Important Things That You Should Know About Alcoholism
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Excessive drinking is a problem that millions of Americans have. If you’re concerned about the amount of alcohol that you consume, you’re not alone. Drinking often doesn’t mean that you’re an alcoholic. However, the problem starts when you can’t control your alcohol consumption. If you want to find out more about what alcoholism is and what you can do to prevent yourself from being a victim, keep on reading.
What is Alcoholism?
Before you read on to find out about the effects that binge drinking can have on you, you should understand the basics of alcoholism. Drinking every day or binging occasionally when you’re frolicking with your friends isn’t the issue. It doesn’t automatically make you an alcoholic. However, the problem starts when you’re consumed by the idea of getting your next drink. Or when you can’t stop yourself once you start drinking. The thing is alcoholism affects everyone differently. But the most common effects that you can struggle with are deep feelings of depression or becoming overly anxious when you’re drinking.
The problem with alcoholism is that you may not be able to get through it easily. For instance, if you suddenly stop drinking, you may start experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. Studies suggest that you don’t become an alcoholic because of drinking regularly or even binge drinking from time to time.
When to Draw the Line
While drinking every day doesn’t mean that you’re suffering from alcoholism, it can still affect your mind and body. For example, it damages your liver and gastrointestinal organs. In addition, it can cause kidney disease. If you don’t cut down or stop your intake, you may suffer a wide range of negative consequences. You would be surprised to find that a study that was conducted found that if you drink daily, you may be damaging your body more than your friend, Joe who’s an occasional binge-drinker.
However, this doesn’t mean that Joe’s safe. While he may not be going through the same complications as you, he may still be pitying his health at risk. For instance, when he binges his alcohol, he causes his body to accelerate its inflammatory response. As a result, Joe may have some hectic bowel irritation after his escapades.
Instead of comparing your drinking amounts with your friends, you should be asking yourself how much alcohol should be ideal for you. The following are some guidelines that should help you to make that decision.
You should drink in moderation or according to the amounts that are stipulated in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- If you’re a female, one drink or less a day is recommended
- If you’re male, it’s recommended that you drink 2 drinks or fewer a day
- Don’t drink until you blackout
- Never take your alcohol if you’re on any medications
The Bottom Line
Drinking heavily is always a cause for concern. The key to enjoying your favorite beverage is to do it in moderation at all times. Not only can it lead to serious medical conditions such as liver disease and gastrointestinal problems, but it can affect your mental wellbeing as well. If you want to know more about how alcoholism can affect you or your loved ones follow this link for more information https://impactrecoverycenter.net/.
What matters is knowing that if you’re feeling like you’re unable to control your urges, there is always professional help that is readily available. The first step is to ask for help. Speaking to your loved ones, or even a stranger can do you wonders. Alternatively, if talking isn’t your strongest point, you should consider writing to keep track of your changes and progress.
