Sufferers become obsessed with alcohol and need to increase the amount they drink to get the same effect.
Alcohol addiction is gradual, but takes over the life of most of its victims at some point, even if they remain functioning. For women, complications develop faster.The distinctive mindset and physiology of a woman benefits from a recovery program designed with her in mind.
Addiction
Addiction is by definition a chemical dependency. Not all drinkers have that chemical bond, but they may still have a problem. Any time drinking causes issues in your life, there is reason for concern.
Woman who drink four alcoholic beverages in one sitting are binge drinkers, according to Mayo Clinic.This may be a precursor to alcoholism.
There is no one cause of this disease. Studies show a genetic predisposition to addiction exists in many who develop dependency. Other factors that contribute to addiction include environmental issues, social problems and mental illness. More than likely, it is a combination of elements that leads a woman down this path.
Drinking changes brain chemistry to make an association between alcohol and pleasure.
Some people feel like they are in control when they drink. This is all due to the effect the drug has on brain functioning. It gets to the point where sufferers must drink to fulfill a craving and restore good feelings.
Trends for Women
There is a pattern with the female gender when it comes to substance abuse.Younger women are more likely to drink than older ones, but more women develop a drinking problem later in life than men, according to National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Of women who admit to drinking, 13 percent say they drink as much as seven glasses a week.That doesn’t seem extreme, but alcohol affects a woman’s body differently than it does men. It takes less of the drug to alter behavior.
Women are more likely to start drinking and using after emotional upset.
They tend to associate the act with having or developing life issuessuch as depression or insomnia. Many have underlying mood disorders that are factors in the addiction. Simply put, men drink to feel good and be happy. For women, drinking has more of a negative profile.They drink to stop being sad.
Treatment Meant for Women
When you consider the difference in profiles between the two sexes, it is not surprising that there are treatment options exclusive to women. For women who drink to avoid feeling pain or emotional turmoil, it is important to treat the underlying problems.
Addiction is ultimately about chemistry, but for women the progression may start differently.Treatment centers for women deal with both the mind and body.They concentrate on body image, as well as chemical addiction.
Women are distinctive beings that benefit from special handling when it comes to treating the disease of alcoholism.
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