The Fitness Blog

There are many ways that alcohol misuse can affect our health and our social skills; After one or two drinks you start to feel more relaxed and more socialble as the alcohol reaches the brain and affects your cognitive abilities.
Alcohol consumption causes your heart rate to increase and you may feel a warm glow. This is caused by alcohol making the minute Veins in the skin widen, allowing blood to flow closer to the surface and lowers blood pressure.

Effects of Alcohol on your health

The effects of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can be terrible. Alcohol health problems include slowed breathing and heartbeat, loss of consciousness, impaired judgment leading to accidents and injuries, anxiety, suffocation through choking on your own vomit and potentially fatal alcohol poisoning. Drinking too much alcohol can also effect you mentally (generally temporarily), making you feel guilt or anger for no apparant reason and even making you paranoid. You slurr your words, often don’t recognise your surroundings and drinking too much alcohol can result in memory loss.

Heavy drinking increases your calorie intake, resulting in it being partly responsible for adult obesity. In a medium-sized (175ml) glass of wine there are 125 calories and over 500 in a bottle. Thats approximately 1 quarter of the national guidline daily amount!

Hangovers – Headaches could be the least of your worries

Alcohol consumption can cause you to get a hangover the next morning, often being unpleasant to experience. You may get stomach ache, sickness, nausea and sometimes diarrhea, Alcohol abuse also has a dehydrating effect. Drinking alcohol can also make you feel depressed, guilty

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consuming more than the recommended amounts regularly you are putting your health in damger. Consuming larger amounts of alcohol increases blood pressure.

Alcohol consumption is often linked with mental health problems. It has been found that people suffering from depression and anxiety were twice as likely to be problem drinkers.

Extreme levels of drinking can occasionally cause ‘psychosis’, a severe mental illness where the person beleives others are plotting against them. Heavy drinking may lead to isolation and sadness.

Jesse had an exceptionally hard time maintaining a job. To be sure, because of her laziness and lack of motivation, she was without a job far more regularly than she was in work. And when she did land a job, she had an awfully hard time getting to work when her shift started, she regularly got less than great performance assessments, and she called off sick so habitually that she usually got fired a week or two after she began working. To no one’s disbelief, one of the consequences of Jesse’s poor employment track record was the fact that she was almost totally broke most of the time.

Despite Jesse’s less than passing work record and financial misbehavior, then again, somehow, someway she made it a point to drink irresponsibly from day-to-day.

So it came as no big surprise when Jesse got arrested for a third DWI. When she went before the court, the magistrate told Jesse that her alcohol-related actions was awful and, as a consequence, he was going to sentence Jesse to serve seven months in the municipal jail.

Time In The Municipal Jail To Think About The Disruptive Results of Irresponsible and Excessive Drinking

During her time in the city jail, Jesse was expected to learn more about alcohol facts, about the disruptive results of abusive drinking, and she was expected to get alcohol counseling. The judge highlighted the fact that unless Jesse gets professional alcohol rehab and learns how to live a life of abstinence, she will most probably be spending more than a short amount of time in the municipal jail.

Jesse articulated that she comprehended what the magistrate was proclaiming but she still proclaimed that placement in the county jail was not the most logical sentence. The magistrate saw things differently and claimed that it was his professional duty to keep alcohol addicted individuals off the streets who drive and drink and who receive one or more DWIs. To substantiate this view, the magistrate listed some revered, extensively researched alcohol statistics that underlined some of the unhealthy outcomes that are linked to abusive and excessive drinking.

Even though Jesse understood that she drank in an abusive and hazardous manner, she never felt that she was an alcohol dependent person. So it was a rude awakening when Jesse started to experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal nearly four-and-a-half hours after after getting locked up in the city jail.

To treat her symptoms of alcohol withdrawal in a safe manner, Jesse was taken by ambulance to a rehab hospital for alcohol detox and then brought back to jail. While locked up in the municipal jail Jesse was given a mental health appraisal for her depression and undertook alcohol therapy but due to the fact that she got this rehab as something that was forced upon her, she neglected to take ownership of her hazardous drinking.

When her time in the county jail was finished, the judge without indecision told Jesse that she would be under stringent surveillance and would be mandated to take periodic alcohol tests.

