Climate Change Is Our Fault - 922 Words

Climate Change is Our Fault The truth is earth is heating up and it is partially humans fault. The simplest of human activities can alter the climates to change. Humans are not the only climate drivers. There are also natural factors (â€Å"How Much Does Human Activity Affect Climate Change?†). The earth is changing due to the climate changes . For future generations the earth may perhaps look different (Nuccitelli). Human activity is advancing global climate change rapidly. Humans are the main factor in the ongoing climate change. Many daily activities contribute to climate change. These activities include the burning of fossil fuels (â€Å"A Blanket Around the Earth†). Co2 is the main heat trapping gas (â€Å"How Do We Know That Humans Are the Major Cause of Global Warming?†). Humans produce a lot a CO2 every day. When individuals burn fuel, CO2 is released into the atmosphere. The fuels that are being released are jumbling with earth’s natural greenhous e gasses. For every gallon of gas that is burned, 1300 times that of CO2 is released. Also a gallon gas weighs 6lbs, but the CO2 that is released weights over 19lbs (â€Å"How Much Does Human Activity Affect Climate Change?†). CO2 is also emitted from farms, landfills, and power plants, which are all human run facilities (â€Å"How Do We Know That Humans Are the Major Cause of Global Warming?†). Human activities can also alter earths’ reflectivity. When we construct roads and farm we alter earth’s reflectivity. This causes sunlight to reflectShow MoreRelatedClimate Change: Whos to Blame?1008 Words   |  5 PagesClimate change is defined as the alteration in patterns in temperature and weather. A new wave of climate change, bringing warmer temperatures and more extreme storms, began to catch the attention of scientists sometime in the late 20th century. It is blamed perhaps on the increased burning of fossil fuels, contributing to the greenhouse gases th at harm the environment (â€Å"Climate Change,† CQ). On the contrary, it is something that simply occurs naturally. It occurs over long periods of time and hasRead MoreMy Exam Choice : Home Final Essay1020 Words   |  5 Pages ID: #0473731 The Topic Questions: Most scientists, using scientific evidence, believe that Global Warming and Global Climate change are the defining problem of our time and how we address the problem will determine the fate of our species. Other interest groups believe that either there is no problem or that we will find technological fixes to overcome any potential climate disaster: You are to examine how these polar opposites are portrayed in the mass media. What evidence and arguments areRead MoreGlobal Warming: Not Our Fault850 Words   |  3 PagesGlobal Warming: Not Our Fault The earth is constantly undergoing changes. This ranges from tectonic activity to atmospheric and climate changes. The most recent change that we have noticed, is the increase in temperature. Some believe that this increase is the result of human activity. However, this is not the case. The increased temperatures are within the normal tolerances from the past few thousand years (Robinson, Robinson, Soon, 2008). This and other changes to the atmosphere have beenRead MoreIntroduction. Weathering Occurs Through Interaction Between1658 Words   |  7 Pagesand expand. Tafoni weathering occurs in all climate types due to its nature and interaction with the atmosphere, but it is most abundant in intertidal areas, hot and cold arid or semi-arid regions in the world. For example, they are present in arid regions like northwestern China or Tafraoute, Morocco and coastal environments like Coastal California and South Devon, United Kingdom (Wang and An, 2016). With a basic understandin g of the geography and climate surrounding the Santa Monica Mountains pairedRead MoreThe Surface Big Business And Climate Change1504 Words   |  7 Pagessurface big business and climate change seem like fundamentally different issues, but upon deeper investigation, we can see that these issues have an underlying direct correlation. How can two ideas that are fundamentally different interact so thoroughly on one topic? Naomi Klein dedicates her work to investigate how these two issues interact, and what microcosms of our society encourage this interaction. Klein has a revelation about the issues with big businesses dominance over our society. She also suggestsRead MoreIs Climate Change Naturally or Man-Made? - Argument Essay1129 Words   |  5 PagesIs climate change naturally or man-made? First of all, for anyone that does not know what climate change is, it is a change in the world’s climate. A lot of people think weather and climate is the same thing but it is not. The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time. Climate is what the conditions are over relatively long periods of time. My belief of the issue is that climate change is man-madeRead MoreGlobal Warming: Natural or Man