Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Can Cause Apathy

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Can Cause ApathyAlcohol abuse can cause the autoimmune disease, apathy. An important component of this condition is a patient's reduced immune system. It is very common for alcoholics to have low CD4 count. Some of the symptoms of apathy include a loss of enthusiasm, hopelessness, lack of concentration, memory loss, and poor judgment.One form of treatment is administration of anticonvulsant drugs such as alcohol Ethanol or phenytoin. This treatment helps in suppressing the production of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma amino butyric acid (GABA). The effect of GABA is to dampen the pleasure centers of the brain. A feeling of tiredness, anxiety, and irritability are some of the other symptoms of apathy.The second form of treatment used is motivational counseling for alcoholic. This type of therapy helps the alcoholic overcome feelings of hopelessness and gives him hope for a better life. A more positive outlook on life results in a higher level of copi ng skills.One of the most effective means of treating the condition's therapy is education about its nature and causes. Alcoholism is a serious condition that affects the body in a number of ways. The result of addiction is a damaged liver and nervous system. Brain cell dysfunction is the result of over consumption of alcohol.Unfortunately, when an alcoholic suffers from apathy, he can have low self-esteem and a sense of powerlessness. These feelings can be considered depression. In addition, the alcoholic has an increased risk of developing a chronic disease like cancer. The depressed feelings also give the alcoholic a feeling of vulnerability and shame.Alcoholism is not the only cause of apathy. The patient may have suffered trauma and grief that lead to depression. Alcohol dependency leads to addiction and the patient may begin to take pleasure in things he would otherwise consider unimportant.The irony is that not only does alcoholism cause depression, it also increases the chan ces of the patient's death. Alcohol kills by poisoning the brain cells, which will in turn reduce the brain's ability to heal itself. In addition, there is the growing evidence that alcoholics are more likely to suffer premature death than non-alcoholic people.Apathy can be managed if it is detected early. The patient should be offered the care he needs by his family. It is also recommended that he should undergo treatments for the disease that will address the causes of the problem. As these problems are very common, there is a high chance that the patient will not know about them.