4. Alcoholism is a condition, wherein, the person drinking alcohol,
though aware of its negative consequences, cannot resist the
urge to drink. At times, it is referred to as 'continued
consumption of alcoholic beverages, despite health problems
and negative social consequences'. The quantity of intake,
frequency and regularity of drinking that defines alcoholism
varies from individual to individual. While, for some, alcohol
addiction, or alcoholism, can happen within months of having
the first glass, others might fall prey to the addiction after more
than a couple of years. Unless treated, alcohol abuse can
destroy a person both physically and emotionally and also prove
to be fatal. Read on to explore the various causes and symptoms
of alcoholism.

5. • Family history of alcoholism
• History of mental illness
• Peer pressure
• Stressful situations or a big life change
• Social and cultural factors, like keeping up with the trend, luring
advertisements, etc
• Genetic factors
• Emotional status, such as high levels of stress, anxiety or
emotional pain
• Psychological factors, such as low self esteem, depression, etc
• Relationship and social changes
• Using alcohol as an escape
• Constantly using alcohol to mask physical/emotional pain
• Lack of impulse control
• Enjoying the "feeling" that alcohol gives you and wanting to
drink more and more to achieve that "feeling"
• Change in brain chemistry, over time, due to alcohol abuse
• Abuse of alcohol over an extended period of time
• PSTD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

6. • Excessive alcohol consumption
• Making excuses to drink
• Denial of drinking problem
• Feeling annoyed when criticized about drinking
• Keeping and hiding alcohol in unlikely places
• Drinking alcohol first thing in the morning, to avoid
hangover
• Showing aggressive behavior while drinking
• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Solitary drinking
• Unexplained mood swings
• Missing work
• Losing interest in social activities
• Paranoia, unnatural fears or contemplation of suicide
• Neglect of physical appearance

7. • Impaired memory, forgetting what happened during
drinking episodes
• Depression
• Difficulty in thinking clearly
• Confusion
• Irritability
• Eating disorders
• Lack of appetite
• Sleeping disorder
• Anxiety
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Redness and enlarged capillaries in the face (red
eyes, puffy face)
• Weakness and numbness in the arms or legs

8. • The best treatment of alcoholism comprises of an
exclusive diet of grapes for a month.
• Alcoholics can resort to consuming apples, in large
quantities, in order to remove the intoxication from their
body. This would prove beneficial in treating alcoholism.
• Another option is to rub 4 to 5 dates in half a glass of
water. Drink this concoction twice a day. It would act
favorably in treating alcoholism.
• Take out the juice of the leaves of bitter gourd. Have
three teaspoons of the juice, with one glass of buttermilk,
every morning, on an empty stomach. This will be
effective in treating alcoholism.
• A healthy body is the precursor to good resistance power.
Alcoholics should be given a healthy and nutritious diet,
consisting of wholegrain cereals, nuts, seeds, sprouts,
fresh fruits and vegetables. It would help avert the
longing for stimulants like alcohol. This would, in turn,
treat alcoholism.

9. • Drinking fruit or vegetable juices and having candies or
snacks, especially at the time of longing, will help curb
the craving for alcohol.
• Another way to treat alcoholism is to intake half a glass of
raw celery juice, mixed with an equal amount of water,
once in a day. Keep repeating this for at least a month.
• Carrot juice helps reduce the urge to consume alcohol.
Having a glass of carrot juice, whenever there is an urge
to drink, will prove helpful in treating alcoholism.
• Lemon juice and orange juice have also been found
helpful in preventing the yearning for alcohol. Drink one
glass of each, on a daily basis.
• Banana is another food item that has been found
beneficial in treating anemia. Have at least one on a daily
basis.