Made? 1139 Words   |  5 Pageswhy there has been such a drastic change in the Earth’s atmosphere throughout the years. These theories have ignited many debates amongst scientists. According to multiple scientists, humans are the ones responsible for the alarming change in the Earth’s atmospheric temperature. Theses scientists also fear that human activity will have long consequential problems for the world. Bill Nye, the science guy, is one of those scientists that bel ieves humans are at fault for the increased temperature ofRead MoreGlobal Warming Essay example699 Words   |  3 Pagesit is a good thing. People who believe global warming exists and want to fix the problem as soon as possible because it may cause a catastrophe. Al Gore and the IPCC are the main people who believe global warming may change our lives and sometimes create an illusion that it is our fault. There are many examples that it may be so like a hot summer in Edmonton, no negative temperature days in Glasgow, Montana however, other phenomenon like record snowfalls contradicts the existence of global warmingRead MoreGlobal Warming : Natural Or Man Made1328 Words   |  6 Pagesglobal warming, I want to clarify the definitions of the terms that I will be discussing. Referring to NASA, global warming is the increase in Earth s average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases. Climate change is a long-term change in the Earth s climate, or of a region on Ea rth. Greenhouse effect is a phenomenon in which the atmosphere of a planet traps radiation emitted by its sun, caused by gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane that allow incoming sunlightRead MoreWe Need A Clean Work Space And A Healthy Environment1372 Words   |  6 Pagesspace and a healthy environment you will be really productive. Now think about how important this fact could be when thinking about our earth. We live in a world with wonderful life and curiosity. However, by the way we treat it, you wouldn’t think so. We create so much waste to give to the earth, our climate has changed and the repercussions are disastrous. With no change in sight, one of science’s greatest minds, Stephen Hawking, has recently stated that he believes that human life on Earth only has

Tell Tale Heart and the Yellow Wall Paper - 1321 Words

There are similarities between the two stories â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart† by Edgar Allen Poe, and â€Å"The Yellow Wall Paper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Even though their writing styles are far apart they deal with a similar issue. Both authors deal with the fragility of the human mind. Both stories are very interesting and hold you to the core perhaps it is because any truly sane person knows that there is a little madness in all of us. Maybe that is why many people still read their stories today. In the story â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart† the narrator wants to show the reader that he is not insane. As proof, he offers a story. In the story, the initial situation is the narrator’s decision to kill the old man so that the man’s â€Å"evil† eye will stop†¦show more content†¦Forced to lie in bed all day and take it easy, the narrator becomes obsessed by the wallpaper and is drawn into trying to interpret it. She imagines a woman trapp ed within the paper. The narrator decides to strip off all of the wallpaper in her room, this is the moment of ultimate rebellion for the protagonist, and she is taking action towards independence. When John comes home to find the door locked, he begins freaking out. When he finally gets into the bedroom the narrator’s actions are so extraordinary and shocking that her husband faints. Through everything that is going on the narrator keeps creeping around the room in circles stripping all of the wallpaper off to free the woman that is trapped within. Throughout both stories there are many common threads. Both stories are dealing with apparent madness. In both we find it difficult to discern actual events from those that occur only in the imaginations of the narrators. Right through both stories the narrators are trying to convince the reader they are sane. â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart† and â€Å"The Yellow Wall Paper† both have a common theme of sublimation and repr ession. The sublimation is critical in each story, and could be argued to be the core of the story. In both stories the narrators are obsessed with something. In â€Å"Tell Tale Heart† the narrator is completely obsessed with the old man’s â€Å"evil† eye, and in â€Å"The Yellow Wall Paper† the narrator isShow MoreRelated Madness in The Yellow Wallpaper and The Tell-Tale Heart1679 Words   |  7 PagesMadness in The Yellow Wallpaper and The Tell-Tale Heart Compare the portrayal and use of madness in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe. Which story did you prefer and why? The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and the Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe both describe characters who in the opinion of other people are insane. The characters hysterical behaviour due to their insanity is depicted as the stories progress. TheRead MoreA Tell Tale Heart By Edgar Allan Poe1156 Words   |  5 Pagesthe stories we read in class contain some level of madness. For example in the short stories â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart† by Edgar Allan Poe, both of the main character in these stories believe that they are perfectly wise, but their out of control behaviors proves that they’re mentally ill or to be more specific insane. In the short story â€Å"A tell-tale heart† the unknown narrator is telling us a story about his neighbor who is an old man but his of a vulture:Read MoreThe Yellow Wall-Paper: A Classic Piece of Gothic Literature 1215 Words   |  5 Pagesstrong feelings of foreboding or fearful anticipation is also essential to this genre. Based upon these criteria, The Yellow Wall-paper is a classic piece of Gothic literature. In it, Charlotte Perkins Gilman utilizes numerous elements of the Gothic tradition to tell the story of one womans descent into madness. The physical setting that Gilman creates in The Yellow Wall-paper certainly evokes a feeling of foreboding or nervous anticipation. At the beginning, the narrator suggests that thereRead MoreAnalysis Of R.k Narayan s Version Of Valmiki s The Western Wing Essay1582 Words   |  7 PagesWhile each of these books tells a unique and compelling story, they also have several components in common. All of these texts deal with love at first sight, love sickness, and the arrangement of marriage. Because of these shared plot devices, they all depict an idea of love that is rather shallow and superficial. To illustrate this, this paper will provide a brief summary of each story before conducting a textual analysis. Summarization of Texts: The Ramayana Valmiki’s tale of The Ramayana is anRead More Repression of Women Exposed in The Yellow Wallpaper1873 Words   |  8 PagesRepression of Women Exposed in The Yellow Wallpaper      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The short story The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman gives a brilliant description of the plight of the Victorian woman, and the mental agony that her and many other women were put through as treatment for depression when they found that they were not satisfied by the life they had been given.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the late nineteenth century when the Yellow Wallpaper was written, the role of wife and mother, whichRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Black Mirror 1342 Words   |  6 Pagesseries that is macabre and uses science to show that it can be used to have control over people and their lives in the future. This show wonderfully incorporates race, gender, and sexuality as well as other topics such as ableism and classism. In this paper, four distinct episodes in the show that represented these themes were explored. We chose to focus on the episodes â€Å"Men Against Fire,† â€Å"Fifteen Million Merits,† â€Å"San Junipero,† and â€Å"White Bear† from the show Black Mirror. â€Å"Men Against Fire†, seasonRead More Moving Beyond Motherhood in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman4029 Words   |  17 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Since its original publication in The New England Magazine in May 1892 and its subsequent resurrection by modern feminists in the l970s, Charlotte Perkins Gilmans novella, The Yellow Wallpaper has gone through varied interpretations. When it was originally written, The Yellow Wallpaper was considered a tale of horror, so horrible in fact, that one editor, Horace Scudder of the Atlantic Monthly, refused the work because he did not want to make others as miserable as he was when he read itRead MoreEssay Women Breaking Free From Their Traditional Expectations2108 Words   |  9 Pagesbeing punished for wanting her freedom. We finally begin to see women trying to break free from these traditional expectations and barriers through the lives of Janie Crawford in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Johnâ₠¬â„¢s wife in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Louise Mallard in â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin, and Songlian in Raise the Red Lantern by Su Tong.