I remember reading one of Neale Donald Walsch's book
s where it said that alcohol irrespective of the dose impairs the mind. I just read this page long description on alcohol (well mostly alcoholism) and it is eery how accurate it is to me (I used to have a drink problem) and it makes me look at a lot of people differently: people who I didn't think had a drink problem but now I can see that they have (even if most of them can function by and large day-to-day) - including looking at most people in our society generally differently as I recognise now that most people, or the majority of people, are suffering from damage from alcohol to a greater or lesser extent also.
(In Ireland anyway - I will let others judge and comment on their own respective countries.)
I have highlighted what to me really sticks out. Not many people may be interested in reading the whole page.
Here is the article republished:
Alcoholism is a disease of the body, thinking, emotions and spirit.
Progressive damage to these four aspects interact in various ways such
that a person is increasingly compelled to drink. Also, once drinking
starts they cannot 'always' guarantee when they will stop or how much
they will drink.
The Body
A genetic predisposition. Fifty percent of alcoholics have an
inherited genetic makeup that almost guaranteed they would become
alcoholic when they began to drink heavily. For example, the brain
chemistry of some children or grandchildren of alcoholics actually
encourages heavier drinking.
Alcohol Metabolism. Alcohol is metabolized differently by some
people. As a result the body and brain requires more alcohol to have the
same effect than normal drinkers would need.
Cell alteration. All heavy drinkers undergo changes at the cellular
level of the brain. Where the brain cells meet extra receptor positions
grow to receive the heavy dose of alcohol related chemical messengers.
When not drinking these extra receptor positions demand to be filled
thus creating a craving for alcohol.
Brain damage. Alcohol, in any quantity, is poisonous to brain cells
and kills off cells in their millions. The most critically affected
parts of the brain are those that deal with short term memory, decision
making and rational thinking. Women heavy drinkers develop brain damage
with less drinking than men.
Liver Damage. The most common liver disease of alcoholics is
cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver. This disease results in reduced and
corrupted chemicals being sent to the body which can result in damage to
other organs. Women suffer liver damage with less alcohol consumption
than men.
Alcoholic Hepatitis (AH). AH is caused by other liver diseases most
notably cirrhosis of the liver. More than 60% of persons who develop
both AH and cirrhosis will die within four years. AH can cause changes
in sleep patterns, mood, and personality; psychiatric conditions such as
anxiety and depression; shortened attention span; and problems with
coordination may occur.
Brain Chemicals. The body and especially the brain relies on the
liver to filter important body fluids and excrete wastes. As a result of
contaminated chemistry from a damaged liver the brain does not function
properly. Typically a person will have cloudy and slowed thinking.
Heart Damage. Heavy drinking causes damage to the heart muscles. The
heart pumps less blood and an abnormal heart beat may develop. Women
suffer heart damage with less alcohol consumed than men.
Skeletal Muscles. Heavy drinking causes muscles in the arms and legs
to shrink. For example, an alcoholic may have legs that are out of
proportion, skinnier, than the rest of their body. Sufferers may become
embarrassed about their body shape.
Cancer. The risk of cancer increases with greater alcohol
consumption - more so in women. Cancer can develop in the upper airways,
the liver, breasts and the bowels.
Sexual Organs and Sexuality. Heavy alcohol use shrinks the
testicles. In men and women the breasts grow larger. Men produce more
female hormones and women produce more male hormones. Men become less
virile and women become less feminine. As a result a persons sexuality
and libido is altered.
They may sense change in their sexuality and over compensate by
becoming more sexually active. Indiscriminate or intoxicated sexual
activity raises the risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases.
Thinking
As detailed before various damaged body organs and altered chemistry affect how the brain thinks.
This buildup of thinking changes occurs over an extended time
period. These small changes are usually unseen by the sufferer. The
person reacts by adjusting their reasoning and behavior to accommodate
their new ways of thinking.
Alcoholics always adjust their thinking in
ways that are harmful to themselves. And further, they cannot see the
impact of their new coping style.
Typically they begin to adopt a siege mentality. Inner-self
feedback, and from other people, indicates they are not quite at one
with their 'inner' selves or the person they once were. Their
experiences seem to paint a picture to the sufferer that people around
them are against them, or are better than them, or are just different
from themselves. They become insecure, angry, ashamed, depressed and
anxious about their altered attitudes and actions.
This siege mentality generates a self-centered perspective to
protect their self concept. They become takers and non-givers. "I want
what I want and I want it now", sort of thing; "I need a drink, now";
regardless of the needs of others. And, when they do not get it they
assert themselves even more, becoming more demanding as the disease
progresses.
Alcoholics will increasingly try to cope by drinking more alcohol to
take away the pain of their perception of being isolated in thinking
and behavior. They slowly adopt a denial attitude to their real
condition, which they eventually believe is reality for them.
The alcoholic drinks more due to a different brain chemistry and
metabolism, has craving for more alcohol due to cell alteration and
organ damage, and drinks more to cope with the effects of their changed
thinking and behavior. They are drinking to feel normal.
The Emotions
From the above it can easily be seen that their emotions become
strained and twisted. They become emotionally dependent on achieving and
keeping a state of denial of their true situation. They deny it to
themselves and others. If their alcoholism is in threat of being exposed
or their alcohol supply is threatened they may protect themselves with
anger, bluff, self-pity, manipulation, depression, running away &
etc.
They 'feel' as if they must continue their current emotional and
thinking stance at all costs. Alcohol has become their best friend and
they are loyal to it.
The Spirit
The spirit of a person is the centre of their personality. If, as
seen above, the person is not thinking, feeling or acting as their true
self would, not aligned with their spiritual self, they are spiritually
ill at ease; or dis-eased.
A Solution
The progression of the disease must be arrested by stopping drinking
and restoration of health in all four areas - body, thinking, emotions
and spirit.
It is the dis-eased spiritual state that is targeted by the most
successful treatment service world wide - Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Through the Twelve Steps of recovery each person finds their inner,
spiritual self by stripping away the effects of alcoholism and fixing up
the wreckage of past thinking and actions. They begin to live a life of
freedom from alcohol that has had them enslaved.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/opinions/11632
