Alcoholism - Your Life Held To Ransom!
Alcohol enjoys a long tradition of being an inseparable part of celebrations and social gatherings in almost every society. Be it the customary flute of champagne at weddings, or the officious glass of scotch which has become mandatory at almost every social do it is not uncommon to find the occasional drink being accepted, and even encouraged, at numerous occasions in the course of an individual’s adult life. But it is when this occasional drink becomes a way to escape or deal with stress, or when an individual gets accustomed to his round of drinks every evening, that without realizing it, he succumbs to the deep dark void of alcoholism.
Alcoholism as a disease is very deceptive as often the victim himself is prone to shrug away his excessive drinking habits as something he can ‘deal with’. The perception of those who are in his vicinity is also apt to be skewed as society by and large believes that this is a phase the alcoholic himself can pull out of, with just a little determination and will power. But not many are aware of the disastrous effects alcoholism has, both on the victim and those he interacts with, until it is indeed to late. Apart from the physical havoc that alcohol wreaks on the individual’s body, this disease also has several far-reaching consequences on society as a whole, both in terms of the huge dent it causes to economies all over the world, and also the delinquent behaviors it can lead to.
Excessive consumption of alcohol claims its stake on the victim’s body, inflicting him with a multitude of physical illnesses like heart and liver disorders. Needless to say, his performance at work is affected which, over time impairs the functioning of the organization and thus hindering the progress of the economy which the organization is a part of.
With the decline in income that the individual faces, there is also the rising expenditure he has to incur as a result of his addiction, which compels him to buy increasing amounts of alcohol. The financial security of his family being at stake, the alcoholic will also have to face marital tensions, which he tries to evade by drinking more alcohol which traps him in a malicious circle. Unknown to many, alcohol is a depressant, which means that the more you drink, the deeper your depression grows until you are finally drinking to escape the gloom alcohol has brought on to you.
Society is not very sympathetic in their outlook towards alcoholics as most people scorn victims of alcohol abuse as too weak to control their excesses. This takes its toll on the victim’s self esteem a condition that is compounded by the psychological disorders that alcohol is responsible for. The chronic depression that the alcoholic suffers from matures into more terrifying diseases like paranoia and even schizophrenia in the long run. Alcoholics are also more inclined to other forms of substance abuse which complicate the problems alcohol is already causing them.
Children, who come from families where either or both parents suffer from alcohol addiction, also tend to be at a heightened risk of depression, which can begin from their early childhood in the form of uncontrollable crying, bed wetting and nightmares. As they grow older, they are also likely to be very extreme in their behavior, which can either mean that they will be very rebellious and delinquent, or conversely, obsess about their grades, be increasingly submissive and self-conscious and are also more likely to develop phobias. These children also suffer a very lonely childhood, having no one to speak to about their fears and even convince themselves that they are failures, despite their best efforts to prove otherwise.
The mounting pressures of the modern day world and the relentless pace of life lead to larger numbers of people trying to drink away their fears and worries with every passing day. But if you think that these are reasons enough for you to loosen up with ‘just another tin drink’ think again. Your excesses can not only jeopardize your life and well-being, but also that of your family and those you are close to. Take a minute to consider if the gamble, though a seemingly harmless one, is a wise choice to make, given all the disastrous effects it can lead to. Take that first step today and pull yourself out of the reaches of alcoholism and you’ll soon realize all the wonders of life you had shut your doors to.
