Alcoholism

Psychology Project

1. Alcoholism By Kristopher King E. Cecilia 1

2. And who knows, You might be the next victim…. Alcoholism or alcohol abuse is one of the leading major causes of death in every nation. It affects all walks of life and is one of the most preventable causes of death. 2

3. Today I’ll teach you everything about alcoholism 3 I want to welcome you Kate from drinking buddies, she's an alcoholic. To know more about her, lets all watch this video clip (click the picture) : Start between (35:40 – 36:20)

4. What is Alcohol disorder or alcoholism Alcoholism is known as the abuse of alcohol or alcohol dependence. It occurs when you drink too much of this substance and is unable to stop oneself from drinking more. It is an unhealthy habit where one relies to much on alcohol and furthermore causes significant health problems to one’s health. 4

5. Unable to hold your liquor Drink more than what was intended Alcohol is mostly in your mind You’ve gotten sick cause of too much alcohol Unable to stop drinking even if your told not to Experience withdrawal symptoms such as unable to sleep Replacing other activities just to drink Reduction of social work and activities Drinking alcohol when it is not safe such as driving 5

6. Alcoholism is basically generated by plenty of factors ranging from physiological, psychological and social factors, such as: 6 Low self esteem The need for approval from others Peer pressure from society Genetic factors such as family history or background *Bottom line is, drinking too much alcohol can greatly affect the way our brains work and thus altering our behavior and our cravings for it As you can see, I need approval from others. But Kate, what are causing my symptoms?

7. But after looking into alcoholism and all its symptoms and causes, what are the major effects of alcoholism to our health 7 It can greatly negatively affect our basic body functions such as our: Liver Pancreas Digestive system Heart problems Eye problems Bones But It can also greatly affect our Immune system Sexual functions and menstruation Neurological complications And can cause Birth Defects Risk of cancer

8. Our psychological behavior during alcohol addiction Anger – Those that excessively drink have a very high chance of causing violence and chaos everywhere. This is because alcohol brings us the tendency to be angry and to express oneself without further rational thought. Such as, the cases of being provoked can lead to intense violence especially since one has no control over themselves since alcohol makes the user misinterpret the different behavior and social clues around us. Which is why we see so much drunken fights, rape cases and violence happening when there is alcohol involved. 8

9. After looking at all about alcoholism, what can I do to cure this problem 9 After looking at the problem, drinking excessive alcohol rewires the brain to crave even more alcohol. The answer is Pavlov’s conditioned response method. If the brain is taught to love and to crave alcohol, why not do the same but reverse In order to stop drinking alcohol, they need to start conditioning the mind to not crave alcohol. For instance, withdrawal symptoms of drinking alcohol such as headache, insomnia, nausea, anxiety, shaky hands and others, can lead to a punishing feeling for the drinker. This has a chance in rewiring the brain to avoid alcohol when strengthened enough. Although not everyone avoids it after feeling this effect, that is because alcohol stimulates our brain to produce different chemicals in our brains that makes us feel good. The simple question is, how can we not crave it?

10. Other alternative remedies 10 Diet – A well-balanced meal can be an alternative since drinking alcohol can produce significant derangement to the repair of important organs in the body. Eating fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, and lean animal protein helps in the repair of such organs Detoxification – This method primary involves fasting and detoxification. This can take up to months just to feel the effects but nevertheless, the effects can be profound in one's health. It cleans up all the harsh chemicals, poisons, toxic by-products from the body. It provides much more energy and more wholeness in the body which helps to avoid alcohol cravings and addiction. Our rational thought and reasoning will also be strengthened in order to stop oneself from drinking. Consult your doctor - consulting a doctor, counselor or therapist can help alleviate you from your burdens. They help you deal with stress and provides a strong support system for you to change your behavior and to give necessary medical prescriptions

11. This psychological disorder made have a fight with my friend Luke and caused us our friendship. As seen in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkHvd4u4T5o 11 In the end, we made up again as friends cause of drinking in this scene (0:50- 2:50) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Uz7wmX_6nY This shows that drinking isn’t bad. But excessive drinking can be quite negative to our health, our relationships and our psychological state of being

12. References: "Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse." Medline Plus, https://medlineplus.gov/alcoholismandalcoholabuse.html "Alcohol use disorder." Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20369243 “ how alcohol can make us aggressive.” drinkaware , https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/mental-health/alcohol-and-aggression/ “ Is There a Cure for Alcoholism.” Drugabuse.com, https://drugabuse.com/is-there-a-cure-for-alcoholism/ “ Natural Treatments for Alcoholism & Addiction.” Nutraceuticals World, https://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view_experts-opinion/2014-07-29/natural-treatments-for-alcoholism-addiction/15070 Straub, Richard O., et al.  Study Guide to Accompany Psychology, Eleventh Edition David G. Myers, C. Nathan DeWall . Langara College, 2016. "Understanding alcohol use disorders and their treatment." American Psychological Association, http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/alcohol-disorders.aspx 12