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Zora Neale Hurston in Their Eyes Were Watching God shows how the lives of American women changedRead MoreA Detailed Analysis of The Red-Headed League and The Final Problem1526 Words   |  7 Pagesof The Red-Headed League, Watson helps the reader understand how Holmes came to his conclusions by asking him the questions that are in the readers mind, such as, But how could you guess what the motive was? and, how could you tell that they would make their attempt to-night? This satisfies the reader and adds realism - it helps them accept it is possible. Also, as Watson is left in the dark until the conclusion, it emphasises Holmes ingenuity and powers of deductiveRead MoreWomen Breaking Free from Their Traditional Expectations2169 Words   |  9 Pagespunished for wanting her freedom. We finally begin to see women trying to break free from these traditional expectations and barriers through the lives of Janie Crawford in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Johns wife in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Louise Mallard in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, and Songlian in Raise the Red Lantern by Su Tong. Zora Neale Hurston in Their Eyes Were Watching God shows how the lives of American women changed

Alcohol Abuse Introduction Free Essays

string(27) " of your energy and focus\." Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Signs, Symptoms, and Help for Drinking Problems It’s not always easy to see when your drinking has crossed the line from moderate or social use to problem drinking. But if you consume alcohol to cope with difficulties or to avoid feeling bad, you’re in potentially dangerous territory. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can sneak up on you, so it’s important to be aware of the warning signs and take steps to cut back if you recognize them. We will write a custom essay sample on Alcohol Abuse Introduction or any similar topic only for you Order Now Understanding the problem is the first step to overcoming it. In This Article: * Understanding drinking problems * Signs symptoms of alcohol abuse Signs symptoms of alcoholism * Drinking problems and denial * Effects of alcoholism * Getting help for alcohol abuse * When a loved one has a drinking problem Understanding alcoholism and alcohol abuse Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are due to many interconnected factors, including genetics, how you were raised, your social environment, and your emotional health. Some racial groups, such as American Indians and Native Alaskans, are more at risk than others of developing alcohol addiction. People who have a family history of alcoholism or who associate closely with heavy drinkers are more likely to develop drinking problems. Finally, those who suffer from a mental health problem such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder are also particularly at risk, because alcohol may be used to self-medicate. Since drinking is so common in many cultures and the effects vary so widely from person to person, it’s not always easy to figure out where the line is between social drinking and problem drinking. The bottom line is how alcohol affects you. If your drinking is causing problems in your life, you have a drinking problem. Do you have a drinking problem? You may have a drinking problem if you†¦ Feel guilty or ashamed about your drinking. * Lie to others or hide your drinking habits. * Have friends or family members who are worried about your drinking. * Need to drink in order to relax or feel better. * â€Å"Black out† or forget what you did while you were drinking. * Regularly drink more than you intended to. Signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse Substance abuse experts make a distinction be tween alcohol abuse and alcoholism (also called alcohol dependence). Unlike alcoholics, alcohol abusers have some ability to set limits on their drinking. However, their alcohol use is still self-destructive and dangerous to themselves or others. Common signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse include: * Repeatedly neglecting your responsibilities at home, work, or school because of your drinking. For example, performing poorly at work, flunking classes, neglecting your kids, or skipping out on commitments because you’re hung over. * Using alcohol in situations where it’s physically dangerous, such as drinking and driving, operating machinery while intoxicated, or mixing alcohol with prescription medication against doctor’s orders. Experiencing repeated legal problems on account of your drinking. For example, getting arrested for driving under the influence or for drunk and disorderly conduct. * Continuing to drink even though your alcohol use is causing problems in your relationships. Getting drunk with your buddies, for example, even though you know your wife will be very upset, or fighting with your family because th ey dislike how you act when you drink. * Drinking as a way to relax or de-stress. Many drinking problems start when people use alcohol to self-soothe and relieve stress. Getting drunk after every stressful day, for example, or reaching for a bottle every time you have an argument with your spouse or boss. The path from alcohol abuse to alcoholism Not all alcohol abusers become full-blown alcoholics, but it is a big risk factor. Sometimes alcoholism develops suddenly in response to a