Support Group for Alcohol Addiction
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol, usually to the detriment of the drinker’s health, personal relationships and social standing.
Alcoholism is an addictive illness and its historic definition includes four symptoms:
Craving: a strong need, or compulsion, to drink
Impaired Control: an inability to limit one’s drinking on any given occasion Physical Dependence: withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking
Tolerance: the need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects
How does alcohol affect our body?
Damage to the body, includes among others,
- The brain: mental acuteness is lost; memory, judgment and the power to concentrate are all diminished. As the alcoholics’ capabilities are eroded so is their self-esteem
- The neurotransmitters
- Vital organs such as the heart, the kidneys, the muscles which may sustain damage or be destroyed
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Under nourishment
- Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
- Paranoid Psychosis
- Alcohol Fetus Syndrome
Are specific groups of people more likely to have problems?
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race and nationality.
The World Health Organisation estimates that there are 140 million people with alcoholism or alcohol dependence syndrome worldwide. The figures are indeed alarming in several countries.
According to recent estimates from a study commissioned by the Department of Work and Pensions (Hay and Bauld, 2010) there are nearly 2.3 million drinkers in Great Britain. Furthermore, it has been estimated that approximately 5 million children are affected by parental substance misuse (Manning et al., 2009). Nearly 14 million people in the United States – 1 in every 13 adults – abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. It is to be noted that alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older. It has been proven that people who start drinking at an early age, 14 or younger, have an increased chance that they will develop alcohol problems at some point in their lives.
Why should you join the Support Group for Alcoholism?
The Support Group for Alcoholism focuses on:
- Empowerment based on Motivational Enhancement Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
I have specifically designed the Support Group for Alcoholism for addicts at all stages of recovery to get together to discuss:
- Their experiences
- Coping strategies and
- Personal sources of hope
The benefits of joining the Support Group for Alcoholism
- Meeting new people who wish to put an end to their addiction and lead a healthy life
- Learning Skills to conquer cravings
- Getting support during difficult emotional times
- Having people to hold you accountable
- Knowing you are not alone
- Knowing that you can share your thoughts, emotions and experiences