When we talk about alcoholism, we are referring to a disease (chronic and progressive) that influences those people who consume alcohol compulsively and in an uncontrolled manner, even knowing the negative effects it has on their health (physical, mental and social).
Alcoholism is a disease because it has certain specific characteristics, including loss of control when consuming alcohol and physical dependence. In addition to the negative consequences it has for health, highlight its impact on personal relationships, the economy and work. In this sense, It is important not to normalize alcohol addiction Let’s see why.
What are the consequences of normalizing alcoholism?
Normalizing alcoholism means accepting as common a behavior that is harmful and addictive to health. When alcoholism is assumed to be something “normal”, we are avoiding recognizing the seriousness of the disease and also hindering the search for help by affected people.
Firstly, it can lead to underestimating the risks related to excessive alcohol consumption. People can minimize dangers to physical and mental health and social relationships
Likewise, alcoholism can lead to thinking that excessive alcohol consumption is acceptable and desirable in certain contexts. This idea can lead to an increase in alcohol consumption, especially among young people when they begin to have a social life since they perceive it as an accepted behavior in life.
There is also a reduction in stigmatization. Normalizing alcoholism results in a decrease in stigmatization and this can be positive (it encourages seeking help) or it can influence people to not consider seeking treatment because they underestimate the seriousness of the problem. It is important to highlight the impact on public health since there will be an increase in health problems related to alcohol, which will lead to mental, cardiovascular, and liver diseases (among others).
It is worth highlighting the significant impact it has on social relationships, work and the economy. When alcoholism is normalized, harmful behaviors are accepted so this behavior increases and with the passage of time, economic well-being is harmed (a large part of the salary is allocated to alcohol consumption) and the social circle (many friends and family disassociate themselves from people with alcohol addiction). .
Mental health and alcoholism
The relationship between alcohol and mental health is bidirectional, both are connected in various ways and alcohol abuse can negatively affect mental health, but when you suffer from an emotional problem it can also lead to alcohol substance abuse. There are several key aspects of this relationship.
1. Self medication
Some people abuse alcohol consumption to cope with mental health problems such as depressive symptoms, anxiety or stress. Alcohol may initially relieve symptoms, but in the long term it will worsen mental health problems in addition to contributing to developing a substance use disorder.
2. Impact on mental health
Chronic alcohol abuse can increase the risk of suffering from depression, stress and other mental disorders, in addition to the association it has with changes in cognitive functioning, thus contributing to deteriorating mental health.
There are genetic and environmental factors that can cause the development of mental disorders and alcohol problems, so those people with a family history may be more predisposed to the development of these.
4. Vicious circle
Alcoholism and mental health can lead to a vicious cycle. Alcohol abuse aggravates the symptoms of mental disorders but not being able to cope with certain problems can also lead to increased alcohol consumption.
Alcoholism and the family
Alcoholism can have a significant impact on the family since it creates a quite tense emotional environment, in addition to the anguish it causes since if it is a new situation, one will not know how to manage it.
Often, Alcoholism contributes to causing fights, conflicts, tensions due to behavior (sometimes aggressive) when the substance has been abused There is a deterioration in family relationships as trust decreases, which damages family stability and cohesion.
Regarding stress and anxiety, it is normal for the family to experience it since they live with uncertainty about the occurrence of undesirable behaviors caused by excess alcohol. Family members often feel concerned about the emotional and physical well-being of the alcohol user.
On the other hand, the money, instead of being used for basic family needs, is largely used for alcohol consumption and this will affect the economic stability of the home. Furthermore, with regard to the children of the family, they may experience difficulties in academic performance since, having emotional problems, they will not perform in the same way in their studies.
The shame associated with alcoholism leads to social isolation from the family and there is also fear of the judgment of the people around them, therefore not only the addicted person isolates themselves but also their family begins to close the social circle.
Finally, violence within the home can be increased by alcoholism due to impulsive behavior associated with excess alcohol. The security of the family is affected and on a mental level it will have various negative consequences.
It should be noted that there are support resources for the family and it is advisable to go to a professional to work with the consumer towards recovery.
Treatment
It is essential to achieve a good recovery to work on alcoholism and mental health in an integrated way. The most recommended treatments to improve long-term results are cognitive behavioral therapy and dual treatment programs
If someone is experiencing alcoholism or mental disorders, it is essential to seek help from a professional since intervening early is key to improving people’s quality of life and managing these problems effectively.
