Alcohol Addiction

So many people have read the warning labels on medications, to not be taken with alcohol, yet there are so many of us who still continue to do this harmful practice. The common belief is that alcohol either helps intensify the effects of the medication, helps the person relax more, or both. However, what many people don’t realize is that it could become a dangerous combination, depending on how much alcohol and what type of medication it is. Nearly half of people who drink alcohol with medication are at risk for having a bad reaction – so understanding the reality behind this situation could prevent a person from undue harm.

For people who drink too much alcohol too quickly, blackouts can occur. And when it happens, it’s interesting because of the way our society views it – in some ways, it’s terrifying, while others find it to be quite hilarious. Drinking too much and too fast can cause blackouts, and they’re incredibly common – especially since our culture condones so much drinking. If blackouts are occurring frequently in a person’s life, this could be a strong sign that they’re struggling with alcoholism or an alcohol use disorder (AUD) – but all too often, people don’t even realize they’re battling this because it’s viewed as a normal thing. As a person’s blood-alcohol level increases, the rate, and length of a person’s memory loss will also increase – and that’s why individuals often find themselves trying to piece together their night the morning after. The ”day after” or the “morning-after” are often situations filled with humiliating details, but the aftermath effects are serious; along with not remembering what a person is doing while experiencing a blackout, a person may also experience vision problems, impaired judgment, troubles standing, walking and more. For people who have a good idea of the serious effects that can occur from alcoholism, recovery is about understanding not only the harmful effects that these behaviors can cause to our body and to those around us, but also getting a clearer idea of how alcohol affects us in these instances. Previous reports have explained that blackouts a condition where the ability to form new memories is, temporarily, impaired. It makes sense, then, why people have such difficulties understanding what they did the night they blacket out – because alcohol took over. Researchers are still trying to discover exactly how blackouts occur – the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is responsible for making and storing memories, is obviously involved; in addition to this, previous research has shown that blackouts can vary in experience depending on who the person is, as well as their gender, weight, age, etc. Further investigations are exploring the types of blackouts that occur depending on not only the person but on the alcohol consumed – altogether, however, it’s very clear to see that people who blackout do face serious consequences – even if for a brief period of time. It’s not uncommon for people who blackout to want to try and put together the previous night’s events afterward, and with friends. Unfortunately, the information that’s talked about it’s always accurate because they’re often based on another’s person’s memory of the events – which could easily lead to false memories and false representations of what actually happened when alcohol was involved. In these instances, the circumstances could become extremely dangerous – especially if moments of crime, sexual assault, vandalism, and other related activities were present under the influence of alcohol. Studies report that men are more likely to experience blackouts than women – but with less stringent concerns about drinking, both groups of people are significantly at risk for blackouts. There are a number of health concerns that come with excessive drinking, such as missing work or school, getting behind in grades, finding out that a person said or did something that they wish didn’t happen, arguing with loved ones, overdose, hangovers, increased chances of having an accident, greater risks of getting involved in criminal activity and more.  When blackouts occur, we’re more likely to put ourselves into risky situations because we’ve lost the capabilities to think clearly and critically about decisions that we’re making. What we come to find is that people who’ve had blackouts tend to have false ideas about what really happened – and, in some cases, people admit to having followed through with a particular crime when indeed they were really innocent, all because they were under the influence of alcohol and can’t really remember what happened.   In instances such as these, the false representations that we may come to believe – because we don’t have any other evidence telling us otherwise – can place us at great risk legally, in addition to the risks that come to our health.   A one-time occurrence may not be a significant sign that help needs to be sought, but if blackouts are occurring often, or if a person is beginning to favor drinking over hobbies, work, family responsibilities and more, help needs to be sought. Blackouts can become a major sign of alcoholism if they occur often – but seeking help early on can help a person develop the tools they need to move forward in their life. Avalon Malibu focuses on the whole person, and with a personalized treatment plan and a support system, you’ll be well on your way towards healing and rejuvenation. If you’re ready to begin your journey to recovery, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today.