Jessie’s Excessive and Irresponsible Drinking Prevents Her From Living in a Mature and Accountable Manner

After hearing how Jesse failed to take ownership of her drinking circumstances and how she unenthusiastically followed the therapy protocol while in the local jail, the magistrate knew that it was simply a matter of time before he would be seeing Jesse once again in court about her thoughtless drinking behavior. As the magistrate reflected on Jesse’s circumstance, he couldn’t help but think about how some individuals never ”get it” and learn how to live in and adult and effective manner.

When I was in the tenth grade in high school, I enrolled into a substance abuse class. At that time, I did not understand that alcohol abuse in reality was a sub category of drug abuse. While taking this class and learning more about drug and alcohol abuse and especially about alcohol side effects, I read a lot about Alcoholic Anonymous, their meetings, how their programs have twelve steps, and how successful the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery program has been for people all over the world. I also learned quite a bit about alcohol rehabilitation and the different alcohol rehab facilities that are frequently available to individuals who engage in heavy drinking.

Detrimental Effects That are Linked to Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse

Some of the harmful end results associated with alcoholism and alcohol abuse that I learned about in this class without a doubt terrified me. The ruined lives and many problems experienced by most alcoholics made me feel like I never wanted to drink alcohol when I became old enough. In short, I did not want to face the disaster and devastation that alcohol addicted individuals almost always experience.

Reflect on this for a moment. What fifteen-year-old person wants to face premature death due to his or her drinking behavior? What young person wants to become so out-of-control regarding his or her drinking that ingesting alcohol becomes the object of one’s life? What young person wants to go to one of the local alcoholic rehabilitation centers to deal with alcohol-related difficulties before he or she becomes twenty-one?

What teenager wants to experience alcohol withdrawals when he or she tries to stop drinking? Why would a person engage in drinking to such an extent that it would cause difficulties in every area of his or her life? Drinking later in life after a person has a career, a family, and develops personal responsibilities makes sense. But why would a teenager want to sacrifice his or her education, employment, finances, and relationships for a life that revolves around irresponsible drinking?

These issues were so important that I discussed some of them in class throughout the school year. What was utterly astonishing to me was the number of students who basically didn’t care about the negative effects of abusive drinking that I discussed. It was almost as if they couldn’t be bothered with the truth and how these results can destroy their lives. For the first time in my life I started to grasp something that my grandfather used to articulate all through my teen and pre-teen years: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink.

It’s Beneficial, Enlivening, and Important to Keep Away From the Damaging and Unhealthy Effects of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

And even at my young age, I also began to realize how important, beneficial, and enlivening it is in life to stay away from the unhealthy and debilitating consequences of alcohol and drug abuse.

Dante was a seventeen year old high school junior who was exhibiting numerous alcohol-related difficulties at school. Therefore, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor, before he would be allowed to come back to school.

Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to go over his school situation with his parents. His Mom and Dad were “fairly traditional” and explained to Dante that getting suspended from school was not an acceptable educational plan of action. They told Dante that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his legs that may hamper his educational attainment for the remainder of his adult life. In addition, Dante’s parents were extremely displeased that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his buddies in the second.

His parents told Dante that although he may be a teen, he needs to comprehend fairly swiftly that drinking is the pathway to pain, financial problems, failure, and ill health.

It was apparent that his Mother and Father were completely in accord with Dante’s principal and informed Dante that he had better make up his mind to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his dialogue with his Mother and Father, Dante in due course agreed to see Miss Johnson the next school day. So Dante phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next morning before school.

The Psychologist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Caused Quite a Bit of Apprehension By the School Administrators

When Dante got to his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she immediately went over all of the alcohol-related difficulties Dante had gotten into and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related behavior caused quite a bit of anxiety by the school administrators.

Quite candidly, Dante was not sure why the principal explained to him that he had to see a school counselor. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional counselor about his drinking activities? Because nearly all of his classmates drink about as much as he does, fundamentally, drinking shouldn’t be such a big thing. Stated more directly, if nearly everyone is drinking, why is this such a major problem?

Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink alcoholic beverages. He said that some of his older buddies introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and in the seventh grade.

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that while his buddies may in fact drink more than he does and that they may be a bad influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting discharged from school due to alcohol-related delinquency, absenteeism, and fighting, not his buddies. What is more, Miss Johnson also stressed the fact that Dante, and not his pals, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day of class per week because of his alcohol related difficulties. Lastly, Miss Johnson underlined the fact that due to his drinking situation, Dante is getting into a harmful cycle of abusive drinking that can in time wreck his life.

