Psychological Effects of Alcoholism Essay Example for Free

Psychological Effects of Alcoholism Essay Alcohol is a well known substance that has been present ever since. It provides a variety of functions for different people from the earliest times until today. In the past, alcoholic beverages were served not only as thirst quencher; it also played a significant role in the aspect of religion (Watson). Alcohol connotes pleasure and sociability through the enhancement of the quality of life. Most alcoholic beverages are well represented in wine, beer, and spirits. They have been accounted for numerous positive and negative effects upon consumption (Watson). While alcohol has been proven to be beneficial if taken moderately, its misuse may lead to alcoholism. Alcoholism is one of the prevailing social problems of today. Alcoholism is noted to be a chronic disease wherein the body becomes dependent on alcohol. It is characterized with alcohol obsession, and the person with alcoholism is unable to control the amount of alcohol being taken. Alcoholism can cause serious problems and may affect a persons relationship, health, finances, and work (â€Å"Alcoholism†). The physical effects of alcoholism are evidently well recorded. It is a general knowledge that the abuse of alcohol may lead to serious problems, most especially the abrupt deterioration of human health and its detrimental impact on the internal organs. Thus, most people often associate the impact of alcoholism on the physical health. However, what is less considered are its psychological effects that are much more damaging and equally painful to the physical effects that the alcoholic person is aware of (Briggs). It was found out that alcohol consumption and mental health are closely affiliated in numerous ways. Based from the summary presented by the institute of alcohol studies, â€Å"mental health problems can result [in] excessive drinking, but that problem drinking can lead to mental health problems† (Tolevanen et al. qtd. in Cattan and Tilford 142). Aside from this, it was suggested that external factors are major contributors to mental health and alcohol problems. These external factors include genes, social and family environment, psychological and culture influence, the perception about the impact of alcohol, and the level of acceptance for alcohol consumption (Tolevanen et al. td. in Cattan and Tilford 142) Moreover, the influence of the expectancies of alcohol greatly affects how people drink. Take for example the young and middle-aged adults. Since the said group of people has a positive perception on the effects of alcohol consumption, they tend to consume more alcohol. It was concluded that people who use alcohol consumption as a coping strategy perceive the effects of alcohol to be positive, and that alcohol reduces the repercussions of factors that induce stress (Satre and Knight qtd. n Cattan and Tilford 142). Hence, although there were evidences that alcohol consumption may have positive psychological effects, it is still apparent that the negative impact of alcohol on human psychology overshadows its positive effects. Depression, Anxiety, and Suicide Since alcoholic beverages are depressants, by the time they begin circulating within an individuals system, they decrease the activity carried out by the nervous system to the brain (Naq). Thus, it was noted that depression may be the cause or aftermath of alcoholism. Some studies suggest that the effects of alcohol have two phases, the initial of which is that it produces a feeling of euphoria which is then generated to depression by the time the alcohol level in the blood has gone down (Institute of Alcohol Studies [IAS] 6). It was also stated that, when an individual consumes an amount of alcohol that is more than the bodys capacity, it would result in stress. In the spur of the moment, a series of psychological manifestations of stress can be observed through anxiety. Certain conditions, such as restlessness, nightmares, and overwhelming fear, are some of the anxieties felt or experienced by an alcoholic (Naq). Dependence in alcohol also results in heightened emotions. Most alcoholics are in a high risk of depression and anxiety, creating a strong link between suicide and alcoholism (IAS 6). Aggression and Violence Many researchers have proven the link between alcoholism and aggression. It was believed that the excessive consumption of alcohol does not only promote aggressive behaviors, but it may also lead to victimization. Alcohol disrupts the normal functions of the brain. Thus, alcohol encourages aggressive behavior and violence. Violence is within the category of aggression, which is characterized by behaviors that are often threatening and hostile. The percentages of alcohol related violence are alerting, and the figures are still raised in the upper limits (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services). According to Bancroft, the consumption of alcohol allows offenders to act on what they desire (47). Because of this, offenders become more insulting and intimidating. Most often than not, perpetrators deny the activity and use alcohol as an excuse. Courts sometimes condone perpetrators who blame the committed crime to drinking problems (Bancroft 48). Obsession Alcoholics are identified as intense and obsessed people (Zimberg 4). Once a person becomes dependent to alcohol, obsession with drinking is the likely result. For an alcoholic, there is no difference between a large and small amount of alcohol. Because of alcohol dependence, a person loses interest with other activities except to get the next drink (Naq). Memory loss  An alcoholic is more likely to experience periods where one cannot remember a thing, otherwise known as ‘blackouts’. It is important to take into consideration that alcohol abuse may result in memory loss, which in turn, may be psychologically damaging and self destructive at great levels (Briggs). Apart from this, the dependence in alcohol has a great association with brain damage and cognitive impairment which may lead to an advance stage known as alcoholic dementia. When such advance case of memory loss is combined with amnesia, the intellectual function of the brain is then lost (IAS 16). Socio-Psychological Effects of Alcoholism The socio-psychological effects of alcoholism may be short term or long term. One of the most prominent short term socio psychological effects of alcoholism is ‘disinhibition’. This is well manifested when an individual lacks self regulation and control which leads to numerous anti-social behaviors. Furthermore, alcohol has the capability to repress a persons ability to respond to emotions and decrease inhibitions which, in the end, may cause the alcoholic to exhibit risky behaviors (Curtin et al. qtd. in â€Å"Short-term and Longer-term Effects†). Disinhibition also may result in activities that greatly affect the society such as crime and violence. For instance, in Australia, where alcohol is deeply embedded in the culture, out of 70% of crimes committed, 41% were done under the influence of alcohol (National Health and Medical Research qtd. in â€Å"Short-term and Longer-term Effects†). Long term socio-psychological impact of alcoholism is apparent in a family. Alcoholism is recognized as a â€Å"family disease. † In a family, the alcoholic may be a father, mother, teenager, and other close relative. Alcohol dependence of one member of the family may lead to family disruption and may put the whole family at risk that may last for a very long time. In a recent study done by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration) National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, the numbers of American adults who have been vulnerable to alcoholism reached up to seventy six million (Parsons). Most family problems are blamed to alcoholism (Parsons). Family members take on different characteristics as a way of adapting to the situation. In the case of the family’s child or children, various attitudes may be noticed: (1) Family hero is a way by which a child acts on the responsibilities, exhibiting obsessive perfectionism and doing things that are â€Å"too good to be true;† (2) Scapegoat, wherein misbehavior and delinquency is a form of escape to the situation; (3) Lost child is characterized with passiveness and isolation from others to withdraw from the situation; and (4) Mascot, by making fun of the situation through comic relief (Donatelle and Davis qtd. n â€Å"Short-term and Longer-term Effects†). In the case of the spouse of the alcoholic, the spouse has to take on the status of both parents. This may cause the spouse to develop feelings of hatred, self-pity, and anti-social behavior. The spouse is also likely to become extremely exhausted, leading to physical and mental illness. Moreover, the non-alcoholic parent has the tendency to neglect the children (Berger qtd. in Parsons). The effects of alcoholism are not limited to the physical aspect. It is evident that it has adverse psychological effects that do not only affect the alcoholic individual, but extend to the society where the alcoholic belongs. Furthermore, based from the results that were framed from the study, it is suggested that comprehensive analysis on the psychological effect of alcoholism according to gender should be done so as to give further justification on the subject.

