The Ultimate Guide To Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Alcohol is one of the most commonly used drugs, yet oftentimes alcohol addiction goes untreated. Whether you or someone you know is looking for an alcohol addiction treatment center, here is everything to know about alcohol addiction and why treatment is so important.
The first step to alcohol addiction treatment is simply admitting to having an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol use disorder is a brain disease and is diagnosable by a doctor or psychiatrist. This means that trying to cure the addiction on your own is likely not possible. With the help of the many different medical and mental health professionals at the various alcohol addiction treatment centers, you can work towards recovery and learn to live an alcohol-free life.
The Ultimate Guide To Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Admitting to an addiction is never an easy thing to do, but fortunately, we live in a time where there are plenty of resources available to us. An alcohol addiction treatment center, such as an inpatient or outpatient program, can help you through the initial detox and withdrawal phase, which is oftentimes a brutal experience. Medical supervision is always advised when detoxing from a chronic alcohol addiction. The withdrawal symptoms can be painful and, in some cases,, fatal, and having medical support will stop you from relapsing and ensure you are safe throughout the entire process.
Addiction is a brain disease, but it is often paired with other mental health disorders, such as anxiety or depression. Alcohol addiction treatment centers will help you better understand yourself and your addiction. The mental health professionals and therapists will work with you to identify possible triggers, heal from any past trauma, and develop new coping skills to use to prevent relapse.
Inpatient, outpatient, or residential treatment options can come with financial barriers. If this is the case, there are alternative free to low cost alcohol addiction treatment options. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) works with the 12-step model to learn to live without alcohol. These groups are open and free in most towns and cities and can help you connect with others in recovery.
If you are battling an alcohol addiction and do not know where to go for help, talk to someone you can trust and ask them to guide you towards recovery. If this is not an option, then speak with your doctor or start with therapy. You deserve to have help and support to end your addiction.
What Strategies Are Used to Treat Alcohol Addiction?
If only addiction could be treated with a simple solution, but that just is not the case. You must first start by detoxing the body, which causes a lot of discomfort. Once the body has eliminated all of the alcohol and the withdrawal symptoms have ended, it is up to your mind to become resilient and learn how to live without alcohol.
A mental health professional can help you start to change the behaviors that trigger you into drinking, manage stress in a healthy way, build a strong support system, and start to make goals for yourself.
There are a few different medications that can help with treating the disorder by making drinking less enjoyable for you, or reducing the cravings. These medications include Disulfiram, Acamprosate, and Naltrexone. It is important to note that these medications alone will not treat your addiction. It will still be up to you to heal your wounds and build resilience.
One of the most important things to remember when recovering from an alcohol addiction, is to surround yourself with a sober community. Be sure to have a support system, and hobbies you enjoy doing soberly. You should also avoid situations and people who trigger you into wanting to drink. Your sobriety should be your priority.
Why Alcohol Addiction Treatment Is Important
Alcoholism is a deadly disease and can cause many different health issues. For instance, alcohol affects the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and weakens your immune system. It also increases your chances of developing different cancers. Basically, frequent alcohol use can damage your entire body. Not only that, but chronic alcoholism often causes damage to families, relationships, bank accounts, work life, etc. Seeking help for alcohol addiction can help you become physically and mentally healthier, rebuild any broken relationships or work-life struggles, and help you find joy in your life again, without the help of booze.
What Are The Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol is commonly used to celebrate events, experiment in college, or even to unwind after a long day at work. So how do you know if you have developed an alcohol addiction? Some warning signs that you are battling an alcohol addiction include:
- Alcohol has become your main priority in life
- Problems with personal life such as work, relationships, family life, etc. due to alcohol use
- You spend excessive amounts of time drinking or feeling hungover
- You have attempted to quit or cut back but are always unsuccessful
- Continuing to drink alcohol even when it’s caused you to feel anxious or depressed
- Having to consume more alcohol to reach the desired effect (tolerance)
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when sober (shakiness, sweating, nausea, racing heart, etc.)
If any of this sounds familiar to you, then it may be time to seek help from an alcohol addiction treatment center. With the right help, you can recover from your addiction and gain control back over your life.
What Happens When You Drink Alcohol?
Many people drink alcohol to feel more confident in social situations. This is because alcohol impairs our judgement, including our own judgement of ourselves, making us feel more confident to do and say certain things. Drinking alcohol can make you feel more talkative and engage in more risky behavior, however the negative consequences of heavy drinking are not worth feeling more “talkative.”
When you consume alcohol, it goes right into your bloodstream which affects your brain, and your body begins to function at a much slower rate. As you start to feel more intoxicated, you may experience a lack of coordination or imbalance, slowed breathing and heart rate, or vision problems. Black outs occur when a person has had far too much to drink, that they might go in and out of consciousness, or pass out entirely. Heavy alcohol use often leads to vomiting and severe confusion and in some cases, can lead to a coma or death.
If you or a loved one is seeking information on addiction or mental health resources please call (888) 564-4780.