Alcohol dependency is a progressive debilitating disease with four main aspects:
· Loss of control – the inability to stop drinking once the person has started drinking
· Craving – a strong need or compulsion to drink
· Tolerance – the need to drink increasingly more amounts of alcohol in order to get a “buzz” or to get “high”
· Physical dependence – experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, the shakes, excessive sweating, or nausea after stopping drinking
Alcohol is a problem if it causes problems in any part of your life. This includes your finances, employment, relationships, health, or your life at home. You probably have a problem with alcohol if you keep trying to quit on your own but cannot, if you think about drinking throughout the day, or if you typically drink more than you plan to.
The following represents some of the symptoms of alcoholism:
· Feeling a need or compulsion to drink
· Ordering doubles, gulping drinks, or becoming intoxicated intentionally to feel “normal” or to feel good.
· Irritability when your usual drinking time nears, especially if alcohol isn’t available
· Losing interest in activities that used to be fun or interesting
· Drinking alone or in secret
The following list includes additional “signs” that alcohol is an issue in your life:
· Depression
· Being unusually suspicious
· Not taking care of yourself, especially your personal appearance and your hygiene
· Anxiety or becoming easily irritated
· Accidents at work, at home, or in your vehicle
· Poor work performance
It should be pointed out that alcohol addiction is not necessarily caused by an unhappy childhood, stress, relationship difficulties, or financial problems.
Alcohol dependency is a treatable brain disorder in which individuals lose their ability to control their use of alcohol. Fortunately, there have been notableadvancements in alcohol therapy in recent years.
For alcoholics, all the willpower and self resolve in the world commonly does not help the person abstain from drinking. Stated from a different vantage point, alcoholics are for the most part powerless to manage their drinking without rehab.
Many individuals seeking to stop their alcohol addiction, and their family members, find that participating in support groups is a key part of coping with the disease, preventing or dealing with relapses, and staying sober.
Do you need a drink the first thing in the morning? Do you need an increasing amount of alcohol before you start feeling its effects? If you feel that you have a drinking problem and if you feel guilty about your drinking and can’t seem to limit how much you drink, make an appointment with your healthcare provider so that he or she can evaluate your drinking circumstance.
Based on your doctor’s assessment of the seriousness of your problem, you may require alcohol treatment. Your alcohol rehab will usually consist of several stages. If you have become alcohol addicted, therapy may include detoxification, taking doctor-prescribed medications to manage your alcohol withdrawal symptoms, medications to help avoidan alcohol relapse, individual and/or group counseling, support, and outpatient follow-up counseling.
Alcohol dependency rehab is commonly available in rehab hospitals, alcohol rehab centers or clinics, or in residential treatment facilities. Some of the more successful alcohol addiction programs also provide outpatient follow-up therapy that can last up to a year or longer.
Alcohol dependency is a disease that can be treated, but there is no current cure. Alcohol dependency is a serious problem that affects millions of American families. If you or someone you love has a drinking problem, get professional rehab now.
