According to statistics, men are twice as likely to suffer from alcohol dependence. Our society considers regular alcohol consumption to be completely normal, despite the fact that the consequences of men’s alcoholism are very deplorable for both her and her family.
This opinion is, of course, catastrophic and needs to be reconsidered. Alcoholism is a serious disease that destroys a person’s psyche and general health. This requires a comprehensive medical approach. As practice shows, even beer leads to stable alcoholism. This disease starts with it and later one turns to strong alcohol.
External signs of alcoholism
The addiction develops and develops gradually, step by step. The presence and development of alcoholism can be recognized by a number of characteristic signs of alcoholism in men. Psychologists and narcologists have developed the main symptoms that can be used to recognize the onset of alcoholism:
- irresistible longing for alcohol, one seeks the strangest reasons to justify one’s desire to drink;
- aggression against family members, friends, co-workers;
- lethargy and fatigue;
- speech disorders;
- musculoskeletal disorders;
- proficiency in dealing with strangers;
- apathy, mood swings;
- deterioration of general well-being.
These are the first signs of onset alcoholism that can take up to 10 years. It’s easy to miss them at this stage, as often. She just doesn't pay attention to them. He thinks a man is relieving tension after work, trying to escape problems with a can of beer or a glass of brandy. Meanwhile, the disease does not stop and continues to progress.
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Causes of male alcoholism
The problem of male alcoholism is dictated by the difference between the psychology of women and men. The man is no less adapting to changing external circumstances and resorting to alcohol to distract him from the problems and worries he faces. In addition, men are more likely to resist persuasion to rehabilitate, believing they are able to cope on their own.
But this is not the case - in addition to physical addiction, alcoholism brings profound personality changes from the first months of abuse. The external environment often consists of the same alcoholics over time, which also hinders recovery.
Every second family in Hungary faces the problem of alcoholism in the future or has already faced it. This affects all family members without exception, especially children. In general, the causes of addiction can be divided into three types:
- social;
- psychological;
- physiological.
They may appear singly or in combination. Social reasons include the presence of drinking lovers in the environment. Social status plays a key role as those with good jobs and tertiary education are less likely to face the problem of addiction. It is especially necessary to emphasize the presence of stress at work and the level of well-being.
The psychological factors are:
- imbalance of the psyche;
- insufficient level of self-control;
- poor motivation for professional and intellectual development;
- presence of complexes;
- little self-confidence.
There are several other factors that can lead to alcoholism in a man. Here are just the most common.
There is another group of factors that cause constant drunkenness - factors of a physiological nature. These are metabolic disorders that lead to the rapid development of addiction and hereditary factors. If there have been cases of alcoholism in previous generations, it is likely that they will be relevant to the next descendants. One thinks that one will not be addicted and one can easily give up alcohol at any time. A similar phenomenon is characteristic of alcoholics at all stages of alcoholism.
The alcoholic can be recognized by his eyes and eyes. Ethanol has a negative effect on the eyes, it becomes "glassy" and it gets tired. Over time, bags under the eyes and swelling appear. Such a man seems tired. This indirectly indicates the presence of diseases of the internal organs.
A person who drinks constantly often smells of "smoke" of alcohol, which is difficult to confuse with anything else. People trapped in alcoholism usually do not take proper care of their hygiene, appearance, and do not hesitate to wear wrinkled, dirty clothing.
Stages and signs of alcoholism
There are several stages to alcoholism in men. There are only three of them coming in a row. The later treatment is started, the more difficult it is to achieve success - psychological dependence and an antisocial lifestyle deny the progress of treatment.
Signs of the first stage
In the early stages of the development of alcoholism, there is a gradual increase in the amount of alcohol consumed. There are many reasons for this, such a person is looking for any reason to drink. However, he gets drunk more and more often every time. Relatives may hear objections to this behavior:
- I want to rest.
- Others drank more than I did.
- Yes, I drink a lot, but I’m not an alcoholic.
- I’m just tired at work and want to relax.
If these terms are accompanied by aggression, this is a clear sign of the development of addiction. This section is also characterized by other signs related to physiology:
- no gagging reflex;
- more is needed to achieve the same level of poisoning;
- there are power outages.
