Drinking Alcohol Causes Health Problems Mental

Introduction

Mental health problems due to substance abuse are not uncommon. Many scientific studies have been conducted to study the relationship between alcohol and mental health problems. These studies indicate that drinking alcohol in moderation is relatively harmless for most adults. Men may have two drinks (which contain 1 ounce of pure alcohol) and women and old persons may have one drink per day (0.5 ounces of pure alcohol). However, regular intake of alcohol may also lead to a specific drinking pattern which almost always matures into alcoholism. Alcoholism means dependence on alcohol. People suffering from alcoholism cannot perform any activity normally. They face problems with studies, work, relationships and become a communal liability. They often face legal problems due to their alcoholic lifestyle. People suffering from alcohol abuse are bound to face a number of health problems including mental health problems.

History

Clinical studies conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness reveal that approximately 50% of people suffering from serious mental health problems are guilty of substance abuse. Also, 37% of all people suffering from alcoholism have at least one form of mental disorder. Studies also indicate that in the U.S., about one hundred thousand people die each year due to alcohol abuse.

The relationship between alcoholism and mental health problems is complex; alcoholism leads to mental health problems while mental disorders like depression and anxiety lead to alcohol abuse. Most people who suffer from stress turn to alcohol to relieve the stress. Alcohol causes the body to release endorphins which help in relaxation. However, consumption of alcohol over an extended period of time causes the same mental health problems to recur. Alcohol amnesic syndrome and alcohol dementia are the common mental disorders observed among chronic drinkers. Alcohol amnesic syndrome is a condition when a person undergoes memory loss and is unable to remember certain words, events and ideas. Alcohol dementia syndrome is a condition which affects all aspects of a person’s lifestyle including the ability to walk, think, speak and act normally.

Features

Mental disorders occur due to many reasons. Various factors like genetic disorders and social conditioning contribute to the development and deterioration of mental problems. If a person is genetically susceptible to mental health problems, then alcohol abuse may significantly increase the risk of contracting a mental disease. Also, alcoholism plays a huge role in the deterioration of an already-existing mental disorder.

Why people turn to alcohol is a complex phenomenon which is based on a number of factors. The young generation, especially teenagers, think that drinking alcohol is cool. Peer pressure plays a vital role in spreading alcoholic habits among the young. Millions of youngsters, including girls, participate in binge drinking. Young people who do not drink are often considered to be uninteresting or ‘losers.’ The easy availability of alcohol, physical abuse and a stressful lifestyle also contribute to alcohol dependence.

Alcohol abuse is like a virus that takes over an individual. Initially, relatively benign symptoms like hangovers and headaches are observed. These problems develop into more complicated ones like short term memory loss and black outs. These problems further grow into serious mental disorders like seizures, fits, irritability, extreme cases of anxiety and depression. Other physical problems like fatigue, weakness, cardiac disorders, liver cirrhosis and nervous disorders are also commonly observed.

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