of the condition, the alcoholic comes quickly to depend on the mood-
In the beginning, alcoholics may start a party early by gulping a few quick drinks in the kitchen or they may order doubles when dining out. They feel uncomfortable at social occasions where alcohol is missing. Consumption may be limited and controlled; perhaps to two strong drinks before dinner, moving up to heavier social drinking of three to five a day.
MIDDLE STAGES
In the middle stages of alcoholism, the compulsion to begin drinking manifests itself
earlier in the day. The drinker prefers alcohol-
At this stage of alcoholism, the first drink of the day sets up a craving for more, and the desire for alcohol overwhelms common sense or what is socially appropriate. (Alcoholics Anonymous members say, "It is the first drink that gets you drunk.") Loss of control while drinking may not inevitably cause drunkenness each time (that is a function of the unpredictability of the drinker's behaviour), but sooner or later, that "first drink" will lead to an episode of overindulgence. As the disease progresses, the certainty of getting drunk increases.
Drinkers in this stage begin to be secretly ashamed and worried about lack of control. They may try to control their drinking or stop completely, but these attempts often fail. They may switch brands or kinds of alcohol and go from hard liquor to beer. They may seek a "geographic cure," moving to a new city or job in an attempt to cut down, or they may look fruitlessly for some other external formula that will successfully alter their drinking behaviour.
Eventually the alcoholic exhibits signs of denial, one of the chief psychological symptoms of alcoholism. By refusing to accept the fact of alcoholism, denial allows the drinker to keep drinking while repressing inner conflict. In the midst of the growing problems linked to alcohol consumption, drinkers blame everything except alcohol for their plight. Rationalizations for drinking become manifest, and unhappy relationships, financial difficulties, and work problems are all blamed for the need to drink. What the drinker fails to comprehend and denies strenuously is that the heavy drinking is not the result of these problems but the cause.
Although drinkers claim they drink to relieve fatigue, anxiety, and depression, alcohol,
in large amounts, exacerbates these feelings. Heavy drinking also brings out feelings
of anger, self-
As drinking progresses, alcoholics experience:
- Stomach upset
- Minor hand tremors
- Increased tolerance for alcohol
- Morning hangover and shaking hands that require tranquillisers or alcohol to treat.
Final Stages
Persons suffering late-
The late-
People suffering alcoholism do not have to "hit bottom" and reach the extreme late stages of alcoholism to decide to get help. Many men and women have recognized their alcohol problems before they lost their jobs or families, or began drinking in the morning, suffered DTs, or had to be hospitalised. For them, the labels "early stage," late stage," "problem drinker," or "alcoholic" were less important than the fact that their growing powerlessness over alcohol was causing them pain.
In some cases, the "diagnosis" of alcoholism is made by the courts, as when a judge hands down a drunk driving sentence that includes a requirement to attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), or to enter a rehabilitation program. The emergency rooms of hospitals make such diagnoses when a man or woman appears suffering from alcohol poisoning or withdrawal. Some doctors, however, may miss the diagnosis of alcoholism, in part because patients rarely admit to excessive consumption; 50 percent of persons with alcoholism seen by doctors are incorrectly diagnosed.
Families may diagnose alcoholism when a family member is hospitalised for the disease or when a spouse leaves because of a drinking. However, families may suffer from alcoholism denial in which they completely or partially deny the problem.
Initial-
- Excuses for the drinker's behaviour are made to bosses, friends, colleagues, or subordinates.
- A pattern of lies is woven to cover up for lateness, missed appointments, or irresponsibility.
The excuses and lies "enable" the alcoholic to continue drinking and avoid consequences of his or her behaviour. This realization is difficult if the people around them protect them from the consequences of their behaviour. When family members let alcoholics experience these doses of reality, without covering up, the individual with the drinking problem may arrive at a personal moment of truth.
Late-
- Family members lose perspective on the problem.
- The alcoholic promises to stop drinking, and then breaks the promise; the alcoholic's spouse makes more demands in an attempt to control the drinking.
