Alcoholics In our lives, there is such a group of people who are addicted to alcohol, and their work and life are in a mess. They are not weak-willed, hedonistic people, they are a group of alcohol-dependent people who are powerless over their addiction and have lost self-control, and need a combination of drug, psychological and social help. When we call them “patients”, it means they are suffering from some kind of disease, so is drinking a disease? When the craving for alcohol exceeds one’s ability to control it and affects work, life, family and other interpersonal relationships, it means that alcohol dependence has formed, which is a chronic brain disease caused by the long-term effects of alcohol. It is a chronic brain disease caused by the long-term effects of alcohol. Its formation involves the combined effects of individual psychological factors, social and cultural factors, environmental factors and biological susceptibility. Not only are there changes in brain function that can lead to uncontrollable biological cravings for drugs, but they are often accompanied by personal psychological difficulties in self-vulnerability and maintaining self-esteem, emotional and impulse regulation, interpersonal problems and self-care. How to identify alcohol dependence Alcohol dependence is a chronic relapsing encephalopathy that includes both physical dependence (body addiction) and mental dependence (mind addiction). The “alcoholic” has the following clinical manifestations: 1. a strong desire or urge to drink (psychological addiction) 2. impaired control over drinking behavior 3. physiological withdrawal (body addiction): withdrawal symptoms occur when the blood alcohol concentration drops below a certain level, manifested as hand tremors, limb and trunk tremors, emotional agitation, nausea, sweating, etc. If a few sips of alcohol are taken in time, these symptoms will be eliminated quickly, otherwise they will become more and more intense and even lead to impaired consciousness and convulsions. In order to avoid withdrawal symptoms and frequent drinking, many alcohol-dependent people drink alcohol first thing after waking up, because after a night’s sleep, there is little alcohol left in the body after metabolism. 4. Tolerance to alcohol. The amount of alcohol is getting bigger and bigger, and more and more alcohol is being consumed. However, the patients are always secretive about the real amount of alcohol they drink, and “not much” has become their mantra. 5. Neglect or abandon other recreational activities because of drinking. Considers drinking as the number one priority in life. 6. 6. continue to drink despite clear evidence that drinking has caused harm. Ignoring personal health, work discipline, family responsibilities, and social norms, the person pursues drinking so much that he or she can’t control it and often doesn’t stop drinking. What to do if you have an alcoholic at home Many alcohol-dependent patients find it difficult to quit drinking because the withdrawal symptoms that occur when they suddenly reduce or stop drinking are very unbearable and can even lead to delirium and epilepsy, so there is a risk of forcibly quitting drinking. Addressing alcohol withdrawal is not simply quitting physical dependence. Simply shutting down or physically quitting can still lead to a vicious cycle of alcohol addiction-quitting-relapse. Effective sobriety requires systemic pharmacological-psychosocial interventions that help alcoholics strengthen their motivation to stop drinking, move from passive sobriety to active treatment, help them deal with the interpersonal, work, family and other mental health issues behind their addiction, help them develop a new lifestyle that replaces their addictive behaviors, and train them in specific ways to prevent relapse. Multilevel systemic interventions lead to lasting, structural personality changes in alcohol addicts. In interpersonal interactions such as group therapy and self-help groups, peer warmth and concern are internalized by the patient to assist in processing emotions, controlling impulses, and developing other self-functions. At the same time, sobriety is not a solo effort, and resources such as family and friends can be helpful in helping the patient change and effectively curb relapse or even get out of alcohol dependence altogether.