The Alcohol and Addiction Solution

What Is Alcohol Abuse?

Drinking is a part of life for many people. When is it common in society, it can be hard to tell the difference between someone who likes to have a few drinks now and then and someone with a real problem. If identified and treated early, someone with an alcohol addiction may be able to avoid major consequences of the disease. Avoid shaming them or making them feel guilty. This could push them away and make them more resistant to your help.

Alcohol addiction can result in heart disease and liver disease. Both can be fatal. Alcoholism can also cause:. If someone with an alcohol addiction takes dangerous risks while drinking, they can also put others at risk. Drinking is also associated with an increased incidence of suicide and homicide.

Nearly all risks involved with alcohol addiction may be avoidable or treatable, with successful long-term recovery. Treating alcohol addiction can be complex and challenging. In order for treatment to work, the person with an alcohol addiction must want to get sober. The recovery process for alcoholism is a lifetime commitment. A common initial treatment option for someone with an alcohol addiction is an outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation program.

An inpatient program can last anywhere from 30 days to a year. It can help someone handle withdrawal symptoms and emotional challenges. Outpatient treatment provides daily support while allowing the person to live at home. Many people addicted to alcohol also turn to step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous AA. Sober communities can help someone struggling with alcohol addiction deal with the challenges of sobriety in day-to-day life. Sober communities can also share relatable experiences and offer new, healthy friendships.

And these communities make the person with an alcohol addiction accountable and provide a place to turn to if there is a relapse. A doctor may prescribe drugs to help certain conditions. For example, antidepressants, if someone with an alcohol addiction were self-medicating to treat their depression.

Or a doctor could prescribe drugs to assist with other emotions common in recovery. Therapy is useful to help teach someone how to manage the stress of recovery and the skills needed to prevent a relapse. Alcohol addiction may involve several different treatment methods. It's important to understand the facts on alcohol abuse. Alcohol abusers are not necessarily addicted to alcohol. Abusers of alcohol may not drink on a consistent basis. For example, an individual who abuses alcohol may only drink once a week. However, when that individual drinks, he puts himself into risky situations or drinks enough to cause problems, such as alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol Abuse Rehab: Treatment for Alcoholism & Addiction

Individuals who suffer from alcohol abuse do not always exhibit the same symptoms. The type of symptoms experienced by an individual will depend on a number of factors, such as the individual's background and medical history. While alcohol abuse symptoms do vary, there are signs and symptoms that can indicate a problem. When has drinking progressed to alcoholism? Alcohol abuse has a wide range of consequences , from nausea and headaches from a hangover to severe liver problems from chronic drinking.

In the short-term, drinking too much can be very dangerous, sometimes deadly. Risk of significant personal harm is increased with chronic alcohol consumption. Alcohol abusers are at an increased risk of: The signs and symptoms of alcohol use, as well as the short- and long-term effects of alcohol abuse don't always occur in isolation. In fact, an alarming number of people purposely combine their alcohol with drugs. What these individuals aren't accounting for is the fact that not only the intoxication potentiated, but there can also be a synergistic, or additive influence on the numerous negative side effects of both.

Alcohol treatment centers are designed to help individuals who are addicted or who abuse alcohol in a number of ways. Typically, treatment centers require an individual to stay at the center for a specific amount of time. Many centers offer both long- and short-term treatment options. During treatment, individuals go through detoxification. Detoxification is the set of interventions used to keep a person safe as they readjust to a lack of alcohol in the body. For someone struggling with alcoholism to successfully complete a treatment program, he must leave the center with a full understanding of his problem.

Treatment centers are designed to provide support in the form of individual therapy, as well as group therapy and educational classes on drug addiction. During therapy sessions, alcoholics can explore their reasons behind their excess alcohol consumption, as well as what they can do to overcome their abusive behavior. Addiction affects your whole life, including your relationships, career, health, and psychological well-being. Treatment success depends on examining the way alcohol abuse has impacted you and developing a new way of living.

Commitment and follow-through are key. Recovering from alcohol addiction or heavy drinking is not a quick and easy process. Get treatment for other medical or mental health issues.

• Options for Treatment.
• Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help.
• Alcohol Abuse Rehab | Treatment for Alcoholism & Addiction!
• Benjamin Lee Whorfs linguistisches Relativitätsprinzip (German Edition).

People often abuse alcohol to ease the symptoms of an undiagnosed mental health problem, such as depression or anxiety. Your best chance of recovery is by getting combined mental health and addiction treatment from the same treatment provider or team. When you drink heavily and frequently, your body becomes physically dependent on alcohol and goes through withdrawal if you suddenly stop drinking.

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal range from mild to severe, and include:. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually start within hours after you stop drinking, peak in a day or two, and improve within five days.

What’s the Solution to Addiction?

But in some alcoholics, withdrawal is not just unpleasant—it can be life threatening. Detox can be done on an outpatient basis or in a hospital or alcohol treatment facility, where you may be prescribed medication to prevent medical complications and relieve withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor or an addiction specialist to learn more. The symptoms listed above may be a sign of a severe form of alcohol withdrawal called delirium tremens, or DTs. Whether you choose to tackle your alcohol addiction by going to rehab, getting therapy, or taking a self-directed treatment approach, support is essential.

Recovering from alcohol addiction or abuse is much easier when you have people you can lean on for encouragement, comfort, and guidance. Support can come from family members, friends, counselors, other recovering alcoholics, your healthcare providers, and people from your faith community.

Lean on close friends and family — Having the support of friends and family members is an invaluable asset in recovery. Build a sober social network — If your previous social life revolved around alcohol, you may need to make some new connections. Try taking a class, joining a church or a civic group, volunteering , or attending events in your community.

Make meetings a priority — Join a recovery support group and attend meetings regularly. You can also benefit from the shared experiences of the group members and learn what others have done to stay sober. While getting sober is an important first step, it is only the beginning of your recovery from alcohol addiction or heavy drinking.

Take care of yourself. To prevent mood swings and combat cravings, concentrate on eating right and getting plenty of sleep. Exercise is also key: Build your support network. Surround yourself with positive influences and people who make you feel good about yourself. Develop new activities and interests.

Find new hobbies, volunteer activities, or work that gives you a sense of meaning and purpose. Your chances of staying sober improve if you are participating in a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous, have a sponsor, or are involved in therapy or an outpatient treatment program. Deal with stress in a healthy way. Alcohol abuse is often a misguided attempt to manage stress.

Find healthier ways to keep your stress level in check, such as exercising, meditating, or practicing breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques. Cravings for alcohol can be intense, particularly in the first six months after you quit drinking. Good alcohol treatment prepares you for these challenges, helping you develop new coping skills to deal with stressful situations, alcohol cravings, and social pressure to drink. Avoid the things that trigger your urge to drink. If certain people, places, or activities trigger a craving for alcohol, try to avoid them.

This may mean making major changes to your social life, such as finding new things to do with your old drinking buddies—or even giving up those friends and finding new ones.