In short, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was beginning to foil his ability to function as an accountable young man. As verbalized by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your peers drink beer, wine, hard liquor, or wine coolers does not mean that it is right for you.”

Dante Learns That In Due Course He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Avoid Dangerous, Destructive, Unhealthy, and Damaging Consequences In the Foreseeable Future

Miss Johnson informed Dante that one’s friends can indeed influence a person in an unhealthy way, but that the individual herself or himself has to eventually take responsibility for himself or herself in order to prevent dangerous, destructive, unhealthy, and damaging outcomes in the future.

Luckily, Miss Johnson was very well equipped for her scheduled time with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had highlighted that outlined diverse drinking facts and statistics that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of information that applied chiefly to underage drinkers.

As an illustration, Miss Johnson stressed the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction and explained to Dante that drinkers who continue to drink abusively frequently become dependent on alcohol.

Miss Johnson also articulated the concept of binge drinking which she defined as follows: drinking five or more drinks in one sitting for males and consuming four or more drinks in one sitting for females.

The Counselor Articulates Numerous Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics

Then Miss Johnson articulated various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:

1. Alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse cost the United States an estimated 0 billion in 2005. This dollar amount was more than the cost linked to obesity (3 billion) or with cancer (6 billion).

2. More than one-half of U.S. adults have a close relative or family member that has or has had alcohol dependency.

3. More than 75% of female victims of nonfatal, domestic violence stated that their assailant had been drinking or using drugs.

4. In the United States on an annual basis, more than 33% of pedestrians killed by motor vehicles were legally drunk.

5. One national research study uncovered the fact that students are less likely to use alcohol if they are socially accepted by others at school and feel that teachers treat students fairly.

6. Research demonstrates that teens who use alcohol may remember 10 percent less of what they have learned than those who don’t drink.

7. Nearly ten to twenty percent of the individuals who drink in a hazardous manner in the long run develop cirrhosis of the liver (i.e., a scarring of the liver that can be fatal).

8. Up to 40% of the U.S. industrial fatalities and 47 percent of industrial injuries are associated with alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency.

Dante Gets A Relevant Wake Up Call Concerning the Long Term and the Short Term Outcomes of Teenage Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johnson stated the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction facts and statistics, it was evident that what Miss Johnson made known to Dante was a realization for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to put in plain words the long term and the short term effects of alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse, but she also took the time to support what she was saying with alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics that related to people in general, and principally to teens.

Indeed, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante at once comprehended why he should not be engaging in abusive and excessive drinking with or without his peers anymore. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the information she presented.

Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical exam and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol abuse or alcoholism rehab he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a thorough physical examination and to go through a complete assessment of his drinking situation so that he could start an alcohol rehab program promptly.

Jennifer is a thirty-year-old accounts payable manager who has been ingesting alcohol in an irresponsible and abusive manner since her live-in boyfriend and she broke off their relationship. Indeed, for the past ten months she has been drinking nearly a bottle of wine every night, and on the weekends she also has been drinking more than a few cocktails all through the day. In short, Jennifer has been drinking so abusively that it’s amazing that she hasn’t suffered from alcohol poisoning.

After feeling dejected because she was beginning to neglect her health, Jennifer at long last told herself that she’s had enough, that it’s time to stop the self pity act, that it’s time to quit the abusive and irresponsible drinking, and time to move on with her life. So the following Saturday morning at 8:00 AM, she determined that she would stop drinking suddenly and completely without planning or preparation.

When She Stopped Drinking She Felt Horrific, She Vomited Several Times, She Had Utterly No Appetite, She Started to Perspire Extensively, She Was Extremely Stressed Out and Moody, and Her Head Was Pounding

When Jennifer stopped drinking, she thought that she would probably be tempted to take a drink or two, but she never envisioned that she would feel so sick. More accurately, approximately two hours after she quit drinking, she had utterly no appetite, she vomited numerous times, she started to sweat extensively, her head was aching, and she was extremely moody and anxious.

When she called her best buddy and informed her that she had stopped drinking and that after a few hours she suddenly began experiencing flu-like symptoms, Helen, her best pal, told Jennifer to call her medical practitioner and tell him what she was experiencing.

