Alcohol

[ollie989898]

Of all the things I have seen a human being endure, I would say that alcohol terrifies me the most. When you view the damage it can do to people's bodies, their minds and their lives, it seems scarcely believable to me that alcohol is so freely available and legally sold in virtually any corner shop.

As I have mentioned in other threads, I feel it is far too simplistic to put addiction down as some kind of character flaw or personal weakness- I believe that virtually all of us could well succumb to it if we were put through the right (wrong) combination of circumstances.

 

[ollie989898]

I'm not up for an argument either
I'm quite happy to exchange opinions though.

People get addicted to a lot of things, smoking, drugs, alcohol, porn, gambling, I'm not sure that allowing any of these thing getting a grip of one's life is a sign of strength, and none of them will make a bad situation better.
Given that people are aware of their actions and awareness is all around us in this day in age, I see no excuses for getting addicted to anything these days other than making the choice to partake.

Nobody is trying to make excuses for addiction here, that's ineffectual- they are still addicted anyway and this is someone's relative.

You must realise that for a lot of people their addiction, whatever it is, may have a link not only with their mental health but also their physical health.

Believe me, if you are a serious alcoholic, you can't just suddenly 'not drink'. This is why it seems to get hold of people so strongly and I think a lot of confusion seems to stem from the public not appreciating the physical dependence a person can have on a substance. It's not like people who smoke missing out smoking for 12 hours suddenly feeling a bit off peak and having a funny head and cravings; a lot of physiology comes into play when you withdraw from alcohol. I've seen people hallucinate- they begin to hear or see things. Some of them begin to feel things. Some of them rant and rave and to want to climb the walls. Some of them itch, shake, sweat, they can't lie still, they can't sleep, they have waking nightmares, their heart will race. A sip of water is enough to make them vomit or bring on bouts of instant diarrhoea if they aren't already experiencing it anyway. Alcohol withdrawal is scary to witness if you aren't familiar with it, it's a long and pretty unpleasant experience even if you're going through it as a hospital in-patient, let alone alone in the community.

 

[M-J-G]

Nobody is trying to make excuses for addiction here, that's ineffectual- they are still addicted anyway and this is someone's relative.

You must realise that for a lot of people their addiction, whatever it is, may have a link not only with their mental health but also their physical health.

Believe me, if you are a serious alcoholic, you can't just suddenly 'not drink'. This is why it seems to get hold of people so strongly and I think a lot of confusion seems to stem from the public not appreciating the physical dependence a person can have on a substance. It's not like people who smoke missing out smoking for 12 hours suddenly feeling a bit off peak and having a funny head and cravings; a lot of physiology comes into play when you withdraw from alcohol. I've seen people hallucinate- they begin to hear or see things. Some of them begin to feel things. Some of them rant and rave and to want to climb the walls. Some of them itch, shake, sweat, they can't lie still, they can't sleep, they have waking nightmares, their heart will race. A sip of water is enough to make them vomit or bring on bouts of instant diarrhoea if they aren't already experiencing it anyway. Alcohol withdrawal is scary to witness if you aren't familiar with it, it's a long and pretty unpleasant experience even if you're going through it as a hospital in-patient, let alone alone in the community.

I don't see anything there that I disagree with.
The addict seems to rarely be hooked on just one thing, most junkies and alcoholics tend to be smokers too, gamblers often drink and smoke.
A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of sharing a carriage on a train with a junkie who wasn't in the best of shape, he sat glued to his phone and drinking, at one point on my way to and from the toilet I noticed he was online gambling.

Strength of character and being responsible will help with staying away from these dangerous situations in the first place, regardless of what else is going on.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Sorry to hear of this difficult situation. I see a visit to the Dr was mentioned. Obviously a Dr can't disclose confidential information about their patient, but that doesn't stop a patient's relative phoning up to mention their concerns to the Dr just in case they are not aware of the situation. They might be able to set up a follow-up general welfare appointment and do some gentle probing and possible signposting to support.

 

[ollie989898]

I don't see anything there that I disagree with.
The addict seems to rarely be hooked on just one thing, most junkies and alcoholics tend to be smokers too, gamblers often drink and smoke.
A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of sharing a carriage on a train with a junkie who wasn't in the best of shape, he sat glued to his phone and drinking, at one point on my way to and from the toilet I noticed he was online gambling.

