The Psychological Effects of Alcohol - Essay Example

The Psychological Effects of Alcohol The effects of consuming alcohol can be extremely subtle or they can take on dramatic dimensions. The results can range from mild lowering of inhibitions to serious physical and mental health problems. The damage to the body that results from the overuse of alcohol can include organ damage as well as permanent brain damage. It can ultimately result in death. Alcohol use is generally classified as moderate, abuse, or alcoholism. They all differ in the subjects pattern of alcohol consumption. Some of the effects are overlapping from one group to another and many are common to all groups. The pattern of use is further defined in terms of short term and long term effect. This paper will explore the various psychological and health problems associated with differing patterns and levels of alcohol use. It will also investigate the underlying causes of alcohol use and abuse and reveal several contributing factors. In addition, it will point out early warnings as well as signs commonly exhibited by alcoholics. Moderate alcohol use is generally accepted in appropriate social settings and as a rule causes no health problems for the general population. Alcohol abuse is the over consumption of alcohol in a single event. The effects can range from mild changes in the subjects attitude to a severe altering of vision, balance and speech (Health24). These effects usually wear off in a matter of hours after the person stops drinking. However, if the blood alcohol level reaches .50, fatality can be the result. Abusers are not necessarily physically addicted to alcohol, but develop problems as a result of their alcohol consumption and poor judgment, failure to understand the risks, or lack of concern about damage to themselves or others. Alcohol abuse may manifest anti-social and violent behavior. Studies have indicated that as many as 35% of all suicides and homicides are alcohol related. Alcohol is involved in 40% of all child abuse and rape cases. It has been found to be a contributing factor in 45% of automobile deaths (Kaye) Alcohol can react in varying ways on different people. While some may display outwardly aggressive and hostile behavior, others will become more extroverted, engage in conversation and feel a sense of well being. These contradictory feelings among subjects are heightened due to alcohols ability to lower inhibitions. When alcohol lowers inhibitions, it is likely to result in saying or doing something unintended. This puts the subject at social risk and contributes to feelings of alienation, feelings of anxiety, and loneliness. Though alcohol may give a temporary elevation to ones mood, it is a depressant and can eventually result in a state of depression for the abuser. Further abstaining from alcohol will, in most cases, result in the depression subsiding as the subject returns to a state of sobriety. Since the abuser is not yet physically addicted to alcohol, they may be influenced to cease drinking with mild persuasion or trusted advice. However, the various moods and actions taken by an abuser may form the basis of continuing to drink more heavily. An abuser may find pleasure in the elevated high derived from alcohol and desire to repeat the experience. The abuser who has made regrettable remarks, or sustained a loss due to impaired judgment, may want to drink to mask their depression. As each subject, for their own contrary reasons, continues to drink more and on a more regular basis, they each run the risk of developing alcoholism. Alcoholism is the long term, regular consumption of alcohol. It is usually marked by an emotional attachment as well as a physical addiction to alcohol. Long term alcoholism can cause severe health problems. It can damage the body, result in mental disorders, and lead to permanent brain damage. Though some damage may subside with the cessation of drinking, most effects of chronic alcoholism are irreversible. The results of the long-term damage will usually result in long term care, therapy, and hospitalization. Just as the short-term abuser suffers from impaired judgment and lack of caution, the alcoholic will suffer more loss from these actions due to their long term and regular drinking. They may develop an unrealistic sense of their own being resulting in denial of their problem. As the denial grows, the losses they incur from their drinking can include job, family, possessions and friends. The psychological effects of alcoholism make these losses unrecognizable to the alcoholic. Though the alcoholic suffers many of the same psychological effects that short term abusers experience, the long term and regular use of alcohol presents a heightened intensity of these problems. The short-term depression can escalate to a case of depressive illness (Guthrie and Lewis, 2003, p.99). Depressive illness can produce wide-ranging effects on the chronic alcoholic. The symptoms may range from oversleeping to undersleeping, unusual eating patterns, hyperactivity and mood swings to name a few (Cyberview). Suicidal behavior and self-harm can also result from alcoholism. It is estimated that as many as 25% of untreated drug and alcohol abusers eventually commit suicide. It has also been noted that male alcoholic members of a family with a history of alcoholism are at greater risk of suicide than ones from non-alcoholic families (Guthrie and Lewis 2003). Sexual dysfunction is also routinely