Significance

• Alcohol can have a profound effect on one's physical and psychological well-being. Alcoholism usually begins with a psychological dependency. Many who begin problem drinking do so to escape. Whether their drinking is used to deal with emotional pain or other significant stressors, using alcohol becomes a coping mechanism. If this continues to be the only way to cope, it can spiral into physical dependence. Alcohol begins to replace the neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine--chemicals in the brain that help regulate emotion. When this happens, the brain doesn't need to produce these chemicals in order for the person to feel good or "normal"--that is what the alcohol does. However, when someone stops drinking, the brain is virtually emotionally unregulated. Now, the urge to drink kicks in again, potentially leading to relapse. This is how the disease begins.
  
  

Expert Insight

• One way to look at alcoholism is this simple analogy. Imagine having a bug bite or rash that is incredibly itchy. Most people would say that scratching it will only make it worse. But sometimes the discomfort is such that you've got to scratch it anyway, despite knowing it's not going to cure it and may even make it worse. Alcoholism works in a similar way, only magnified--perhaps tenfold or more. Not giving in to an urge can feel like an impossible task. For many people, what triggers the itch can be a stressful event or an uncomfortable emotion--virtually anything. Yet "scratching the itch" doesn't solve the problem; treating the rash does. In this case, the "rash" is the disease of alcoholism.
  
  

Features

• There are three characteristics that all diseases have in common. This information has been compiled by the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association and The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. he first characteristic of a disease is that it is chronic. Unlike a cold, it doesn't simply go away in a short span of time. It will always have to be monitored and kept at bay. Secondly, a disease is progressive. For some people, an alcohol addiction may progress very slowly, perhaps over a period of years. For others, it can be quite rapid, and no one knows exactly why progression can be so different in each individual. Thirdly, a disease can be fatal if not treated. Whether someone's compulsion is so out of control that it leads to an overdose, accident or other physical damage, it always has the potential for fatality.
  
  Unlike most diseases, alcoholism is marked by compulsive behavior. But with the brain's reliance on alcohol in order to feel good, if the drinking is stopped, the brain has virtually no way to regulate itself. It is not uncommon for the alcoholic to feel anxious, depressed, nauseous and lethargic. Although drinking will provide relief, unless an alcoholic can remain abstinent, he will chronically relapse.
  
  

Effects

• Given how the brain is affected by alcohol, it is no surprise that continued use of it can result in brain damage. Gastrointestinal problems, liver disease and heart problems can also result with prolonged drinking. When any condition involves compulsive behavior, it often leads to a continued need for instant gratification, which alcohol or any drug provides. That becomes the only thing that matters, often to the detriment of one's family, work or virtually any aspect of an alcoholic's life.
  
  

Recovery

• While there is no magic cure, experience shows that the best treatment is abstinence. Learning to "resist the itch" is the only way to let the body and mind begin to heal and halt its progression. Much like the diabetic who can no longer eat sugar, changing your diet does not eliminate the disease, but allows one to manage it. But begin drinking alcohol, and it will kick in again This is why programs that promote abstinence such as Alcoholics Anonymous have been successful. But to maintain abstinence, one has to develop enough skills to help resist temptation, whether it be through relaxation techniques, social supports or changing one's lifestyle. It is critical to get help either by finding treatment programs or addiction therapists in your area, or attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Some great resources are 1-866-Sober-Now.com and aa.org.