All of these manifestations cause a deterioration in general health, a decrease in attention concentration, and a decrease in effectiveness. They appear more often during the transition to the next stage.
At this stage, you should already start treating alcoholism in a man - the earlier the stage, the more likely you are to have a successful outcome. In the first stage, the drunkenness is completely cured and the body returns to its original state after recovery, as the organs have not had much time to suffer and their functions are not impaired either.
One cannot imagine life without alcohol. This is how you spend all your free time. This can cause problems in the workplace, as an employee who often arrives on a hangover works worse. As a result, conflicts begin with colleagues and management. There are also many problems in family life.
Signs of the second stage
In the second stage of alcoholism in men, other characteristic signs appear. Withdrawal symptoms or a hangover are more pronounced here. It consists of nausea and headaches. There may be power outages. Sleep and digestion are often disturbed. The craving for alcohol is already irresistible. The alcoholic in the second stage is no longer able to give up drinking. He is the main priority around which all life revolves.
In addition, this stage of the disease is characterized by mental disorders - alcoholic psychoses. This is manifested in an unstable emotional state, frequent manifestations of aggression, inappropriate behavior, and unwarranted irritability.
Signs of the third stage
This is the last stage of alcoholism. At this stage, the patient should be hospitalized urgently to save his life. The complete degradation of personality and moral values become indifferent. The main goal of an alcoholic is to get a new dose of alcohol, and you can do anything about it, including breaking the law. This is also happening:
- poisoning comes from small doses;
- a hangover is very difficult;
- sleep depends on the amount drunk, as does food intake.
According to medical statistics, the average life expectancy of an alcoholic at this stage does not exceed five years. The following symptoms may occur due to persistent intoxication of the body:
- intellectual decline;
- loss of speech or severe disturbances in it;
- high risk of stroke, heart attack, paralysis, severe hepatic and renal insufficiency.
If these symptoms occur, you need to understand that the addiction will only increase. The basis for effective and successful treatment is the desire to get rid of the patient’s addiction. Complicating matters is the fact that alcoholics are often drunk and unable to make informed decisions. This makes dialogue with such a person very difficult.
Beer alcoholism should be noted separately. Now this problem is gaining more and more weight in society. In general, many people are convinced that beer should not cause alcoholism. Narcologists have a different opinion on this - frequent beer consumption can cause persistent alcoholism. It is manifested in the need to constantly drink this drink and in large quantities. The amount of drunkenness is gradually increasing. Even then, it’s worth blowing an alarm and starting the rehabilitation process to get rid of this addiction.
Consequences of alcoholism in men
No matter how strong the body is, the consequences of alcoholism in a man do not wait long. They can be conditionally divided into two types - psychological and physiological. The latter can manifest itself in the dysfunction of various body systems:
- Male impotence. Under the influence of alcohol, the hormonal background changes and testosterone production is stopped.
- Digestive problems. It can be gastritis, intestinal ulcers, gastric diseases.
- Pressure problems. Alcohol destroys the vascular system.
- Pathology of the liver. Frequent alcohol consumption leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
- Weak immunity. The body loses its protective properties, common infectious diseases occur.
- Heart problems. Alcoholics are many times more likely to have a heart attack than non-drinkers.
Alcoholism also affects the human psyche. These violations may manifest themselves in strange behavior:
- Feeling of persecution. One seems to be watching.
- Appearance of hallucinations. Under the influence of alcohol, the brain can create visual, auditory illusions.
- Encephalopathy. It is associated with poor circulation and poor nutrition of brain cells.
If such symptoms occur, consult a qualified psychologist who works with alcoholics immediately. It is important to know that you can start treating alcoholism in a man at any stage.
Only in a rehabilitation center does it help a man not only alleviate physiological dependence, but also in the complete recovery with inpatient treatment, and accompany him through the first steps of life after rehabilitation.
Of course, the sooner they provide qualified help to narcologists, the faster and easier it will be to get rid of the disease. Therefore, if you have the slightest suspicion, consult a specialist immediately.