stressful change, such as a breakup, retirement, or another loss. Other times, it gradually creeps up on you as your tolerance to alcohol increases. If you’re a binge drinker or you drink every day, the risks of developing alcoholism are greater. Signs and symptoms of alcoholism (alcohol dependence) Alcoholism is the most severe form of problem drinking. Alcoholism involves all the symptoms of alcohol abuse, but it also involves another element: physical dependence on alcohol. If you rely on alcohol to function or feel physically compelled to drink, you’re an alcoholic. Tolerance: The 1st major warning sign of alcoholism Do you have to drink a lot more than you used to in order to get buzzed or to feel relaxed? Can you drink more than other people without getting drunk? These are signs of tolerance, which can be an early warning sign of alcoholism. Tolerance means that, over time, you need more and more alcohol to feel the same effects. Withdrawal: The 2nd major warning sign of alcoholism Do you need a drink to steady the shakes in the morning? Drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms is a sign of alcoholism and a huge red flag. When you drink heavily, your body gets used to the alcohol and experiences withdrawal symptoms if it’s taken away. These include: * Anxiety or jumpiness * Shakiness or trembling * Sweating * Nausea and vomiting * Insomnia | * Depression * Irritability * Fatigue * Loss of appetite * Headache | In severe cases, withdrawal from alcohol can also involve hallucinations, confusion, seizures, fever, and agitation. These symptoms can be dangerous, so talk to your doctor if you are a heavy drinker and want to quit. Other signs and symptoms of alcoholism (alcohol dependence) * You’ve lost control over your drinking. You often drink more alcohol than you wanted to, for longer than you intended, or despite telling yourself you wouldn’t. * You want to quit drinking, but you can’t. You have a persistent desire to cut down or stop your alcohol use, but your efforts to quit have been unsuccessful. * You have given up other activities because of alcohol. You’re spending less time on activities that used to be important to you (hanging out with family and friends, going to the gym, pursuing your hobbies) because of your alcohol use. * Alcohol takes up a great deal of your energy and focus. You read "Alcohol Abuse Introduction" in category "Essay examples" You spend a lot of time drinking, thinking about it, or recovering from its effects. You have few if any interests or social involvements that don’t revolve around drinking. * You drink even though you know it’s causing problems. For example, you recognize that your alcohol use is damaging your marriage, making your depression worse, or causing health problems, but you continue to drink anyway. Drinking problems and denial Is my drinking a problem? by Harvard Health Publications Denial is one of the biggest obstacles to getting help for alcohol abuse and alcoholism. The desire to drink is so strong that the mind finds many ways to rationalize drinking, even when the consequences are obvious. By keeping you from looking honestly at your behavior and its negative effects, denial also exacerbates alcohol-related problems with work, finances, and relationships. If you have a drinking problem, you may deny it by: * Drastically underestimating how much you drink Downplaying the negative consequences of your drinking * Complaining that family and friends are exaggerating the problem * Blaming your drinking or drinking-related problems on others For example, you may blame an ‘unfair boss’ for trouble at work or a ‘nagging wife’ for your marital issues, rather than look at how your drinking is contributing to the problem. While work, relationship, and finan cial stresses happen to everyone, an overall pattern of deterioration and blaming others may be a sign of trouble. If you find yourself rationalizing your drinking habits, lying about them, or refusing to discuss the subject, take a moment to consider why you’re so defensive. If you truly believe you don’t have a problem, there should be no reason for you to cover up your drinking or make excuses. Five myths about alcoholism and alcohol abuse Myth #1: I can stop drinking anytime I want to. Maybe you can; more likely, you can’t. Either way, it’s just an excuse to keep drinking. The truth is, you don’t want to stop. Telling yourself you can quit makes you feel in control, despite all evidence to the contrary and no matter the damage it’s doing. Myth #2: My drinking is my problem. I’m the one it hurts, so no one has the right to tell me to stop. It’s true that the decision to quit drinking is up to you. But you are deceiving yourself if you think that your drinking hurts no one else but you. Alcoholism affects everyone around you—especially the people closest to you. Your problem is their problem. Myth #3: I don’t drink every day, so I can’t be an alcoholic OR I only