- The spouse of the alcoholic grows suspicious, angry, and despairing.
- The home environment grows deeply unhappy.
In late-
Families and friends of alcoholics must do several things to help the alcoholic stop drinking.
1. Abandon wishful thinking that the alcoholic will someday be able to drink safely, recognizing that alcoholism is nearly always progressive.
2.Stop enabling the alcoholic to continue drinking (stop covering up for the drinker's irresponsible behaviour).
3.Seek information about alcoholism and its treatment as a disease.
Positive Steps towards Solving a Drug or Alcohol Problem
Using drugs or excessive alcohol always brings problems. These can be very serious
as such abuse hurts all aspects of our lives -
It's when we can't quite control how much we take, when we can't go without as easily as before.
Does this happen in your life ?
These are symptoms of dependency. You see, there's a whole range of drug dependency. It's not just heroin addicts or hopeless alcoholics, it can happen to anyone, even someone like you. Yes, even you.
OK then You, so you think that you may have an alcohol problem?
Well, if you have, you're taking a positive step toward resolving it simply by reading this web page.
Hundreds of thousands of people, just in the UK alone, are dependent on drugs or alcohol. Lots of them either don't realise they have a problem or don't want to admit it. You're taking the trouble to read these pages, this shows that you're willing to check it out.
Well done for doing this.
It's not important what drugs or alcohol you've used, or how much you've taken in the past. That makes no difference to the pain and distress that dependency can cause.
Some people think that alcohol dependence only happens to individuals who drink bottles of whiskey each day. Well, that's not true. Or that an individual must have a mental problem if they abuse drugs or alcohol. That's not true either.
It’s just ordinary people, who first used drugs or booze for a bit of fun, or excitement, or whatever. And then one day found that it wasn't fun anymore, it certainly wasn't exciting. It was just confusion, misery and despair.
Let's take a look at what alcohol dependency has to peoples lives . . .
Here's some common signs of alcohol dependency -
Loss of control
-
-
Devious behaviour
-
-
Mental obsession
-
It's not easy to admit that alcohol use can make you behave like this. Lots of people make excuses or blame others for their problem. You’ll need to get past that. You’ll need to acknowledge the reality of using.
Yet many people with an alcohol problem find it very difficult to own up to it. This
is called DENIAL -
DENIAL is a real killer, because chemical dependency is an illness that tells the sufferer that nothing's wrong!
It's caused by internal conflict. A person may like abusing alcohol because it makes them feel good.
BUT he or she knows that it's hurting themselves and their families. He or she can't reconcile these conflicting realities. So they deny that they have an alcohol problem! (this is a subconscious thing).
The only way to beat this is to try to be HONEST WITH YOURSELF. Real deep down HONEST. Perhaps deeper inside than you've ever been before. It can be scary, but it's good too.
You can ask other people what your alcohol using has been like for them, and then listen to what they say.
Then you can leave behind the excuses that you used to make. You know, excuses like; that I’m different from other people who abuse alcohol.
That I haven't really got a drug problem, I could stop if I wanted to.
That I only use alcohol because . . . because . . . because . . .
As long as you kept making excuses, you could pretend that you were choosing to abuse alcohol .
It’s time to check out the reality of your alcohol use.
Here are a few questions, that you can use as a reality check. Take your time.
Below is a checklist about alcohol use. Answer "yes" or "no" to each question. "Maybe" counts as "yes".
Alcohol Abuse Checklist
Have you ever got into fights while drinking?
Does your drinking make you feel guilty?
Do you sometimes not remember what you did when you were drinking?
Do you think you drink the same or less than most other people?
If you have had two drinks do you usually have a third?
Do other people think you drink more than usual?
Is it sometimes hard for you to stop drinking when you want to?
Has your drinking ever created problems with your spouse, parents, or a relative?
Has anyone tried to get you help for your drinking?
Have you ever lost friends because of your drinking?
Has your drinking ever gotten you into trouble at work or school?
Have you ever lost your job because of drinking?
Have you ever had to change plans for two days in a row because of drinking?
Does your drinking often start before noon?
