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the Redskins won or lost)
• decreasing ability to stop when others do
• trying "geographic cures"- starting over in a new town- (things will be better)
• tremors and early morning drinking
• decrease in tolerance' (late stages of the disease)
• onset of lengthy intoxication
• failure of repeated efforts to stop drinking
• loss of other interests
• neglect of food
• increasing withdrawal symptoms when drinking stops ("the shakes").
Alcoholism usually kills prematurely by damaging body organs (heart, stomach, liver).
The treatment of alcoholism has had a checkered past. Traditionally, psychotherapists have seen compulsive drinking as a symptom of underlying psychological trauma (childhood abuse/neglect). It was believed that once counseling uncovered the trauma, the need to drink heavily would cease, Regrettably, this course of treatment rarely worked. Predictably, with such poor results, counselors came to view most alcoholics as being "resistant" to therapy. This poor showing, however, changed dramatically when a reverse approach was triedstop the drinking, then work on psychological issues.
It has been recognized that alcoholics drink heavily because that is the nature of the disease. Repeated efforts at long-term moderate drinking fail with alcoholics.
Alcoholism treatment can vary with the individual. Later stage alcoholism usually requires inpatient treatment to begin to repair the psychological damage. Outpatient counseling is often sufficient for early stage alcoholism. The earlier the arrest the easier the treatment and the higher the success rate.
An on-going "recovery program," usually in the form of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings (free of charge) is essential for maintaining quality sobriety. I’ve observed that "recovering" alcoholics who work on important "life issues" (family, employment, spiritual) in a "recovery program" attain a higher level of emotional stability and happiness than the general population as a whole. Regrettably, most alcoholics still never get the help they need- but this is changing.
Bob Treanor is a mental health counselor at the Rappahannock Family Guidance Services and may be reached by calling, 675-3329.
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