Essays --

"I think there’s something about American violence that to me is very touching†¦In full force it’s very ugly, but there’s also something very moving about it, because it has to do with humiliation. There’s some hidden, deeply rooted thing in the Anglo-male American that has to do with inferiority, that has to do with not being a man, and always, continually having to act out some idea of manhood that is invariably violent. This sense of failure runs very deep." (Hall, 94) The shaving of Dodge’s head is not the only violent action of the play. Halie kicks the husks when seeing it, and later, Shelly throws the cup and saucer when being ignored. Nevertheless, the male characters of the play seem more violent than the female characters. It seems like the "real" violence starts when Halie leaves their home, and ends when she has come back. (Tucker, 135) Bradley symbolically rapes Shelly and when the secret of the murder of the incestious child is revealed, it is clear that the violence lies within the male. The quote above gives an idea of how Sam Shepard views the male violence. He believes that male violence is caused by the male himself, not by any female. Furthermore, he is of the opinion that it derives from a lack and also the desire for power. Men use violence not just to suppress the lack they feel inside of them, but also to make the female obey. (Hall, 94) 3.3 Family Roles Generally speaking, the head of the family of most families is the father, since he is the one who takes care of them. However, in BC a head of the family cannot be easily detected. At first, when Halie stands on the top of the stairs, she is in a higher position. She is in control of her husband and tells him what to do, not only because he is the weaker... ... incestious son, is the one with the "family album. [†¦] She’ll set you straight on the heritage†¦" (112), she cannot add new members to the family without the law of the father. Dodge shows that the law of the father of the family is obedient, and displays his control by forcing Halie to deliver her child on her own without any help. It hurt so bad, it almost killed her. Since the baby survived, he goes even further and kills it. (124; Hall, 100) In spite of his weakness, Dodge tries to control his family from the sofa. He can do so, because he is the only one who knows where the child is buried, which is the ultimate power one can have in the family. (Opipari, 135) In BC one family member can be in control of another, yet at the same time one is being controlled by another family member. In this family, there is no clear head of the family, no leader. (Opipari, 134)

