May is Mental Health Month. In light of that fact, I’m posting a book review I’ve written on a booklet that is very eye-opening about the damaging effects of alcohol abuse. Let’s face it, the problem is all too common and often affects combat vets and their families.
I’ve written before of how much Toby Rice Drews, a well-respected alcoholism expert, has personally helped and enlightened me with her many books on the subject.
It continues to amaze me that most physicians continue to miss the many signs of alcoholism. That’s why it is so important to become educated on the signs and symptoms of this insidious and devastating disease. Most of us will know, and/or care about an alcoholic, sometime in our lives.
The 350 Secondary Diseases/Disorders to Alcoholism-
by Toby Rice Drews (paperback booklet)
I’ve read most all of Toby Rice Drews books and think she is one of the most knowledgeable alcoholism experts around today.
This booklet provides vital information on the numerous diseases associated with alcoholism, and is part of Drew’s best-selling “Getting Them Sober” series of helpful, practical books that help advise families of alcoholics as well as professionals concerned with the disease of alcoholism.
In the Introduction, written by LeClair Bissell, M.D., it’s noted “When doctor and patient are working together to discover the cause of an illness, both often fail to consider that alcohol may be a major contributor.”
Unfortunately, medical schools are not preparing their students to look for the subtle signs of an early drinking problem.
Bissell warns “Since we can’t trust the professional to be well-informed, it may be left to the patient and the concerned family to question whether or not a problem exists in its own right or whether alcohol is at the root of it.”
Here are some of the listings of diseases/disorders associated with alcoholism:
• Chronic Neuropsychiatric Disorders
• Brain problems resulting from diseased liver function
• Myopathic Disorders (muscle abnormality)
• Liver and Pancreatic Disorders
• Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Respiratory System Disorders
Also noted are the many Psychiatric Disorders associated with alcoholism, such as:
• Depression
• Denial
• Anger
• Guilt
• Shame
• Sociopathy
All of the categories included have listings of the many symptoms that are indicative of said disorder.
There was a time when medical students were taught that syphilis and tuberculosis could be called “the great masqueraders,” because almost any symptom in any part of the patient’s body might be caused by these two.
Both of those were considered as possibilities before they settled on another explanation of what was wrong. Antibiotics have now made both of those enemies less common.
Dr. Bissell observes that it doesn’t matter if a patient is a minister’s wife, a company president, a migrant worker or even a colleague. Diseases are no respecters of persons, and this disease, just like cancer, has a better chance of recovery if diagnosed in its early stages.
I love this booklet and wish that it were required reading in schools. There is still too much ignorance about this very common disease that causes so much havoc and heartache in our society.
Knowledge is power! Very, very highly recommended reading.
