Psychological Effects of Alcoholism Essay

Alcohol is a tumefy known substance that has been present ever since. It provides a variety of functions for different hoi polloi from the earliest generation until today. In the past, alcoholic beverages were served not entirely as thirst quencher it also played a probative role in the aspect of religion (Watson). Alcohol connotes pleasure and sociability through the enhancement of the attribute of life. ab come on alcoholic beverages atomic number 18 well represented in wine, beer, and spirits. They have been accounted for numerous positive and shun effect upon white plague (Watson).While alcohol has been proven to be beneficial if proposen moderately, its misuse may lead to drink. boozing is hotshot of the prevailing social problems of today. Alcoholism is noted to be a degenerative disease wherein the body becomes dependent on alcohol. It is characterized with alcohol obsession, and the someone with alcoholism is unable to control the enumerate of alcohol bein g taken. Alcoholism can cause serious problems and may yarn-dye a persons relationship, health, finances, and work (Alcoholism). The physical make of alcoholism are unmixedly well recorded.It is a general knowledge that the misapply of alcohol may lead to serious problems, most especially the astute deterioration of human health and its detrimental impact on the internal organs. Thus, most people ofttimes associate the impact of alcoholism on the physical health. However, what is less considered are its mental effects that are much more damaging and equally painful to the physical effects that the alcoholic person is awake(predicate) of (Briggs). It was found out that alcohol consumption and mental health are closely affiliated in numerous ways.Based from the summary presented by the institute of alcohol studies, mental health problems can issue in excessive drinking, but that problem drinking can lead to mental health problems (Tolevanen et al. qtd. in Cattan and Tilford 14 2). divagation from this, it was suggested that external factors are major contributors to mental health and alcohol problems. These external factors include genes, social and family environment, psychological and culture solve, the perception about the impact of alcohol, and the level of acceptance for alcohol consumption (Tolevanen et al. td. in Cattan and Tilford 142) Moreover, the influence of the expectancies of alcohol greatly affects how people drink. Take for example the young and middle-aged adults.Since the said group of people has a positive perception on the effects of alcohol consumption, they tend to consume more alcohol. It was conclude that people who use alcohol consumption as a coping strategy perceive the effects of alcohol to be positive, and that alcohol reduces the repercussions of factors that induce stress (Satre and Knight qtd. n Cattan and Tilford 142). Hence, although there were evidences that alcohol consumption may have positive psychological effects, it is still ap set up that the negative impact of alcohol on human psychology overshadows its positive effects. Depression, Anxiety, and Suicide Since alcoholic beverages are depressants, by the time they begin move within an individuals system, they decrease the activity carried out by the nervous system to the reason (Naq). Thus, it was noted that depression may be the cause or af stipulationath of alcoholism.Some studies suggest that the effects of alcohol have two phases, the initial of which is that it produces a feeling of euphoria which is then generated to depression by the time the alcohol level in the blood has gone down (Institute of Alcohol Studies IAS 6). It was also say that, when an individual consumes an amount of alcohol that is more than the bodys capacity, it would result in stress. In the spikelet of the moment, a series of psychological manifestations of stress can be observed through anxiety.Certain conditions, much(prenominal) as restlessness, nightmares , and overwhelming fear, are some of the anxieties felt or experienced by an alcoholic (Naq). colony in alcohol also results in heightened emotions. Most alcoholics are in a high take a chance of depression and anxiety, creating a strong link amongst suicide and alcoholism (IAS 6). Aggression and Violence more researchers have proven the link between alcoholism and aggression. It was believed that the excessive consumption of alcohol does not only promote hard-hitting behaviors, but it may also lead to victimization.Alcohol disrupts the normal functions of the hotshot. Thus, alcohol encourages aggressive behavior and violence. Violence is within the category of aggression, which is characterized by behaviors that are often threatening and hostile. The percentages of alcohol link violence are alerting, and the figures are still raised in the upper limits (U. S. Department of Health and benevolent Services). According to Bancroft, the consumption of alcohol allows offenders to act on what they desire (47). Because of this, offenders become more insulting and intimidating.Most often than not, perpetrators deny the activity and use alcohol as an excuse. Courts sometimes condone perpetrators who blame the move crime to drinking problems (Bancroft 48). Obsession Alcoholics are identified as intense and obsessed people (Zimberg 4). in one case a person becomes dependent to alcohol, obsession with drinking is the likely result. For an alcoholic, there is no difference between a large and small amount of alcohol. Because of alcohol dependence, a person loses interest with another(prenominal) activities eject to get the next drink (Naq).Memory lossAn alcoholic is more likely to experience periods where one cannot remember a thing, otherwise known as blackouts. It is important to take into consideration that alcohol abuse may result in memory loss, which in turn, may be psychologically damaging and self destructive at great levels (Briggs). Apart from this, t he dependence in alcohol has a great experience with brain damage and cognitive impairment which may lead to an advance stage known as alcoholic dementia. When such advance case of memory loss is combined with amnesia, the intellectual function of the brain is then lost (IAS 16).Socio-Psychological Effects of Alcoholism The socio-psychological effects of alcoholism may be short term or long term. One of the most prominent short term socio psychological effects of alcoholism is disinhibition. This is well manifested when an individual lacks self regulation and control which leads to numerous anti-social behaviors. Furthermore, alcohol has the capability to repress a persons ability to respond to emotions and decrease inhibitions which, in the end, may cause the alcoholic to reveal risky behaviors (Curtin et al. qtd. in Short-term and Longer-term Effects).Disinhibition also may result in activities that greatly affect the society such as crime and violence. For instance, in Australi a, where alcohol is deeply embedded in the culture, out of 70% of crimes committed, 41% were done under the influence of alcohol (National Health and Medical Research qtd. in Short-term and Longer-term Effects). Long term socio-psychological impact of alcoholism is apparent in a family. Alcoholism is recognized as a family disease. In a family, the alcoholic may be a father, mother, teenager, and other close relative.Alcohol dependence of one member of the family may lead to family disruption and may gravel the whole family at risk that may last for a very long time. In a recent study done by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSAs (Substance scream & Mental Health Services Administration) National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, the numbers of American adults who have been penetrable to alcoholism reached up to seventy six million (Parsons). Most family problems are blamed to alcoholism (Parsons). Family members take on different characteri stics as a way of adapting to the situation.In the case of the familys tiddler or children, various attitudes may be noticed (1) Family hero is a way by which a child acts on the responsibilities, exhibiting obsessive perfectionism and doing things that are too good to be true (2) Scapegoat, wherein misbehavior and delinquency is a form of escape to the situation (3) Lost child is characterized with passiveness and isolation from others to withdraw from the situation and (4) Mascot, by making fun of the situation through comic relief (Donatelle and Davis qtd. n Short-term and Longer-term Effects). In the case of the fellow of the alcoholic, the spouse has to take on the status of both parents. This may cause the spouse to develop feelings of hatred, self-pity, and anti-social behavior. The spouse is also likely to become extremely exhausted, leading to physical and mental illness. Moreover, the non-alcoholic parent has the tendency to neglect the children (Berger qtd. in Parsons).T he effects of alcoholism are not limited to the physical aspect. It is evident that it has adverse psychological effects that do not only affect the alcoholic individual, but augment to the society where the alcoholic belongs. Furthermore, based from the results that were framed from the study, it is suggested that comprehensive analysis on the psychological effect of alcoholism according to gender should be done so as to give further justification on the subject.