Strength of character and being responsible will help with staying away from these dangerous situations in the first place, regardless of what else is going on.

I've met a fair number of alcoholics but I couldn't say if they were of weak character or not. It is true that there are a number of functional addicts out there in public life, but they somehow manage to make life or don't feel the need to enlist medical help for their addictions.

There is much to be said for total abstinence from such vices but our society seems to be a lot more accepting or even encouraging of people trying what were possibly considered very marginal things in previous generations. Even TFF gives a glimpse of this- there have been posters here who reckoned recreational drugs should be legalised, for example. We need to evaluate these things in how they effect society as a whole. I do think, for example, that gambling should be banned or else restricted to the form it used to have, none of this online 24/7 nonsense.

 

[som farmer]

used to smoke, gave that up, when realising l didn't have any fags, rolling a 60 acre field ! Got annoyed at being annoyed l didn't have any fags.

drinking, used to enjoy a good 'session', to often, changed medication, now nearly teetotal, pills didn't agree with alcohol, most horrendous hangovers, from more the 2 pints.

know of a decent lad that got hooked on drugs, dealers were chasing him for money, shot himself, took 2 weeks to find him.

its a huge huge problem, and l don't think it can be solved, drugs, fags and drink are so easy to get hold off. And we are not a nanny state.

perhaps legalising some drugs is the answer, to start with, its a bit of a dare, then you end up hooked, l really don't know.

 

[GeorgeK]

Trouble with addiction is it takes over, people lose themselves. In fact 'stronger willed' can just mean the ability to keep the addiction going longer. To quit you have to relinquish the control the drug gives and give up, roll over, surrender to what will be a world of unendurable torment. Accept a trip back from hell to the even worse pain of reality and coming to terms with what you've done. There is no way to describe the agony, for many death is easier.

Truth is we all do some things deep down we know we shouldn't but we can't stop and do them anyway. Maybe it's working too many hours, a choccy bar each visit to the petrol station, chatting to a girl we perhaps shouldn't. Luckily for most these behaviours are relatively benign but not always. I have yet to meet anyone who is completely free from any form of compulsive, self destructive behaviour.

Some won't be saved, the only humane option is end of life care, try and give some standard of comfort as they go down.

 

[melted welly]

Sorry to hear of this difficult situation. I see a visit to the Dr was mentioned. Obviously a Dr can't disclose confidential information about their patient, but that doesn't stop a patient's relative phoning up to mention their concerns to the Dr just in case they are not aware of the situation. They might be able to set up a follow-up general welfare appointment and do some gentle probing and possible signposting to support.

That’s been done, he had some “bruises” on his arm from moving furniture which remained for over a month then burst. Doctor was contacted by my wife and he was very receptive, however relative refused to/is not capable of following up. He’s back in his former home town now so there’s one less excuse.

 

[ARW]

Addiction can grab hold of very insecure people, hence when you challenge someone’s addiction it’s deeply hurtful to them, they can’t admit to the their addiction, it’s their whole identity and life.
that’s why addicts have to want to help themselves and admit to the addiction for any chance of improvement
Addiction scares me, I’ve got a slightly addictive personality, if you give me a pack of sweets I’m eating them all, if you give me another pack I will eat them, then the next day I will want a pack of sweets and think about it all day! So I hardly drink, just the odd pint now and again and I’ve still never tried a cigarette or drugs

 

[Hilly]

I wonder if i am and how many others are addicted to sugar ….

 

[M-J-G]

I wonder if i am and how many others are addicted to sugar ….

Cut it down and you'll find out.

Refined sugar is probably one of the main causes of health issues and sweetners that are in diet drinks have huge issues
In the past couple of years I have cut out sugar where practically possible, theories on links with dementia and cancer are enough to make me happy to sit it out.
Caffeine too, it's a cause of significant health issues, particularly blood pressure due to it reducing availability of Mg.

 

[Hilly]

Cut it down and you'll find out.