Has a medical professional ever told you that you have a liver problem?
Have you ever had the DT's or shakes after drinking?
Have you ever been arrested for drunken behavior?
Have you ever been arrested for driving while under the influence of drink?
Have you ever tried to get help for your drinking?
Have you ever been hospitalised for drinking, either medical or psychiatric hospitalisation?
Scoring
Give yourself one point for each yes to questions 1, 2, and 3.
Give yourself two points for each yes to questions 4-
Give yourself three points for each yes to questions 19 and 20.
Total your points. If your score is 5 or greater, you might want to discuss your drinking with someone. If your score is 8 or higher, there is reason to believe you may have a significant alcohol abuse problem.
If you find answering these questions makes you rather anxious, we suggest you speak with a counsellor. These questions are intended only as a guideline. Your answers to the questions do not, in themselves, prove an alcohol abuse problem. Drinking patterns need to be explored in depth. A score of 5 or higher may mean that it is time to take a closer look at how you are using alcohol. Again, this is a guideline. It is a point of information for you to use in making decisions about your life
Do you think you have an alcohol problem? Don't despair ! Accepting this is the first step towards finding a solution.
It’s make your mind up time; it's up to you, no-
Do you want your life to carry on like this? Or . . .
. . . are you willing to change? Because that's what it takes.
Sounds scary doesn't it? Changing, leaving behind what's familiar. But if you really want to overcome your alcohol problem, that's the only way. Let me explain why........
Just cutting down on your boozing doesn't work. Always, sooner or later, your consumption goes back up again. You may already have found out about this. Once you've lost control over your using, you can never get it back. If you want to get well, you need to stop using
That's the first major change you can achieve.
It's fairly easy to stop taking alcohol for a while, the difficult bit is staying stopped.
If you want to stay well;
You need to ask for help -
That's the second major change you can achieve.
You can do this if you want to. You won't have to do it on your own.
The first thing to do is to stop using alcohol. How can someone do that?
The most important thing is to take action now. Don't just leave it for another day, or nothing will happen, just like all the other times when vague promises didn't work.
Even if you feel that you only have the beginnings of an alcohol problem, ACT NOW! Because it gets worse. It will get worse unless you take action.
If you've been using alcohol regularly, it's best if you stop taking them under medical supervision. Go and see a doctor. The physical withdrawal can be dangerous.
You'll probably get cravings for alcohol for a while. This is normal. These feelings will pass, so don't act on them. Put it off. Say to yourself "I won't drink now, but I might tomorrow, or in two hours, or in 10 minutes”. You can live for 10 minutes, 2 hours or one day without alcohol. Then you can do it again!
Now, I hope you'll remember this, it's important if you want to stop using alcohol :
You Can't Do It on Your Own
You'll need help and support. Here's where to find it . . .
There's a lot of people who care about you You. They'll support you if you ASK FOR HELP.
For some alcohol users, family or friends can provide support while the user is learning to live without alcohol . For others this may not be appropriate and they'll need to seek help elsewhere.
There are alcohol programmes and other organisations that deal with alcohol abuse in most towns. They often have staff or volunteers who used to be dependent on alcohol . GO SEE THEM!
What have you got to loose by going along? Nothing, except misery, loneliness, despair . . .
Then there are fellowships like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). These are loose organisations of people who used to have problems with alcohol and who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. There should be a local meeting near you (look in the phone book).
GET ALONG TO IT! You'll find some good friends there.
In my experience it's very difficult for anyone who has a problem with alcohol to get clean and stay clean on his or her own. When a problem comes along, it's so easy for that person to pick up a drink again. That's when you need support, encouragement, someone to talk to . . . to share your problems with.
Telephone to make an appointment with an experienced counsellor. Start to deal with the real issues. A counsellor will not shame or judge you. Most people who undertake therapeutic work make the neccessary changes in their lives to enjoy living to their fullest potential.
So, if you think you have an alcohol problem, here's what I advise you to do:
1 Give yourself a reality check. Look honestly at your using behaviour, you can use the questions above. Ask other people how they feel about your using. LISTEN to what they say.