drink wine or beer, so I can’t be an alcoholic. Alcoholism is NOT defined by what you drink, when you drink it, or even how much you drink. It’s the EFFECTS of your drinking that define a problem. If your drinking is causing problems in your home or work life, you have a drinking problem—whether you drink daily or only on the weekends, down shots of tequila or stick to wine, drink three bottles of beers a day or three bottles of whiskey. Myth #4: I’m not an alcoholic because I have a job and I’m doing okay. You don’t have to be homeless and drinking out of a brown paper bag to be an alcoholic. Many alcoholics are able to hold down jobs, get through school, and provide for their families. Some are even able to excel. But just because you’re a high-functioning alcoholic doesn’t mean you’re not putting yourself or others in danger. Over time, the effects will catch up with you. Myth #5: Drinking is not a â€Å"real† addiction like drug abuse. Alcohol is a drug, and alcoholism is every bit as damaging as drug addiction. Alcohol addiction causes changes in the body and brain, and long-term alcohol abuse can have devastating effects on your health, your career, and your relationships. Alcoholics go through physical withdrawal when they stop drinking, just like drug users do when they quit. Effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can affect all aspects of your life. Long-term alcohol use can cause serious health complications, affecting virtually every organ in your body, including your brain. Problem drinking can also damage your emotional stability, finances, career, and your ability to build and sustain satisfying relationships. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can also have an impact on your family, friends and the people you work with. The effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse on the people you love Despite the potentially lethal damage that heavy drinking does to the body—including cancer, heart problems, and liver disease—the social consequences can be just as devastating. Alcoholics and alcohol abusers are much more likely to get divorced, have problems with domestic violence, struggle with unemployment, and live in poverty. But even if you’re able to succeed at work or hold your marriage together, you can’t escape the effects that alcoholism and alcohol abuse has on your personal relationships. Drinking problems put an enormous strain on the people closest to you. Often, family members and close friends feel obligated to cover for the person with the drinking problem. So they take on the burden of cleaning up your messes, lying for you, or working more to make ends meet. Pretending that nothing is wrong and hiding away all of their fears and resentments can take an enormous toll. Children are especially sensitive and can suffer long-lasting emotional trauma when a parent or caretaker is an alcoholic or heavy drinker. Getting help for alcoholism or alcohol abuse If you’re ready to admit you have a drinking problem, you’ve already taken the first step. It takes tremendous strength and courage to face alcohol abuse and alcoholism head on. Reaching out for support is the second step. Whether you choose to go to rehab, rely on self-help programs, get therapy, or take a self-directed treatment approach, support is essential. Recovering from alcohol addiction is much easier when you have people you can lean on for encouragement, comfort, and guidance. Without support, it’s easy to fall back into old patterns when things get tough. Getting sober is only the beginning Learn about roadblocks to staying sober Watch 3 min. video: Roadblocks to awareness Your continued recovery depends on continuing mental health treatment, learning healthier coping strategies, and making better decisions when dealing with life’s challenges. In order to stay alcohol-free for the long term, you’ll also have to face the underlying problems that led to your alcoholism or alcohol abuse in the first place. Those problems could be depression, an inability to manage stress, an unresolved trauma from your childhood, or any number of mental health issues. Such problems may become more prominent when you’re no longer using alcohol to cover them up. But you will be in a healthier position to finally address them and seek the help you need. Helping a loved one with alcoholism or alcohol abuse If someone you love has a drinking problem, you may be struggling with a number of painful emotions, including shame, fear, anger, and self-blame. The problem may be so overwhelming that it seems easier to ignore it and pretend that nothing is wrong. But in the long run denying it will be more damaging to you, other family members, and the person with the drinking problem. What Not To Do * Don’t attempt to punish, threaten, bribe, or preach. * Don’t try to be a martyr. Avoid emotional appeals that may only increase feelings of guilt and the compulsion to drink or use other