She Admits to Her Doctor That She Has Been Drinking In a Hazardous and Irresponsible Manner, That She Just Tried to Quit Drinking, and That She is Suffering Through Extremely Unpleasant Flu-Like Symptoms

So Jennifer called her doctor, told him that she has been drinking in an excessive and irresponsible manner for more than a few months and that when she tried to totally quit drinking earlier in the day, within a few hours she felt as if she had the worst case of the flu that she had ever suffered through.

Her medical practitioner told her that she may be experiencing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and that she should have a friend or relative drive her to the emergency room ASAP.

As soon as Jennifer got off the phone, she got a neighbor to drive her to the emergency room. Interestingly, all the way to the hospital, as sick as Jennifer felt, the only thing she could think about was whether or not she might be addicted to alcohol.

Apparently her healthcare practitioner had phoned ahead and informed the emergency room personnel to expect Jennifer because when she got to the hospital, she was met by two ER workers who promptly asked her to get in the wheelchair they had with them. After getting taken to the emergency room and undergoing a few basic tests, it was verified that Jennifer was in fact going through alcohol withdrawal symptoms and was in need of alcohol detoxification.

A healthcare professional gave her some meds to address her flu-like symptoms and also gave her some meds to help get rid of the alcohol that was still in her circulation system.

An Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency Healthcare Professional Explains in a Clear Manner That She is Alcohol Dependent and Then Goes Over What Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms and Alcoholism Stages Are

After an hour or two, Jennifer was removed from the emergency room and wheeled to the recovery room. After she was in recovery for approximately an hour-and-a-half, Doctor Jefferson, an alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse specialist, came to visit her. He took quite a bit of time and explained in a clear fashion that Jennifer had suffered through alcohol withdrawal symptoms when she stopped drinking because she had become an alcoholic.

He then explained that with continuous and heavy drinking, the person’s brain over time becomes accustomed to the alcohol in order to carry out tasks and operations in a “normal” fashion. When the individual then abruptly abstains from drinking alcohol, it can be noted, the brain responds by creating alcohol withdrawal symptoms. What is more, her healthcare professional also explained the various alcoholism stages that an individual who is alcohol dependent usually experiences as the disease gets worse over time.

It is Verified that Jennifer is in the First Stage of Alcohol Dependency and She Obtains a Good Forecast For a Complete Recovery if She Gets the Alcohol Therapy She Requires

Fortunately for Jennifer, it was confirmed that she was in the earliest stage of alcohol dependency and, consequently, she got a favorable projection for a full recovery if she will get the alcohol dependency therapy she needs.

Jennifer told the doctor that she will do whatever it takes to get sober and to regain her life and her health. She also articulated that she has an exceptional hospitalization insurance plan that will probably pay for most, if not all, of the costs needed for rehabilitation. It was obvious that Jennifer was extremely grateful about her positive medical forecast and felt at ease knowing that she will be able to get the alcohol treatment she requires so that she can start on the path to recovery.

Jennifer is a thirty-six-year-old fixed assets manager who has been consuming alcohol in an irresponsible and excessive manner since she and her boyfriend decided to discontinue their relationship. In truth, for the past seven months she has been drinking almost a bottle of wine every night, and on the weekends she also has been drinking several mixed drinks all through the day. In short, Jennifer has been drinking so hazardously that it’s amazing that she hasn’t suffered from alcohol poisoning.

After feeling unhappy because she was beginning to let her health go downhill, Jennifer finally told herself that she’s had enough, that it’s time to stop feeling sorry for herself, that it’s time to quit the irresponsible and abusive drinking, and time to get on with her life. So the following Saturday morning at 9:00 AM, she decided to quit drinking suddenly and completely without preparation or planning.

When She Quit Drinking She Felt Awful, She Had Absolutely No Appetite, Her Head Was Aching, She Started to Sweat Extensively, She Was Extremely Moody and Restless, and She Vomited a Number of Times

When Jennifer stopped drinking, she reasoned that she would more likely than not be tempted to have a drink or two, but she never supposed that she would feel so dreadful. More specifically, around an hour-and-a-half after she stopped drinking, she had utterly no appetite, she vomited numerous times, she started to sweat extensively, her head was aching, and she was extremely moody and anxious.

