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| Alcohol
abuse and alcoholism are common but underrecognized problems among
older adults. So, what is it that leads a person to be an alcoholic.?
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| Physicians
do not know exactly why people become alcoholics. Many people
drink alcoholic beverages to escape temporarily from anxities,
frustrations, and tensions. Alcoholics, on the other hand, believe
they can make life bearable only by drinking alcohol. |
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| Sometimes
life sucks. Really sucks. Your grades are bad. You get dumped. Your
parents are ragging on you to do something with your life. They're
tired of supporting you. They're more interested in their own problems
than in yours. There's no one you can turn to, no one who can help
you. So maybe you look for comfort in alcohol, but soon discover there
are no solutions in a bottle - only more problems. |
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 Alcohol
abuse has a web - like relationship with depression and suicide. You
drink because you're depressed; alcohol, being a depressant, brings
you down even more, creating a feeling of hopelessness. |
| It
works like this: the toxic effects of alcohol can manipulate your
brain's neuro-transmitters, which are responsible for mood and judgment.
This can plunge you into deeper depression and bring about thoughts
of suicide. It can also create a continuous cycle of drinking and
depression: the more you drink, the more depressed you become, and
the more you drink. Quite a Catch-22 - and you're the one who's caught.
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| A family
history of alcoholism predisposes children to problem drinking, especially
if one or both parents are heavy drinkers. Sons of alcoholic men have
a 25% risk of becoming alcoholics themselves. Daughters of alcoholics
are also at increased risk for alcoholism and are more likely to marry
alcoholic men, thereby continuing the cycle of family problems with
alcohol. Parental attitudes and behavior regarding alcohol use play
important roles in how children and adolescents view its use. Evidence
exists that a family history of antisocial behavior and poor parenting
skills increases the risk of having children who use alcohol and other
drugs The home is the primary source of alcohol for the young adolescent;
however, drinking customs and patterns differ among ethnic groups.
In some families children are introduced to alcohol as a beverage
at an early age, but these families do not drink excessively, do not
tolerate or condone excessive drinking in others, and experience low
levels of problem drinking. Other families, however, may accept and
encourage excessive drinking, especially among male adults, reinforcing
the image of alcohol use as an indicator of maturity, bravado, and
masculinity. Older siblings often influence their younger brothers
or sisters to initiate using alcohol or other drugs. |
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| During adolescence,
drinking behavior, which often begins within the family, may be reinforced
by peers. Excessive drinking is more likely to occur outside the home
with peers than within the family setting. Teenagers, like adults,
may use alcohol to reduce social inhibitions and to accompany sexual
activity. |
| Alcohol
use permeates Western society. It is advertised widely and is frequently
seen by teenagers on television. Drinking alcohol is portrayed by
advertisers as being sophisticated and a natural part of life. Beer
continues to account for the majority of all alcohol consumed by the
young; wine coolers (sweetened and/or carbonated beverages) are popular
in some geographic areas, especially among female adolescents. |
| Drinking
by youth is perceived by society as normal experimental behavior.
Teenagers report that they drink for enjoyment, for peer acceptance,
to forget problems, or to reduce stress and anxiety in their lives..
Depressed adolescents or those who have been physically or sexually
abused may use alcohol in an attempt to cope with their psychological
distress and have a higher incidence of alcohol or other drug addiction. |
| Alcohol-induced depression
and hopelessness are characterized by self-pity, social withdrawal,
self-reproach, a sense of guilt, and a retardation of normal mental
processes. You may not care about the effects of drinking on your
personal well-being, and suicide may begin to seem like a logical
solution to your problems. |
| So if you're depressed
and have low self-esteem, look for help from a professional counselor,
not from alcohol abuse. As we've seen, alcohol abuse only deepens
depression. In fact, alcohol and illegal drugs are significantly greater
contributors to suicide than any other psychiatric disorders. |
| If you're
depressed talk to someone about it. GET HELP FOR YOURSELF. |
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