Re: alcohol addiction and adrenal fatigue & kudzu.

Hi #60265 and #38976

#38976
We can talk about adrenal fatigue, liver, brain, spleen, pancreas and hypoglycemia (ever wonder why alcoholics crave sweets?) and all the other damages alcohol does to the body.
It is all cause and effect. The body is an amazing machine, in that it can repair itself with proper nutrition and time, or at least become manageable. Unless you have abused it to the point of no return.

Of all the drug addictions, alcoholism is the only drug that people die from withdrawals.

#60265
I don't think droffinah balked at your use of kudzu to relieve the weekend physical craving for alcohol.
Consider yourself very fortunate that alcoholics can now take kudzu or librium to alleviate the phisical withdrawals. I have a deep respect for the oldtimers that didn't have that luxury during their withdrawals.

It was your assumption that kudzu is the cure-all for alcoholism that would make a true alcoholic balk.

Alcoholism is much deeper than that. It starts in stages, from the partying to weekend binging. Alcoholics refer to it as "Weekend warriors". Then it continues progressing as a disease that manifests itself with symptoms that affect one physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially.

To the alcohol-induced blackouts. These are amnesia-like periods that occur while drinking, when the person seems to be functioning normally but will later have no recall of some or all of what he or she said or did. The individual may not remember getting home or having said something hurtful or outlandish to another person. Other symptoms include: sneaking extra drinks before or during events; gulping the first drink or two; and feelings of guilt.
The third or middle stage of alcoholism is a crucial phase, for loss of control sets in. This is the inability to drink according to intention. Once the first drink is taken, the individual can no longer predict what will happen, even though the intention may have been to only have a few drinks. Other symptoms include: drinking bolstered with excuses; grandiose and aggressive behavior; persistent remorse; increase in amount and frequency of drinking; failure of repeated attempts to control drinking; failed promises and resolutions to self and others; loss of interests; avoidance of family and friends; trouble with money and work; unreasonable resentments; problems with the law; neglect of food and loss of willpower; tremors and early morning drinks; decrease in alcohol tolerance (needing less alcohol to feel the effect); and the beginning of physical deterioration.

The fourth, final and late state of alcoholism is chronic. Up until this point, the individual may have been successful in maintaining a job, but now drinking occurs earlier in the day and can go on all day. Symptoms in this stage include: onset of lengthy intoxications; moral deterioration; impaired thinking; indefinable fears; obsession with drinking; and vague spiritual desires. A person may not develop all of these symptoms or in this particular order, but there is a continual loss of control.

This disease is often described as cunning, baffling and powerful. The alcoholic is often just as puzzled as those around him or her, because no matter how he or she attempts to modify drinking, nothing seems to work. The individual just can't seem to get a "grip" on the problem. Denial is the biggest symptom of this illness, and not just for the alcoholic. Those around the alcoholic are also often in denial, believing the person just needs to stop drinking or cut down. It is only after treatment that this confusing problem begins to make sense. The alcoholic learns that he or she has a chemical reaction to alcohol and that it is the first drink that causes the trouble. That is, it's the first drink that sets the obsession to drink in motion.

It is important to remember that alcoholism affects an individual five-fold: physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually. Recovery needs to take place in all these major life arenas as well. Finding new ways to handle life situations without the use of alcohol is the challenge and the blessing.

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I may be overstepping my bounds by trying to speak for me and droffinah here.

But I am going ask you, why do you think we call ourselves alcoholics? It is because we are not cured, we are only one drink away from being a drunk.

The disease never stops, it is progressive. That means if you pick up a drink, it starts again where you left off.

There is no magic cure, no magic pill or herbal potion that can cure alcoholism.

Neve underestimate AA as far as helping people to make their life manageable and enjoy living again!

Maybe "YOU" don't need AA...but its there if you need it.

Take what works for you and leave the rest behind, but the rest is there when and if you do decide you need it.
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