We don’t talk about it that often, but there’s more to addiction than simply being consumed by thoughts of drinking or using drugs. In many cases, substances can make their way into areas of our lives that never would’ve entered before - such as the workplace. The government explains that there are many negative effects that drinking on the job can have, including:

Have you or someone you love ever grabbed an alcoholic drink while saying something along the lines of, “I’m stressed”, “I’m depressed”, or “I feel on top of the world!”? We don’t realize it in these minute instances, but our mood can directly affect the way we think about drinking as well as how much we actually drink. Conversely, the type of alcohol we drink – and how much – can have a direct affect on our mood. In 2017, Medical News Today, a website that publishes information related to a variety of health conditions, explained that beer, wine and spirits can all have different effects on us; so, in other words, if you find yourself more aggressive after drinking spirits, you’re not alone. Professor Mark Bellis from the King’s College London noted a study that confirmed the effect that liquor can have on our mood and explained: “For centuries, the history of rum, gin, vodka, and other spirits have been laced with violence. This global study suggests even today consuming spirits is more likely to result in feelings of aggression than other drinks.”

Nutrition and exercise are two of the most commonly neglected aspects of health when substance abuse is involved. A few simple drinks after work hours can translate into daily binge drinking, and occasional drug use with friends can eventually turn into nightly intoxication sessions. It feels harmless at the time, but these behaviors form into a dangerous habit that becomes an addiction – and along with addiction comes with crucial areas of our lives that tend to be pushed to the side. If you’re in recovery for addiction, you can probably admit that it’s been more difficult for you to get proper exercise and to eat healthy when substance abuse required so much time and effort. It’s harder to go shopping for healthy, nutritious foods and to schedule in time each week to exercise when our brain has become altered to crave substances constantly. If you feel like you’ve got a long way to go, don’t be disheartened – treatment is just as much about getting your physical health back on track as it is treating the addiction itself.

It’s a common experience here within the United States; individuals meet up on the weekend, or after work, and begin drinking until they’re belligerently intoxicated. College students experiment with blackouts at parties, and many highschools have their first drink at the age of 14-15. Our society holds such a heavy stigma on addiction, yet social norms seem to perpetuate alcohol use in an almost positive light. In 2016, writer Layla Bryndzia shared her views on The Odyssey, a website that publishes information related to home, communities and more. She explained, “For most college students, a typical weekend starts with happy hour on Friday, going out later that night, getting completely sloshed, waking up on Saturday with a killer hangover, then doing it all over again the next weekend.” We always read the signs that warn us of drinking and driving, drinking and violence and more – yet why do so many Americans seem to not take this notion seriously? In 2015, Adweek highlighted the fact that alcohol ads have increased by 400% over the years – and while that certainly perpetuates the ease of buying alcohol over drinking a glass of water, it could very well be the fact that Americans are stressed – and they’re looking for ways to numb the pain.  The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) explains that there are a number of stressors that are placing Americans at higher risk for alcohol intoxication; a new job, a death in the family, moving cross-country, breaking up, getting married and more are all incredibly major life events that can bring out nerves and the urge to drink. In addition to this, daily stressors and living with a mental illness can make it hard to manage symptoms – and in these cases, Americans may bypass drinking “responsibly” in favor of drinking to cope.

In 2017, a young woman’s story was published via the U.S. News; at 11 years old, she had her first blackout as she was partying with her cousin. She explained, “I thought it was really insane…it’s like the brain suffers a mechanical failure. The problem with all this is that it’s funny in some ways and horrible in others.  Drinking too much and too fast can cause blackouts, and they’re incredibly common – especially in a culture that supports excessive drinking. If blackouts are occurring frequently in a person’s life, this could be a sign that they’re battling alcoholism – but in many cases, individuals don’t even know this because it’s considered quite a “normal” experience. Healthline, a website that publishes information related to a variety of health conditions, notes that as a person’s blood alcohol level increases, the rate and length of a person’s memory loss will also increase. The ”day after” or the “morning after” are often situations filled with humiliating details, but the after-math effects are serious; along with not remembering what a person is doing while experiencing a blackout, they may also have: impaired vision, impaired judgment, difficulty standing, walking and more. For those who understand the severe impact of alcoholism, recovery is about understanding not only the harmful effects that these behaviors can cause to our body and to those around us, but also understanding the mechanisms for how alcohol directly affects the brain.