Culture Views on Health

Jessica Knott UOP HCA 230 04-19-2010 Cultural Views on Health Health can have different meanings to different people and in their cultures around the world. A person’s health is not any different when it comes to an individuals, nor does it matter what part of the world they are in but they still have the same thing in common physical, mental, social, and spiritual beings. A person’s health refers to how they feel and also how they relate to their environment and the people that share that environment with them. People’s lives and morals are a combination of the different areas is what makes them who they are, and this does not change because of the area where they are from. A person who is happy and has a healthy lifestyle has created a healthy balance of their physical, social, spiritual, and emotional part of their life. â€Å"There are different ways of looking at health. Every culture has a concept of health that is probably different to that of others† (Capdevila, 2006) A person’s upbringing or background can affect the medical treatment they receive. Some cultures believe in holistic medicine. Some cultures treat their people with such practices without seeking treatment from a clinic or facility. The ethnic, cultural, and personal belief of an individual can affects the ability to receive care. For example in China herbal and holistic medicines are use everyday to help treat patients. These remedies have been used for centuries and continue to be passed down from generation to generation. Now Asian Americans have faith and believe in plants and their healing properties. The new fad in American culture of wellness and feeling the harmony between the mind, body, and spirit has its roots also in the Chinese culture. American culture looks for healing in new modern techniques of medicine and in technology. Americans usually say that we treat the disease and not the patient because we don’t have a patient without the disease. A lot of people believe that the herbal approach is helpful, while others do not believe. Some people believe that it should not be relied on because different people have different ways of providing medical care when it comes to herbal medicines. But a lot of Americans still have a more modern views when it comes to health care, due to the fact that we have the best and latest medical technology. â€Å"The Asian American/Pacific Islander population in the U. S. is mostly foreign-born. Therefore, these families continue to hold on to traditional views of health and illness† (Cantore, 2008) Acupressure is usually what is used in the Asian culture. But it is also being used now in the United States because we have a mixture of cultures. People from all cultures are now using acupressure to help as a cure. It supposes to help with smoking addictions and relieve the pain of childbirth. â€Å"It can be used to stimulate sleep or digestion or to increase mental stability. †¦ Many doctors recommend meditation and yoga to relax patients undergoing modern procedures such as chemotherapy or surgery. † (Cantore, 2008) â€Å"Eastern practices are popular because health consumers are more informed and are taking more responsibility for and control of their health. In addition, these practices and remedies assist the body in maintaining health and aid the body in natural healing. (Cantore, 2008) Vietnamese culture which is still an Asian culture, believes in harmony, balance in their lives and with their health. There are many differences between the American and Vietnamese cultures, for example in America if you are overweight or obese it is not a good thing. But in the Vietnamese culture being overweight or obese is seen as a good sign of economic status and people actually envy yo u of this. There are implications to health care providers when it comes to both cultures. For example, in a culture where obesity is more acceptable, health care providers are challenged to provide care to more people. â€Å"Stopping the cycle of obesity before it becomes the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States is a priority for community health nurses. † (Durand E, Logan C, Carruth A, 2007) Every culture and society has their own beliefs and morals. Some believe in the herbal medicine, some believe that they are heal by faith, and some use technology for the answer. But I believe that the important side of that is that we must respect what a person believes is right. As long as the patient is not going to cause themselves any harm by holding onto cultural practices, is allowed to follow their traditional beliefs. Some of the medical practices that come from other regions and cultures are now being more accepted into the modern world, so we should be open to many different options when it comes to our health and treatment plans. References Capdevila, G (2006, May 25) BOLIVIA: Wanted – Healthcare Adapted To Indigenous Cultures. Retrieved on April 11, 2009 from http://ipsnews. net/news. asp? idnews=33372 Cantore, J (2008) Modern Nursing, Traditional Beliefs. Minority nurses can play a crucial role in helping Asian patients bridge the gap between East and West, old and new. Retrieved on April 10, 2009 from http://www. minoritynurse. com Durand E, Logan C, Carruth A. (2007). Association of maternal obesity and childhood obesity: implications for healthcare providers . Journal of Community Health Nursing. 24 (3): 167-76 (journal article – review, tables/charts). Retrieved on April 11, 2009 from EBSCOhost database.

Capital Punishment Costs Of The Death Penalty Essay

Capital Punishment: Costs of The Death Penalty Let us suppose that killing as a form of punishment is a moral and universally accepted practice. Would it then be acceptable to issue this irreparable sanction to a select few while allowing others, equally accountable, to avoid it? It is acceptable to our criminal justice system for it seems to be standard operating procedure. Many embrace the death penalty based on the quot;eye for an eyequot; concept. There is certainly some merit to this argument and it seems quite fair and logical. Unfortunately our use of the death penalty is neither fair nor logical. Our criminal justice systems quot;lip servicequot; to the age-old concept is an insulting disguise for such an obscurity of†¦show more content†¦The price of an execution is amazing. Naturally, for such a price, we should consider our quot;valuedquot; return. In return for an execution we receive utter incapacitation; an essential return indeed but we get the same from a life sentence at a fraction of the cost. What else do we get? Perhaps we satisfy a need for revenge. Perhaps we feel that we need to keep revenge alive at any price. After all, we pay top dollar for it. So who exactly is the target of our vengeance and why? From 1930 to 1980 executions for whites numbered 1754 compared to 2066 for blacks (Bedau 1982). In 1978 blacks claimed 4888 murder victims. Of these, 536 were white or 12% (Bedau 1982). About half the death row population was black and 85% of their victims were white (Bedau 1982). Blacks who kill whites have a 25% chance of receiving the death penalty while whites have a 0% chance of receiving it for killing a black. For a black person, killing a white person could be deadly. Our criminal justice systems use of the death penalty appears increasingly void of rationale when we consider the other prices we pay. 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