Then, if you accept that you're dependent on alcohol -
2 Stop using -
3 Get all the support you can find. Ask for help, even when you're scared of rejection, ask for help. This is a big part of opening up and letting something else into your life apart from alcohol .
4 Start to learn healthy life skills. Things like how to deal with conflict . . . with painful feelings . . . with relationships. This you can learn with an experienced counsellor.
I can only give you a few tips here But if you follow them, you can begin to overcome
your alcohol problem. I recommend using the support and experience that can be found
with a counsellor, or in self-
Quitting drinking is only the first step in recovering from alcoholism. Learning to live without alcohol requires adjustment in attitudes, values, and lifestyles. If serious psychological disturbances have developed because of drinking, psychiatric counselling designed for alcohol abusers may be required. Occupational rehabilitation or vocational guidance also may be necessary.
Abstinence is the absence of alcohol or drugs; sobriety is a way of life. Recovery begins where formal treatment leaves off, and this lifelong process never ends. In developing a new way of life, many factors play a part. Recovering alcoholics should avoid people, places, and objects associated with their drinking. After being sober for some time, alcoholics should make new friends and engage in new activities by going to school, returning to work, learning a new hobby, doing volunteer work, or renewing a lost association with their churches or religious groups.
Positive addictions should be substituted for alcohol addiction: Walking, jogging,
sports, or a regular schedule of exercise promotes well-
What Can You Do If You Think You Have a Problem?
The first step is to seek counselling assistance. Your medical doctor could also be consulted for an assessment. Seeking assistance in itself, can be scary. Admitting to an addiction problem is similar to admitting that an important relationship isn't working. We can see the signs but because the thought of trying to change or end the relationship is so overwhelming, it's easier, at least in the beginning, to convince ourselves that everything is fine.
In some situations it may take some specific incident or "rock bottom" experience before denial of an addiction problem is shattered. Everyone's "rock bottom" is different, and fortunately, more and more people are getting assistance and learning new ways to approach alcohol and other drugs before losing everything important to them.
Coming to terms with the knowledge that there's a problem gets easier when we realize we don't have to fix the problem all at once or all alone. Discussing it with someone who understands; taking it one step at a time; is an empowering process. We come to realise that we do have choices and we can take charge and responsibility for what we consume.
feelings. This is most apparent in experiences that are euphoric, like using alcohol,
drugs, sex, carrot cake, adrenalin rush or the feelings of ecstasy and righteousness.
It is not as obvious in activities that are used to distract from emotions, such
as working, buying, gambling, watching television and thinking obsessively. These
are still mood-
Addiction has become our national lifestyle (or rather death style). It is a death
style based on the relinquishment of the self as a worthwhile being to a self who
must achieve and perform or use something outside of self in order to be lovable
and happy. Addictions are pain-
The lives of over 60 million people are seriously affected by the pain-
Next comes heart disease and cancer. Major contributors to heart disease are obesity, stress and smoking. Smoking is itself an addiction, as is obesity. Cancer, it has been discovered, has a correlation to emotional repressions.
People are killing themselves with food through overeating, starving, vomiting and improper diet. Eating disorders are addictions based on the denial of emotion, especially anger. A commentary on this condition is the fact that around 60% of women and 50% of men in this country have eating disorders.
Alcohol use is widespread, although the per capita consumption has varied from decade to decade. While U.K. consumption of alcoholic beverages increased after World II, since 1981 it has declined slightly. But even with declines in alcohol use, two of three British adults drink alcoholic beverages.About half of all alcohol consumed in this country is ingested by heavy drinkers, estimated to be between 6.5 and 10 percent of the total population.
The extent and frequency with which these individuals drink cause serious health and behavioural problems.
On this page:
Addictive behaviour An overview of alcohol addiction
How alcohol works in the body Physical effects of alcohol abuse
Foetal alcohol syndrome A profile of alcoholism Denial of alcoholism
Positive steps towards treating a drug or alcohol problem Living sober
