Psychological Effects of Alcoholism Essay

Alcohol is a comfortably cognise substance that has been present ever since. It provides a variety of functions for various batch from the earliest borderinals until today. In the past, intoxicantic beverages were served not demur as thirst quencher it as well as played a significant comp sensationnt in the aspect of religion (Watson). Alcohol connotes pleasure and sociability with the enhancement of the quality of life. about inebriantic beverages are well represent in wine, beer, and spirits. They deplete been accounted for numerous positive and negative someoneal effect upon inhalation (Watson).While alcoholic drink has been proven to be beneficial if taken moderately, its revile may lead to alcoholism. tipsiness is one of the prevailing social problems of today. dipsomania is noted to be a chronic disease wherein the body becomes interdependent on alcohol. It is characterized with alcohol obsession, and the person with alcoholism is unable to control the arrive of alcohol being taken. Alcoholism can typesetters case serious problems and may hazard a persons relationship, health, finances, and work (Alcoholism). The forcible effects of alcoholism are unvarnishedly well recorded.It is a frequent knowledge that the abuse of alcohol may lead to serious problems, roughly especially the abrupt deterioration of military man health and its detri moral squeeze on the internal organs. Thus, most people ofttimes associate the dissemble of alcoholism on the fleshly health. However, what is less considered are its psychological effects that are much much damaging and equally painful to the physical effects that the alcoholic person is aware of (Briggs). It was found out that alcohol consumption and mental health are closely affiliated in numerous government agencys.Based from the summary presented by the institute of alcohol studies, mental health problems can core in profuse potable, more(prenominal)over that problem dri nking can lead to mental health problems (Tolevanen et al. qtd. in Cattan and Tilford 142). Aside from this, it was adviseed that impertinent factors are major contributors to mental health and alcohol problems. These external factors let in genes, social and family environment, psychological and culture influence, the perception about the impact of alcohol, and the take aim 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 sort out of people has a positive perception on the effects of alcohol consumption, they tend to consume more alcohol. It was concluded 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 accent (Satre and Knight qtd. n Cattan and Tilford 142). Hence , although there were evidences that alcohol consumption may have positive psychological effects, it is unflurried apparent 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 circulating within an individuals system, they decrease the body process carried out by the nervous system to the brain (Naq). Thus, it was noted that effect may be the relieve oneself or aftermath of alcoholism.Some studies suggest that the effects of alcohol have two phases, the initial of which is that it produces a soupcon of euphoria which is then generated to depression by the time the alcohol aim in the blood has gone down (Institute of Alcohol Studies IAS 6). It was also declared that, when an individual consumes an amount of alcohol that is more than the bodys capacity, it would result in stress. In the spur of the moment, a series of psychological manifestatio ns of stress can be observed through anxiety.Certain conditions, such as restlessness, nightmares, and overwhelming fear, are some of the anxieties felt or experienced by an alcoholic (Naq). Dependence in alcohol also results in heightened emotions. closely alcoholics are in a high risk of depression and anxiety, creating a strong link between suicide and alcoholism (IAS 6). Aggression and furiousness Many researchers have proven the link between alcoholism and aggression. It was believed that the excessive consumption of alcohol does not only promote hostile behaviors, but it may also lead to victimization.Alcohol disrupts the normal functions of the brain. 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 related violence are alerting, and the figures are still raised in the upper limits (U. S. subdivision of health an d Human Services). fit 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 committed crime to drinking problems (Bancroft 48). Obsession Alcoholics are identified as intense and obsessed people (Zimberg 4). Once a person becomes dependent to alcohol, obsession with drinking is the apt(predicate) result. For an alcoholic, there is no difference between a large and low-toned amount of alcohol. Because of alcohol habituation, a person loses interest with other activities except to get the next drink (Naq).Memory issueAn alcoholic is more likely to experience periods where one cannot remember a thing, otherwise know as blackouts. It is important to take into consideration that alcohol abuse may result in memory loss, which in turn, may be psycholog ically damaging and self destructive at great levels (Briggs). Apart from this, the dependence in alcohol has a great association with brain persecute 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 coherent term. One of the most prominent short term socio psychological effects of alcoholism is disinhibition. This is well manifested when an individual lacks self statute 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 exhibit risky behaviors (Curtin et al. qtd. in Short-term and pineer-term Effects).Disinhibition also may result in activi ties that greatly affect the society such as crime and violence. For instance, in Australia, 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 put the integral 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 Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration) National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug In peeation, the numbers of American adults who have been vulnerable to alcoholism reached up to seventy six million (Parsons). Most family p roblems are blamed to alcoholism (Parsons). Family members take on different characteristics as a way of adapting to the situation.In the case of the familys child 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 excessively 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 immerse from the situation and (4) Mascot, by making fun of the situation through queer relief (Donatelle and Davis qtd. n Short-term and Longer-term Effects). In the case of the married person 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 super exhausted, leading to physical and mental illness. Mo reover, the non-alcoholic parent has the tendency to neglect the children (Berger qtd. in Parsons).The 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 extend to the society where the alcoholic belongs. Furthermore, based from the results that were enclose from the study, it is suggested that comprehensive analysis on the psychological effect of alcoholism accord to gender should be done so as to give promote justification on the subject.