Alcohol addiction is kryptonic to masculinity because of the devastating effects it leaves on its wake.
Alcoholic addiction can ruin a man’s relationships, finances, career trajectory, and his health. Here are the effects of alcohol addiction on masculinity.
HEALTH ISSUES
The most devastating effects of alcohol abuse are the health challenges can cause the body. Alcohol abuse induces the high risk of blood pressure. It compromises the immune system of the body, thereby making it susceptible to infections.
Alcohol abuse can also result in digestive problems such as gastritis, ulcers, and pancreatitis. Other health challenges posed by alcohol abuse are liver damage and the damage of the brain and nervous system.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Alcohol abuse has several effects on the mental health of men. It aggravates the challenges that they had been dealing with. Alcohol abuse causes mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, and irritability. Some men consume alcohol thinking that it is going to numb their depression but in reality, it aggravates it.
Overindulgence in alcohol re-engineer the brain reward settings, making it to cravings and dependence on alcohol use.
SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOURAL EFFECTS
Alcohol addiction can ruin relationships and cause rifts in the family. If a man is always drowning himself in alcoholic, his family is going to be in disarray. It will be difficult for him to lead his family and inculcate the right values in his kids. His family cohesion will be gone because he may find it difficult to be at peace with his wife. Alcohol abuse can cause a man to always physically abuse his partner. Some men get physical with their wife/girlfriend after drowning themselves in alcohol.
Alcohol abuse can lead to poor performance. A man who is always drunk may find it difficult to complete tasks at the office.
EMOTIONAL EFFECT
Alcohol addiction can evoke a sense of shame and guilt. A man who is addicted to alcohol may give up on life because of the guilt his addiction is causing him. Men suffering from alcohol addiction always express regret about their actions. They acknowledge the damage that their addiction has caused in their private, professional, and social life. The snag is that they feel so powerless to quit drinking. They want to stop, but they don’t know how to start the journey. Sometimes, they try to quit and relapse.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
Years of alcohol addiction can lead to severe damage in the body. It could culminate to permanent brain damage like memory loss. Alcoholic abuse dulls the brain. Persistent abuse over a lengthy period of time can result in cognitive decline.
Alcoholic abuse can also cause liver failure, renal failure, and heart disease. The more a man overindulges in alcohol, the risks of him having these serious health issues is higher.
Alcohol addiction can lead to premature death, such as alcohol poisoning and fatal accidents. A man can be easily poisoned when he is highly intoxicated. Many people had lost their lives to drunk driving. It is difficult for a man who is drunk to drive within the approved speed limit.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Alcohol addiction is such a big deal, and society isn’t taking it too seriously. It is capable of making men not to fulfil their potential. Relationships are being ruined by alcohol abuse. Many families are in disarray today because some men priortise alcohol over their family responsibilities.
It is important to explain the effects of alcoholism so that men can see the dangers associated with it. The next article is going to address how to overcome the effect of alcohol addiction.