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SINGAPORE, April 20 – She started drinking alcohol in her early teens. At age 20, Clare was an alcoholic and was about to drink herself.
"From the beginning, I knew that I drank differently from others. It was not your regular social consumption. I was looking for an effect, but the more I drank, the more this effect escaped me. It was a mental obsession and I could not stop it, "said the Wellness Coach, now 35, who asked that her full name not be used.
At age 25, she suffered a major heat stroke related to excessive consumption of alcohol. A few years later, she hit the bottom.
"Your body tells you when it breaks down," said Clare.
"I knew I was at the bottom of the scale – dehydration was severe, numbness, tremors and worry that came if I did not drink constantly. From the way I went, I was still going to end my days, so I decided to try Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Singapore.
What Clare thought was a long shot saved his life. Through the AA's 12-step recovery program, and in support of her husband and AA members, Clare ended her long-term alcohol dependence and transformed her life and health her husband's mental.
"I told myself to give a week, then it became a month, a year. Finally, I did not want to kill myself anymore. I've started coming for life, "she said.
April is the month of alcohol awareness. By sharing her experience, Clare hopes to educate women about alcohol abuse, a growing problem in Singapore.
Alcohol abuse is the second most common mental disorder in Singapore among the other conditions badessed, and is increasing, according to the Singapore Mental Health Study in 2010 and 2016.
Me too: more women drink a lot and dangerously
Among Singaporean women, the prevalence of lifetime alcohol abuse has increased from 1.2% of the population in 2010 to 1.7% in 2016, according to studies.
The upward trend has also been documented in previous studies.
According to a local study of trends in alcohol consumption between 1992 and 2004, Singaporean women aged 18 to 29 found an increase in frequent alcohol consumption. This study was published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism in 2007.
In the National Addiction Management Service (Nams) of the Institute of Mental Health, the number of new patients with alcohol-related disorders has increased.
Women represent 15% of new patients with alcohol-related disorders, said Dr. Guo Song, senior consultant at Nams.
The youngest patient in Nams was only 13 when she applied for treatment – a sobering reminder that alcohol-related disorders can affect underage drinkers.
"The patients we see in Nams for alcohol-related disorders, men and women, usually have a history of excessive drinking. Often they are unable to control their alcohol consumption despite the negative consequences they have had, "said Dr. Guo.
Alcoholic women less likely to ask for help
A representative of AA Singapore, which organizes sessions reserved for women, estimated that about 30% of alcoholics looking for help are women. However, he added, this figure is probably underestimated because women are less likely to ask for help to solve their alcohol problems.
"I do not think that fewer women have the problem than men. In Singapore, there are many cultural reasons why people do not show up at meetings (AA). This can be particularly difficult for women – they may be judged more severely by society for their alcohol problem, "said AA Singapore representative.
Their spouses may be victims of their addiction, but may also be less willing to ask for help.
"I know several men who have been abused by their spouse and have been drinking. You can not tell anyone, so what are you doing? "Said the representative of AA Singapore.
While Eleanor Ong, a psychotherapist at the Relational Counseling Studio, sees more male alcoholics, this may be because women are more likely to seek help elsewhere – through friends or groups informal support – rather than following the path of health. I said.
Many alcohol abuses also tend to be "high functioning", which makes it easier for them to hide or deny having an alcohol problem in the early years. Despite her heavy consumption of alcohol, Clare said that she was able to continue her work and her daily life.
"I did not lose my husband, my job, my house. It was so easy to continue drinking, "she said.
Alcoholic women are getting worse
A health crisis is to be expected when excessive consumption of alcohol by women remains an under-recognized and under-detected problem.
Although there is no difference in the diagnostic criteria for alcohol-related disorders in men and women, women are generally more vulnerable to the adverse effects of alcohol and alcohol. Alcohol than men and have more difficulty quitting smoking, said Dr. Guo.
Adverse effects can be physical or psychosocial, such as liver problems or badual or physical abuse.
Women get drunk more easily than men when they drink the same amount of alcohol, because of differences in body structure and hormones.
"In general, women weigh less and have less water in their bodies. Since alcohol tends to disperse more in body water, it means that a woman's blood alcohol concentration will tend to be higher than that of a man, making her more vulnerable, "explained Dr. Guo.
According to him, some studies in neuroscience indicate that the development of dependence in women is faster than in men. Their physical and psychosocial functioning also deteriorates more rapidly.
Studies suggest that women with an alcohol addiction have a higher prevalence of concurrent psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety or borderline personality disorder, Dr. Guo said.
"These comorbid disorders can make women vulnerable to alcohol addiction, where they consume alcohol to cope with their emotions. However, this could actually make them susceptible to developing alcohol or alcohol dependence problems, "he said.
People can start abusing alcohol for a variety of reasons. In addition to income growth and social interaction, there is a greater chance of consuming alcohol, which many consider a recreational drink, Dr. Guo said.
Alcohol dependence can also lead to alcohol dependence, peer influence, and the ease with which alcohol is available.
Studies show that people with immediate family members with addictions create an increased risk of alcohol dependence, he added.
However, at the base, alcohol dependence is the same as any form of addiction and "a problem more serious than just willpower," Ong said.
"In dependence, the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain that allows rational decisions) is sort of a little disconnected. The logical part of the brain that tells you, "If I keep drinking, my husband will leave me" does not really work anymore, "said Ong.
Roads to sobriety
Anyone who develops an addiction would find it difficult to stop smoking and professional help is often warranted, said Dr. Guo.
"Although we see fewer women than men seeking treatment for alcohol-related disorders, the treatment is as effective for men as it is for women," he said.
At Nams, the treatment of alcohol-related disorders involves the use of pharmaceutical drugs and psychosocial support provided by a multidisciplinary team.
Patients who are chronically addicted to alcohol may need a hospital treatment for detoxification and rehabilitation, Dr. Guo said. They will also need a post-discharge follow-up to prevent a relapse.
Treatment is a highly individualized process, and there is no proper way to deal with alcohol dependence, said Ong.
Support groups can help. "It has been proven that support groups such as AA help many people, which is why it is available in many countries. However, while some people think it works, others do not. Our goal for our alcoholic clients is to find support beyond therapy, "said Ong.
In cases where the alcoholic herself refuses to refuse or is not ready to ask for help, her relatives may need to seek the help of a professional to do so, said Ong.
"As the addict progresses in addiction, loved ones are also progressing in their level of rescue, empowerment and protection from the consequences. Until someone breaks the cycle, both are on the downhill trajectory, "she said.
Today, Clare has broken this vicious circle. She has not consumed a single drop of alcohol in the past six years and she now has a one-and-a-half year old daughter who sometimes accompanies her to AA meetings.
Encouraging other alcoholics to ask for help, Clare said, "There is a solution. You are not alone. "- TODAY & # 39; HUI
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