The movies tend to depict alcoholism in a sad, grim light – but in many cases, ourselves and our loved ones fall into unhealthy patterns of behavior without even realizing it. Depression is one of the leading causes of disability in the world, and unfortunately, alcohol can appear to be a “quick fix” to masking uncomfortable symptoms when it appears there is no other way out. While most of us depict depression as simply being sad, there’s much more beneath the surface. On the outside looking in, depression may not even be noticeable; we may continue to attend work-related events, thrive in our social lives, or appear fine at home.  You’ll know if you’re experiencing sincere depression if you have:

Alcohol is a major part of our society today; it’s used for celebration, social occasions, and even as a “self-care” tactic after a long day of work. While alcohol is incredibly mainstream in our culture today, there are far too many people who struggle with dependency and alcoholism – yet they don’t even realize it. In many cases, alcohol causes people to change in attitude and behavior, and that’s when situations can become incredibly risky – especially when violence is involved. The first question many people ask is, who’s at risk? According to ABC Heatlh and Wellbeing, an Australian source that provides information on health topics such as diet, fitness, mood, relationships and more, explained a few years ago that those who are more irritable, who have poorer anger control and who display lower levels of empathy towards others are most likely to get caught in this dangerous trap. A 2015 study published in the journal Trauma, Violence & Abuse highlights that alcohol is often a major factor in child maltreatment and intimate partner violence – and if help isn’t sought quickly, a person may continue to spiral. To those who are on the outside looking in, alcoholism and violence can seem so absurd – and while it certainly may not make sense, often those abusing alcohol are just searching for a solution. In 2017, writer Amy Anderson explained that for her, alcohol was a solution. She told Success, “Most people look at addiction or alcoholism from the outside and wonder, ‘How could they sink so low?’ What these well-meaning people don’t understand is that sometimes addiction and alcoholism feel like a step up from someplace worse.” As a person continues down the path of alcoholism, they often find that violence escalates – and the symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic disorder (PTSD) or other deep-rooted issue only become covered up. If you’ve been struggling with alcoholism, it’s time to seek help. Speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today to start experiencing healing and restoration – it’s never too late to turn your life around.

Anger is a natural human emotion, and it’s not always bad; there have been many momentous occasions in which anger has propelled a person to stand up for their rights, to take action against a wrongdoing in the best way possible, or to create something that sparked change in the world. Anger does have a dark, dangerous side, however – and for many people recovering from alcoholism, anger can feel like a festering, infectious tornado that just keeps building and building until something is about to break. This is for many people a beginning phase of sobriety – because while sobriety can bring about increased energy, sharpened mental focus and more, there’s still a major change that the mind, body and spirit are going through – and that’s where “dry drunk” comes into play. In 2018, Ben Freeland shared his story of struggling with his first year of sobriety. He explained to Medium some of the positives of his first year in sobriety, along with the negatives: “…A sharp contraction in your social life, newfound awkwardness in longstanding relationships with friends and family, and, of course, the rage. The unfettering, unrelenting, oftentimes blinding anger. The kind of rage that makes you want to put your fist through absolutely everything.” “Dry Drunk Syndrome”, more clinically called “Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome”, is characterized by many as:

We don’t get a say in how our parents raise us, in where we grow up, and in what we’re exposed to as children. At a young age, we don’t have the brain development to make sense of what is happening around us, and we’re even less likely to heal from those events if support isn’t sought after. Growing up with parents or relatives with alcoholism often has a much bigger impact on us than we realize. We may not recognize it at the time, but the actions we witness performed by the adults around us become translated into our own script for how we view ourselves, others and the world. Our environment plays a big role in how we’re socialized to adapting to difficult situations, how to communicate with others, and more. If you grew up around alcoholism, it’s time you learned about how this may be affecting your long-term health – and what you can do to combat some of these risks. A 2015 study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review assessed a total of 3,215 articles related to this very subject – and researchers found that the most common outcome of growing up around alcoholism is adolescent drinking. When we’re exposed to it as a young child, it becomes viewed as a “normal” thing to do – and it can eventually become part of our coping mechanisms as we get older. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) explains that if we grow up around alcoholism, we’re likely to experience the following:

Being a pharmacist is a stressful yet incredibly important profession. Pharmacists are responsible for the lives of thousands of people throughout their career, and one minor mistake can have immense consequences. Having that much responsibility and so little of a margin of error can also be a lot to handle.