When she called her best buddy and informed her that she had quit drinking and that after a few hours she without any warning started to have flu-like symptoms, Julia, her best friend, told Jennifer to call her medical doctor and clearly explain what was happening.

She Admits to Her Physician That She Has Been Drinking Heavily, That She Just Tried to Quit Drinking, and That She is Going Through Extremely Painful Flu-Like Symptoms

So Jennifer called her doctor, informed him that she has been drinking in an abusive and excessive manner for a number of months and that when she tried to totally quit drinking earlier in the day, within a few hours she felt as if she had the worst case of the flu that she had ever experienced.

Her healthcare practitioner informed her that she may be experiencing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and that she should have a friend or neighbor drive her to the emergency room as soon as humanly possible.

As soon as Jennifer got off the phone, she got a family member to drive her to the emergency room. Interestingly, as sick as Jennifer was, all she could think about all the way to the hospital was whether or not she might be addicted to alcohol.

Obviously her healthcare professional had called ahead and informed the emergency room personnel to expect Jennifer because when she got to the hospital, she was met by two ER workers who promptly asked her to lie down on the portable bed they had with them. After getting transferred to the emergency room and undergoing a couple of basic tests, it was corroborated that Jennifer was in actual fact experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms and was in need of alcohol detoxification.

A doctor administered some meds to lessen her flu-like symptoms and also administered some medications to help get rid of the alcohol that was still in her circulation system.

An Alcohol Addiction Medical Practitioner Discusses That She is Alcohol Dependent and Then Goes Over What Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms and Alcohol Addiction Stages Are

After an hour or two, Jennifer was taken from the ER and wheeled to the recovery room. After she was in recovery for approximately two-and-a-half hours, Doctor
Alessie, a chemical dependency and substance abuse specialist, came to talk to her. He took plenty of time and explained in a clear fashion that Jennifer had gone through alcohol withdrawal symptoms when she quit drinking due to the fact that she had become dependent on alcohol.

He then discussed the fact that with heavy drinking on an everyday basis, the individual’s brain slowly becomes accustomed to the alcohol in order to operate in a “normal” way. When the individual then all of a sudden refrains from ingesting alcohol, it can be noted, the brain responds by giving rise to alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, her doctor also went over the various alcoholism stages that a person who is alcohol dependent typically suffers through as the disease advances.

It is Established that Jennifer is in the First Stage of Alcohol Addiction and She Receives a Favorable Projection For a Complete Recovery if She Gets the Alcoholism Rehabilitation She Requires

Fortunately for Jennifer, it was verified that she was in the first stage of alcoholism and, as a result, she received a good projection for a total recovery if she receives the alcohol rehabilitation she requires.

Jennifer told the medical practitioner that she will do whatever it takes to get sober and to reclaim her health. She also stated that she has a first class hospitalization insurance policy that will quite possibly pay for most, if not all, of the treatment costs that will be incurred. It was obvious that Jennifer was quite thankful about her encouraging medical prognosis and felt reassured knowing that she will be able to get the alcohol dependency therapy she requires so that she can start on the road to recovery.

It is remarkable to articulate something that family members who have been unfavorably affected by the alcohol dependency of another family member apparently do not grasp. It appears that by shielding the alcohol dependent individual with untruths and dishonesty to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have basically created a condition that makes it easier for the alcoholic to persevere and advance with his or her damaging, detrimental style of life.

Clearly, rather than helping the alcohol dependent individual and themselves, these family members have in truth become enablers who have inadvertently helped deteriorate the alcoholic’s drinking problem even further.

Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcohol dependent person will continue drinking in an excessive and abusive manner and experience various “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include deteriorating relationships, considerable financial problems, legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DUIs), employment difficulties, diminished mental functioning, and poor health.

The Possibility of a Relapse is Real

According to the research literature and statistics on alcohol dependency, another key alcohol dependency issue concerns alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol addicted person has effectively gone through alcoholism rehab and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this predicament flies in the face of sound thinking and looks so improbable that it forces a person to wonder why anyone who has gone through the awfulness of alcoholism can return to drinking a short while after effective alcohol therapy and in turn after attaining sobriety. There are, for sure, many credible reasons for this.

It should be noted, then again that alcoholism research that has focused on the lasting outcomes of alcohol addiction has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcoholic has halted his or her drinking, key alterations in the way in which the alcohol dependent individual’s brain operates are still present. As a consequence, all a recovering alcohol dependent individual has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the modifications that have taken place in the brain is to begin drinking once again.