Refined sugar is probably one of the main causes of health issues and sweetners that are in diet drinks have huge issues
In the past couple of years I have cut out sugar where practically possible, theories on links with dementia and cancer are enough to make me happy to sit it out.
Caffeine too, it's a cause of significant health issues, particularly blood pressure due to it reducing availability of Mg.

I dont think i consume much sugar but no doubt things have it in that dont expect or know ….. id like a coffee im not cutting coffee out , hardly drink dont smoke im having coffee .

 

[Sharpy]

Addiction can grab hold of very insecure people, hence when you challenge someone’s addiction it’s deeply hurtful to them, they can’t admit to the their addiction, it’s their whole identity and life.
that’s why addicts have to want to help themselves and admit to the addiction for any chance of improvement
Addiction scares me, I’ve got a slightly addictive personality, if you give me a pack of sweets I’m eating them all, if you give me another pack I will eat them, then the next day I will want a pack of sweets and think about it all day! So I hardly drink, just the odd pint now and again and I’ve still never tried a cigarette or drugs

I used to smoke, quite worrying how much of a grip cigarettes had on me. Nearly 20 years later I still want one occasionally. This is why I very rarely drink and never more than 2 drinks.

 

[M-J-G]

I dont think i consume much sugar but no doubt things have it in that dont expect or know ….. id like a coffee im not cutting coffee out , hardly drink dont smoke im having coffee .

I'd say it's a pretty insignificant vice to have a cup of coffee in the morning
It's just not an good idea for anyone with high blood pressure.
I like coffee, but I have switched over to decaffeinated, but I won't be one of those types who'll refuse coffee unless it's decaf.

 

[M-J-G]

I used to smoke, quite worrying how much of a grip cigarettes had on me. Nearly 20 years later I still want one occasionally. This is why I very rarely drink and never more than 2 drinks.

I have never tried smoking, but many say it's often the routine that's hard to kick.

 

[Chae1]

Cut it down and you'll find out.

Refined sugar is probably one of the main causes of health issues and sweetners that are in diet drinks have huge issues
In the past couple of years I have cut out sugar where practically possible, theories on links with dementia and cancer are enough to make me happy to sit it out.
Caffeine too, it's a cause of significant health issues, particularly blood pressure due to it reducing availability of Mg.

You'll live forever.

 

[ollie989898]

Cut it down and you'll find out.

Refined sugar is probably one of the main causes of health issues and sweetners that are in diet drinks have huge issues
In the past couple of years I have cut out sugar where practically possible, theories on links with dementia and cancer are enough to make me happy to sit it out.
Caffeine too, it's a cause of significant health issues, particularly blood pressure due to it reducing availability of Mg.

I'm not sure I'd agree with your post in respect of caffeine.

Caffeine can give a short term bump in blood pressure, certainly around 15mmHg wouldn't be out of the ball park, but that is far less than you would expect to see during sustained strenuous exercise.

Drinking a great deal of tea of coffee supposedly can cause digestive upset and problems with malabsorption of some nutrients, but that is due to the tannins in it and you'd have to be consuming a heck of a lot of it I think.

 

[ollie989898]

I wonder if i am and how many others are addicted to sugar ….

How much sugary product are you consuming in a day? It is easy to cut out if you are careful. The issue comes however in defining what sugars you will cut out and how far you will go. Plenty of (natural) sugars in fruit juice, for example. I don't actually consume that much of it because I know this but I wonder if I'm just being daft. I generally avoid breakfast these days as well, it just doesn't seem to fall at a time when I feel hungry. I'd sooner eat something around 10-11am. I don't know why this is.

 

[Chae1]

I've come off sugar a few times and makes me very angry and irritable. Do feel better once weaned off it. Stress normally means I return to it

The term hangry is caused by lack of sugar I think.

Normally replace sugar with caffeine, so is there any point.,

 

[ollie989898]

I've come off sugar a few times and makes me very angry and irritable. Do feel better once weaned off it. Stress normally means I return to it

The term hangry is caused by lack of sugar I think.

Normally replace sugar with caffeine, so is there any point.,

I don't believe drinking coffee is going to harm you. The FDA seem to believe 400mg of caffeine is about the healthy maximum and to get to that is something daft like consuming 6 cans of red bull in a day or 4 expressos. Who the heck drinks that in a day?