noted in alcoholics. This may be a temporary consequence of intoxication or it may be psychological. Another cause may be the breakdown in the relationship between the alcoholic and their spouse. Long term alcoholism can also result in physical sexual impairment leading to impotence. Another serious psychological effect of long term alcohol consumption can be Alcoholic Hallucinosis. In their book, Guthrie and Lewis (2003, p.99) noted, "In this rare condition the individual experiences second or third person auditory hallucinations of a derogatory nature in the absence of delirium. They often develop secondary persecutory ideas but usually settle within a few weeks " Pathological jealousy can also arise. This can cause unwarranted suspicion of a partners sexual fidelity. Though serious delusions are infrequent, mild to severe cases of moderate jealousy are common. This may be influenced and heightened by the alcoholics sexual dysfunction, or exacerbated by their anxiety over their deteriorating relationship (Guthrie and Lewis 2003). These unfounded feelings in an alcoholic can trigger rage and escalate into violence against their partner. Another psychological problem the alcoholic encounters is loss of mental control. The alcoholic is unable to control the amount they drink as well as the setting in which they consume alcohol. They are unable to reasonably assess the damage they may be doing or the risk they may be taking. This contributes to accidents, loss of jobs, financial problems, and has legal ramifications. This inability will cause the alcoholic to continue on a course of destruction without recognizing the seriousness of the harm they are doing (Texas A&M). As the alcoholic progresses in the disease and the intake of alcohol increases and becomes more regular, blackouts are likely to occur. A blackout is an alcohol-induced amnesia in which the alcoholic has no memory of their drinking episode. It differs from being unconscious in that the drinker appears to be awake and lucid, yet will not have the ability to recall where they had been or who they had spoken to, This can lead to unrealistic commitments and highly unusual spending patterns. A craving for alcohol is another trait exhibited by the alcoholic. The craving may be physical or mental. Physical addiction to alcohol is a serious effect of long term abuse. Removing alcohol from a dependent user can cause alcohol withdrawal. The symptoms can vary and are dependent upon the severity of the addiction. Mild cases can result in headache, sweating, nausea, and vomiting. The patient may suffer from insomnia and exhibit heart palpitations. Their pupils may appear to dilate and the subject may experience tremors of the hands (About). More severe cases of alcohol withdrawal can result in fever, convulsions, and hallucinations. The visual hallucinations are accompanied by a state of confusion and are generally referred to as "delirious tremors" (About}. In addition to the psychological effects of alcoholism are the physical effects incurred from long term use and abuse. According to Guthrie and Lewis (2003, p.99), "Chronic alcoholism leads to brain damage and dysfunction, the Wernicke-Kersakoff syndrome, alcoholic cerebellar degeneration and alcoholic dementia ". They speculate that these symptoms may be caused by a combination of alcohol toxicity on the brain cells in combination with an alcoholics malnutrition (Guthrie and Lewis, 2003, p.99). Liver damage, most often cirrhosis of the liver, is the most common causes of death among alcoholics. It is an irreversible condition which requires a liver transplant to have any hope of meaningful recovery. Extended use of alcohol can irritate the digestive system resulting in ulcers and cause cancer in the intestinal track. Schindler et al. reports: The pancreas is also at risk in the alcoholic. High concentrations of alcohol increases the functioning of the hematopoietic system and effect a decrease in red blood cell production, white cells and platelets, problems with clotting, immunity to infection and bleeding disorders. Other major problems associated with alcohol abuse include heart disease, malnutrition, and vitamin deficiencies Males may experience lowered sperm count while females exhibit menstrual irregularity and ovarian abnormalities. In both cases it can lead to infertility. Alcohol can also cause severe kidney damage, urinary tract infections, mental disorders and brain damage. (Schindler et al.) In pregnant women, alcohol can do serious harm to an unborn child. Known as fetal alcohol syndrome, it is a condition that affects the offspring of an alcoholic female. This results in abnormalities in the children born to alcohol consuming mothers and it characterized by facial abnormalities, retardation, and patterns of slow growth. It has been shown that women who drink to excess are more likely to have an underweight baby. No limit has been set that can guarantee safety and it is the accepted professional opinion that alcohol should be totally avoided during pregnancy. Along with the myriad of direct psychological and physiological problems associated with alcoholism, there are indirect causes of illness in alcoholics. Increased susceptibility to diseases can result from the bodys weakened immune system. Alcohol produces a nutritional deficiency and reduces the white blood cells ability to ward off germs (Enviromental Law). This can leave the alcoholic vulnerable to the aggravation of existing