The Need for A Drastic Lifestyle Change

There are other reasons why numerous recovering alcohol dependent individuals return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after attaining sobriety. According to the alcoholism research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcoholic needs new ways of acting and thinking in order to deal more effectively with tough alcohol-related circumstances that will take place.

Conditions such as returning to the same alcohol addictive environment or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcohol dependent individual was drinking abusively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring about memories that can prompt psychological tension or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcoholic to engage in excessive drinking once again. Sadly, all of these circumstances may not only contradict long standing alcohol recovery for the alcoholic but they can also result in relapse and therefore short-circuit one’s sobriety.

The Good News: Quality Help is Readily Available

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol addicted individual, family members can essentially cause unintentional destruction by enabling the negative drinking behavior of the alcohol dependent person.

The drug abuse research literature demonstrates the fact that most individuals who successfully complete alcohol therapy go through at least one relapse. Alcohol dependent persons and their family members need to know this so that they do not get crestfallen or beleaguered when a relapse occurs.

Fortunately, taking part in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up therapy and training have resulted in more productive, long standing alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency rehab outcomes, have helped decrease alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol addicted persons achieve enduring alcohol recovery.

Heather is a fifty-six-year-old woman who is the top administrator in the human resources department at a large aluminum siding company. To trim down the costs linked to increasing absenteeism, employee alcoholism and alcohol abuse, poor employee work performance, work related injuries, and excessive sick days, Heather and the other VIPs initiated a number of programs that made the work environment considerably more safe, more productive, and healthy.

For example, thirteen years ago Heather and the other members of top management initiated an Employee’s Assistance Program so that all the employees had access to first-rate counseling for their personal problems that could negatively influence their personal well-being, work performance, and their health.

Top Management Erects An Avant-Garde Workout and Exercise Room Complete With Weights, a Professional Trainer During Business Hours, Exercise Equipment, Scales, Mirrors, and Exercise Charts

As another illustration, nearly eight-and-a-half years ago Heather and the other company executives constructed a modern exercise and workout room complete with mirrors, exercise charts, a personal trainer during business hours, weights, many different types of exercise equipment, and scales.

Moreover, approximately four years ago Heather and the other company administrators invested in a distillation system that filters all the drinking water that is available in the building complex. In a similar way, three-and-a-half years ago, Heather and the other company administrators started a “walking club” that is mainly intended for employees who want to enhance their cardiovascular system.

The VIPs Establish a Weight-Watchers Class and Employ a Weight-Loss Nurse to Supervise the Program

As another example, nearly two years ago, Heather and the other members of upper management instituted a “Weight-Watchers” class that at this moment in time meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM. Moreover, the company leaders hired a weight-loss trainer to run the program.

In the same way, two years ago Heather and the other company leaders launched a “Stop Smoking Club” for workers who want to learn how to stop smoking.

In the last twelve months, in conjunction with the Employee’s Assistance Program, Heather and the other members of top management launched an “Anger Management” class for employees who want to learn how to better manage their anger.

Top Management Puts Into Operation a Drug and Alcohol Testing Program

In the last two months, Heather and the other VIPs started a alcohol and drug testing program that is associated with their drug and alcohol abuse prevention program. Indeed, Heather is the main person in the company responsible for getting the message out to all the employees about the drug and alcohol testing program as well as the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program.

One of the fundamental elements of the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program is a class entitled “Alcoholism and Depression” that meets every Wednesday after work. The fundamental idea with this class is informing workers that abusive drinking and depression regularly occur in the same person. It is hoped that comprehending this information can help an individual address both medical problems and get the alcohol rehabilitation and mental health counseling he or she needs.

The Company Leaders Put Into Operation an Alcohol Statistics and Facts Class

Another fairly recent addition to the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program is a class entitled “Alcohol Statistics and Facts.” The reasoning behind this alcohol statistics facts class is the reality that many people fail to understand the total impact of the effects of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency without first getting exposed to some of the alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency statistics and facts that are available. Consequently, one of the goals of this class is to provide a range of alcoholism and alcohol abuse statistics and facts to help workers gain a better comprehension of the multitude of issues that are associated with irresponsible and abusive drinking and how they can stop these difficulties from coming about.

