Understanding what alcohol addiction is and exactly how it has an effect on you emotionally, physically. Alcoholism (alcohol dependence) and alcohol abuse are two different forms of problem drinking.

• Alcoholism is when you have signs of physical addiction to alcohol and continues to drink, despite problems with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities. Alcohol may control your life and relationships.

• Alcohol abuse is when your drinking leads to problems, but not physical addiction.

There is no known cause of alcohol abuse or alcoholism. For most people, drinking is a social opportunity or an opportunity to relax. If you find that you are drinking alone, it means that you are no longer drinking to have a good time with your friends.

Completely stopping the use of alcohol is the ideal goal of treatment. It is difficult for many people with alcoholism completely stopping and avoiding alcohol. There will be times when it is difficult to avoid drinking for as long as possible.

Withdrawal from alcohol is best done in a controlled, supervised setting. Complications from withdrawal can be life threatening.

Stopping drinking (and going through withdrawal) is just the first step in the process of giving up – it takes time to become dependent on alcohol and time to give up. Attending counseling and/or using other supports are very important to help reduce the likelihood of a relapse back to drinking – they increase the chance of success.
In addition there are a number of medications available that may help.

It is important that the patient has a living situation that supports their need to avoid alcohol. Some programs offer housing options for people with alcoholism or alcohol abuse.

Alcohol recovery is a process—one that often involves setbacks. Don’t give up if you relapse or slip. A drinking relapse doesn’t mean you’re a failure or that you’ll never be able to reach your goal. Each drinking relapse is an opportunity to learn and recommit to sobriety, so you’ll be less likely to relapse in the future.

There has been a growing interest lately in a wide variety of alternative medicines. Allopathic doctors are beginning to incorporate alternative treatments more and more, combining alternative and traditional medicine into complementary medicine. Among the alternative treatments employed are a huge range of traditions, not easily summarized. Some, but not all, rely on natural remedies. Alternative medicine is an umbrella term referring to any type of healing practice or treatment outside the realm of the traditional Western medicine practiced by conventional doctors. Because it refers to so many different approaches, it is hard to define what it is, beyond being any treatment other than allopathic Western medicine. However, the varieties of alternative medicine can be divided into several broad categories which are more easily defined.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has classified the varieties of alternative and complementary medicine into five broad categories. Mind-body medicine refers to any type of approach that focuses on the mind’s effect on physical health. There are a number of alternative approaches that fall under this category, including hypnosis, biofeedback, and meditation. Biologically based practices are another category created by the NCCAM; it refers to any approach that relies on substances found in nature as a prevention or remedy. This includes herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements, medical uses of marijuana, and many other types of treatments.

Another category of alternative medicine is manipulative and body-based practices. This refers to any approach that relies upon adjustments or manipulations of the body to address a wide range of symptoms. Included in this category are chiropractic and osteopathic medicine, as well as massage; generally, these types of approaches are accepted, at least to a point, by most allopathic doctors. Less understood by traditional doctors is the category of energy medicine. These treatments believe that illness is caused by disruptions to the body’s energy field and seek to heal by remedying the body’s energy. Energy medicine includes such treatments as acupuncture, reiki, and healing touch.

The broadest category of alternative medicine is those labeled whole medical systems. These refer to any type of medicine that has been developed separately from conventional western medicine. It includes such approaches as traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, naturopathy, and Ayurvedic medicine.

Holistic Local was launched in June 2005 as a business directory for holistic, green and alternative businesses and has since grown to over 4,000 listings worldwide.Inspired by Margaret Meade’s words – “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has”, we are fast becoming a first point of contact providing information and support for anyone interested in holistic and natural living.