diseases. Other indirect consequences come about when alcohol masks an injury or illness. Injury may result from an accident due to intoxication, or the subject may suffer alcohol poisoning which can result in death. With the severe health implications associated with alcohol, the question needs to be asked; Why do people drink? As science studies alcoholism in search of an answer, they have come up with several indicators, some of which are beyond the scope of this paper, that may serve as warning signs when evaluating a subjects vulnerability to alcoholism Heredity is often mentioned in works dealing with the susceptibility to alcoholism. There has been no clear genetic evidence, but studies have shown a clear association between generations of alcoholics. Recent research has moved away from attempting to identify a specific marker for alcoholism and have instead relied more on personality disorders such as behavioral undercontrol or negative emotionality as a source for vulnerability (Baum et al.,1998, p.348). The problem that arises when attempting to study the effects of heredity is that the subject may be the product of a highly dysfunctional family. Texas A&M describes it this way: There is a family history of alcohol abuse. Genetic studies indicate that alcoholism tends to run in families and that a genetic vulnerability to alcoholism exists. The disruption of family life in an alcoholic home also plays a role in creating vulnerability to alcoholism later in life. Stress can also contribute to the overuse of alcohol. Trauma can lead to drinking months or years after the event. People begin to drink more and addicts in recovery are prone to relapse. Post traumatic stress can be the seeds for alcoholism years after the traumatic event. Childhood sexual abuse can leave a person prone to alcoholism in later life. Other forms of physical violence, rape, and assault can also lead to alcoholism. A serious event such as a natural disaster or death of a loved one can also be the catalyst for drinking. Peer pressure can be another influence, primarily on younger adults. This usually leads to on and off binge drinking. If the subject has other markers in their personality traits, this may propel them more quickly into alcoholism. Recognizing and treating alcoholism, with few exceptions, must start with the alcoholic admitting they have the disease and agree to cooperate in treatment. Alcohol abusers and binge drinkers may be approached by a trusted friend to offer advice and guidance, but an alcoholic deep in the disease may not be open to such approaches. Due to an alcoholics mental state and denial, intervention may be counterproductive. If the alcoholic is open to treatment, it is usually multi-based and involves several processes. Treating the disease will usually require long term in patient care. This is augmented with therapy which may be in the form of a traditional 12-step program or spiritual guidance. Drugs may be prescribed which invoke a severe reaction if the alcoholic drinks while taking them. The alcoholic may be successful at abstaining from alcohol, but in many cases the damage done by years of alcohol abuse can not be reversed. It is important for successful treatment to catch the disease in its early stages. Recognizing signs early on can be the surest way of attaining complete recovery. Early symptoms of alcohol abuse are evident when the subjects drinking takes priority over all other social events. Another indication is an increasing tolerance to alcohol, when the subject needs an ever-increasing quantity to achieve the same high. Drinking at inappropriate times and ignoring social hints to reduce their drinking are also symptoms of early stage alcoholism. Intervention at this stage may be successful as the disease may not have progressed to the point of physical addiction. The early stage alcoholic may be more open to encouragement to cease drinking. They may still have adequate mental faculties to realize the danger of their drinking and be willing to cooperate in a meaningful recovery program. Works Cited About. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Retrieved December 7, 2005, from http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/withdraw/a/aa030307a.htm Baum, A., & Newman, S., & Weinman, J., & West, R. (Eds.). (1998). Cambridge handbook of psychology, health and medicine. Cambridge, England. Cambridge University Press Cyberview . (2005).. Depressive illness. Retrieved December 7, 2005, from http://www.cyberview-usa.com Environmental Law Center. Tips for boosting the immune system..Retrieved December 7, 2005, from http://www.elc.org.uk/pages/healthimmunesystem.htm Guthrie, E., & Lewis, S. (2003). Master medicine: A clinical core text with self assessment. London: Churchill Livingstone Health24. (2005). Physical and psychological effects of alcohol. Retrieved December 6, 2005, from http://www.health24.com/mind/Sexual_dysfunction/1284-1300,18171.asp Kaye, S. The problems of alcohol abuse. Retrieved December 7, 2005, from http://medweb.rcm.upr.edu/publications/sidney_kaye/the-problem-of-alcohol.htm Schindler, J., & Shirazi, A., & Tricker, R., (Eds.) Recreational and street drugs - alcohol. Drugs in Sports. Retrieved December 7, 2005, from http://www.drugfreesport.com/choices/drugs/street/alcohol.html Texas A&M Research Foundation. Alcohol abuse and dependence.. Retrieved December 7, 2005, from http://rf-web.tamu.edu/security/secguide/Eap/Alcohol.htm Read More