Most recently, Heather and the other members of top management, by way of observations from employees, started a class that focuses directly on acute drinking entitled “What is Alcoholism”? This class meets every Tuesday morning an hour before work and focuses chiefly on the differences between alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse, on the stages of alcoholism, and on the types of rehabilitation that are available for people who have alcohol drinking problems such as individuals who drink in an irresponsible manner.

Although every single one of these preventative maintenance and health programs was fairly expensive, top management believes that they are several thousands of dollars ahead by providing all of their employees with a safe, more productive, and healthy working situation.

Jennifer is a forty-year-old data warehouse manager who has been ingesting alcohol in an excessive and abusive manner since her fiancée and she broke up. In actual fact, for the past eight months she has been drinking very nearly two bottles of wine every night, and on the weekends she also has been drinking more than a few wine coolers all the way through the day. In a word, Jennifer has been drinking so abusively and excessively that it’s a miracle that she hasn’t suffered from alcohol poisoning.

After feeling dejected because she was beginning to forget about the importance of her health, Jennifer at last told herself that she’s had enough, that it’s time to quit the self pity party, that it’s time to stop the irresponsible and excessive drinking, and time to move on with her life. So the following Saturday morning at 9:30 AM, she decided to stop drinking cold turkey.

When She Attempted to Stop Drinking She Felt Ill, Her Head Was Pounding, She Vomited a Number of Times, She Was Extremely Moody and Anxious, She Had Utterly No Appetite, and She Started to Sweat Extensively

When Jennifer stopped drinking, she thought that she would probably be tempted to sneak a drink or two, but she never visualized that she would feel so terrible. More to the point, just about three hours after she stopped drinking, she vomited numerous times, she was extremely moody and uptight, she started to sweat extensively, her head was pounding, and she had utterly no appetite.

When she called her best pal and informed her that she had quit drinking and that after a couple of hours she all of a sudden started to have flu-like symptoms, Kaitlin, her best friend, told Jennifer to call her medical practitioner and discuss what she was experiencing.

She Admits to Her Physician That She Has Been Drinking In an Excessive Manner, That She Just Tried to Stop Drinking, and That She is Suffering Through Dreadful Flu-Like Symptoms

So Jennifer called her doctor, told him that she has been drinking in an irresponsible and excessive manner for a number of months and that when she attempted to suddenly stop drinking earlier in the day, within a few hours she felt as if she had the worst case of the flu that she had ever experienced.

Her doctor told her that she may be suffering from symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and that she should have a relative or friend drive her to the emergency room as soon as humanly possible.

As soon as Jennifer got off the phone, she got a friend to drive her to the emergency room. Interestingly, all the way to the hospital, as sick as Jennifer felt, the only thing she could think about was whether or not she might be alcohol dependent.

Apparently her doctor had phoned ahead and told the emergency room treatment team to expect Jennifer because when she got to the hospital, she was met by two nurses who promptly asked her to get in the wheelchair they had with them. After getting transported to the emergency room and undergoing a few important tests, it was validated that Jennifer was in actual fact experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms and was in need of alcohol detox.

An emergency room doctor administered some medications to lessen the discomfort of her flu-like symptoms and also gave her some medications to help eliminate the alcohol that was still in her circulatory system.

A Drug and Alcohol Abuse Healthcare Professional Explains in a Clear Manner That She is Dependent on Alcohol and Then Discusses What Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms and Alcohol Addiction Stages Are

After two or three hours, Jennifer was transferred from the ER and transported to the recovery room. After she was in recovery for approximately three-and-a-half hours, Doctor Siegel, an alcohol and drug abuse specialist, came to see her. He took his time and explained in a clear fashion that Jennifer had gone through alcohol withdrawal symptoms when she stopped drinking because she had become dependent on alcohol.

He then stated that with excessive drinking on an everyday basis, the person’s brain steadily adjusts to the alcohol so that it can carry out tasks and operations in a “normal” manner. When the person then all at once refrains from consuming alcohol, it can be stressed, the brain reacts by eliciting alcohol withdrawal symptoms. What is more, her medical practitioner also discussed the various alcoholism stages that a person who is alcohol dependent typically goes through as the disease progressively gets worse.