drugs. * Don’t cover up or make excuses for the alcoholic or problem drinker or shield them from the realistic consequences of their behavior. * Don’t take over their responsibilities, leaving them with no sense of importance or dignity. * Don’t hide or dump bottles, throw out drugs, or shelter them from situations where alcohol is present. * Don’t argue with the person when they are impaired. Don’t try to drink along with the problem drinker. * Above all, don’t feel guilty or responsible for another’s behavior. Adapted from: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol ; Drug Information Dealing with a loved one’s alcohol problem can be an emotional rollercoaster. It’s vital that you take care of yourself and get the support you need. It’s also important to have people you can talk honestly and openly with about what you’re going through. A good place to start is by joining a group such as Al-Anon, a free peer support group for families coping with alcoholism. Listening to others with the same challenges can be a tremendous source of comfort and support. You can also turn to trusted friends, a therapist, or people in your faith community. * You cannot force someone you love to stop abusing alcohol. As much as you may want to, and as hard as it is to watch, you cannot make someone stop drinking. The choice is up to them. * Don’t expect the person to stop drinking and stay sober without help. Your loved one will need treatment, support, and new coping skills to overcome a serious drinking problem. * Recovery is n ongoing process. Recovery is a bumpy road, requiring time and patience. An alcoholic will not magically become a different person once sober. And the problems that led to the alcohol abuse in the first place will have to be faced. Admitting that there’s a serious problem can be painful for the whole family, not just the alcohol abuser. But don’t be ashamed. You’re not alone. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse a ffects millions of families, from every social class, race, and culture. But there is help and support available for both you and your loved one. What Not To Do * Don’t attempt to punish, threaten, bribe, or preach. * Don’t try to be a martyr. Avoid emotional appeals that may only increase feelings of guilt and the compulsion to drink or use other drugs. * Don’t cover up or make excuses for the alcoholic or problem drinker or shield them from the realistic consequences of their behavior. * Don’t take over their responsibilities, leaving them with no sense of importance or dignity. * Don’t hide or dump bottles, throw out drugs, or shelter them from situations where alcohol is present. Don’t argue with the person when they are impaired. * Don’t try to drink along with the problem drinker. * Above all, don’t feel guilty or responsible for another’s behavior. Adapted from: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol Drug Information When your teen has a drinking problem Discovering your child is drinking can generate fear, confusion, and anger in parents. It’s important to remain calm when confronting your teen, and only do so when everyone is sober. Explain your concerns and make it clear that your concern comes from a place of love. It’s important that your teen feels you are supportive. Five steps parents can take: 1. Lay down rules and consequences: Your teen should understand that drinking alcohol comes with specific consequences. But don’t make hollow threats or set rules that you cannot enforce. Make sure your spouse agrees with the rules and is prepared to enforce them. 2. Monitor your teen’s activity: Know where your teen goes and who he or she hangs out with. Remove or lock away alcohol from your home and routinely check potential hiding laces for alcohol—in backpacks, under the bed, between clothes in a drawer, for example. Explain to your teen that this lack of privacy is a consequence of him or her having been caught using alcohol. 3. Encourage other interests and social activities. Expose your teen to healthy hobbies and activities, such as team sports, Scouts, and afterschool clubs. 4. Talk to your child about underlying issues. Drinking can be the result of other problem s. Is your child having trouble fitting in? Has there been a recent major change, like a move or divorce, which is causing stress? . Get outside help: You don’t have to go it alone. Teenagers often rebel against their parents but if they hear the same information from a different authority figure, they may be more inclined to listen. Try seeking help from a sports coach, family doctor, therapist, or counselor. Next step†¦ Find the right treatment for you. Many effective alcohol treatment options are available, including rehab programs. However, professional help isn’t the only way to get better. There are also plenty of things you can do to help yourself stop drinking and achieve lasting recovery. How to cite Alcohol Abuse Introduction, Essay examples