It is Determined that Jennifer is in the Earliest Stage of Alcohol Addiction and She Obtains a Favorable Prognosis For a Full Recovery if She Gets the Alcohol Dependency Rehab She Needs

Fortunately for Jennifer, it was discovered that she was in the earliest stage of alcohol addiction and, as a consequence, she was given a good forecast for a total recovery if she gets the alcohol addiction rehab she requires.

Jennifer told the healthcare professional that she will do whatever it takes to get sober and to re-establish her life. She also stated that she has a first-rate hospitalization plan that will more likely than not pay for most, if not all, of the costs required for rehabilitation. It was obvious that Jennifer was very grateful about her positive medical forecast and felt reassured knowing that she will be able to get the alcoholism rehabilitation she needs so that she can start on the path to recovery.

Jerry and Sarah have been married for six years. They wanted to experience some fun and excitement before they made up their minds to have children and so they by design constructed an incredibly vibrant social life.

The chief issue, however, is that almost everything they do to have fun somehow involves drinking. For example, all of the parties with friends, family get-togethers, dinner engagements, happy hours, and sporting events they spend time at are related to drinking.

Sarah and Jerry Start to Observe Some Definite Alcohol Related Problems That are Directly Related to Their Excessive Drinking

If they were infrequent drinkers, this wouldn’t be a big problem. Due to the fact they drink quite irresponsibly, nevertheless, they are beginning to see some definite alcohol-related problems in their lives.

For instance, just four weeks ago Jerry was apprehended by the police for a third DWI and has been ignoring responsibilities at work because of alcohol-related health issues. Not only this, but Jerry’s last three performance appraisals at the office have been less than adequate and he has begun to forget what he says or does while he drinks. Finally, Jerry has been going through sleep-related problems and his family is starting to display some disquiet about his drinking circumstances.

In a similar way, Sarah has been feeling disheartened about life and to cope with these feelings, she has been drinking more frequently than any time in the past year. Furthermore, Sarah has been experiencing a lot of painful migraines and going through very bad hangovers due to her drinking. As a final point, Sarah has been feeling appreciably less active when she gets up in the morning, she has been showing up late for work, and she has been receiving some inconsiderate criticism from her friends, coworkers, family members, and relatives about her hazardous drinking.

Watching the TV and Going Through the Channels and Discovering A Documentary About the Signs of Alcohol Addiction

One Saturday evening while watching TV, Jerry and Sarah inadvertently found an enchanting documentary about the signs of alcoholism.

This TV special was a real source of revelation to Jerry and Sarah because more than a few of the alcoholism signs that were featured appeared as if they were unshakably associated with some of the alcohol-related drinking problems Jerry and Sarah had been suffering through.

A Candid Talk About Drinking Activities Unearths Alcohol Related Health, Relationship, Legal, Employment, and Financial Problems

After watching the television documentary, Jerry and Sarah determined that they needed to have a truthful discussion about their drinking situation. They both agreed that most, if not all, of their social pursuits were related to drinking, that they were drinking in an abusive manner, and that as a couple, they were beginning to see alcohol related relationship, health, legal, employment, and financial problems for the first time in their lives.

With thoughts of the television documentary still etched in her mind, Sarah asked Jerry if some of the alcoholism signs they have been displaying could mean that they are dependent on alcohol or possibly becoming dependent on alcohol. Jerry didn’t know the answer to Sarah’s inquiry and so he recommended that they make an appointment with one of the therapists at the local drug and alcohol abuse rehab center to find out more about the gravity of their drinking circumstances.

Facing Your Drinking Difficulties Might Lower Your Nervousness and Give You Some Peace of Mind

Paradoxically, even though their drinking circumstances hadn’t yet changed, it was evident that Sarah and Jerry were at least attending to their drinking difficulties, they were willing to find out more about their drinking situation, and they were interested in finding out how they could significantly lessen or get rid of the drinking-related issues that had begun to go from bad to worse.

When Jerry and Sarah went to bed that night, they made up their minds that the next morning, Jerry would call and schedule an appointment for both of them at the alcohol treatment facility located in the next town. After they made a promise to one another that they would do whatever it takes to cope with the drinking problems that had manifested themselves in their lives, they in point of fact had the most peaceful night’s sleep they could bring to mind in the last seven weeks.

Just before she fell asleep, Sarah turned to Jerry and pointed out how effortless it is to lower one’s anxiety and actually experience some serenity by dealing with one’s problems with personal integrity and choosing to do something positive about them.